People who regularly eat foods that are high in saturated fats, such as fast or fried food, as well as white sugar are going to be at a higher risk for contracting gallbladder disease and gallstones. White flour, hydrogenated fats and other nutrient lacking foods will also put a person at risk, when eaten on a regular basis. If a person regularly eats food that is high in trans fat, then they are putting themselves at risk. However, totally cutting the fat out of your diet puts you at risk as well. When the gall bladder does not have a sufficient amount of fat to process, it stops working properly causing stasis and bile thickening. Try to substitute these types of fats with olive oil and remember to use in moderation. Women have the highest risk for contracting this disease. Out of every 10 women, 8 are likely to be diagnosed with gallbladder disease. Men are far less likely to come get it, with the ratio being only 2 out of every 10 men. The disease is also on the rise in children, as a recent study published in BMC Gastroenterology 2002 points out.
- Hypothyroidism
- Hashimoto's Thyroid Disease
- Low stomach acid
- Food Sensitivities or Allergies
- Overweight
- Rapid weight loss
- Estrogen intake and birth control pills (estrogen increases the concentration of cholesterol in the bile)
- Chronic Heartburn
- Frequent use of antacids
- Atkin's Diet
- Over age 40 and increase in risk as one ages
- Female especially those who have had children
- Ethnicity (Pima Indians and Mexican-Americans)
- High triglycerides, high LDL cholesterol, decreased HDL cholesterol,
- Alcohol intake
- Family history of gallbladder disease (Heredity)
- Cholesterol-lowering drugs, immunosuppressive drugs
- Antidepressants that slow down gallbladder contractions
- Very Low Calorie Diets
- Diet high in saturated fats
- Diet high in refined foods and sugars
- Diet low in fiber (which is what the refined diets are) and not enough vegetables
- Non-fat diets
- Low-fat diets
- Constipation
- Diabetes
- Diseases such as chronic inflammatory bowel disease, chrons disease (ulcerative colitis is controversial) Hemolytic anemias