Red-light and Green-light Foods for Gallbladder Diets

Gallbladder problems are fairly common in Western countries. Eating a proper diet can help to keep your gallbladder healthy. It usually includes foods that are low in fat and cholesterol, moderate in calories, and high in fiber. The following paragraphs discuss what food is good for your gallbladder and what should be avoided.

Green-light foods

Recommended foods for a healthy gallbladder diet include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthy protein foods, low-fat dairy products and coffee. You can also draw inspiration from the Mediterranean and DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diets. A Mediterranean diet pattern is mostly plant-based, with small amounts of lean meat and chicken. A DASH diet pattern includes Mediterranean diet foods, but it also encourages low-fat dairy and a limited intake of red meat and sodium.

• - Fresh fruits and vegetables: Fruits and vegetables are good natural sources of Vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. These elements can protect your gallbladder. Especially vitamin C, magnesium and folate, in particular, may promote gallbladder health. You can find these substances in oranges, bananas, spinach and black-eyed peas.

  

• - Whole grains: Wholegrain foods are rich in fiber, which can increase bowel movements and contribute to gallbladder health. They also provide good carbohydrates beneficial to weight management, because foods with high fiber content are digested and absorbed slower and can make you feel full longer.

  

• - Healthy protein: Normal foods with rich protein like red meat are also high in fat, which lays extra burdens on your gallbladder. Therefore, finding healthy sources of protein is essential for a gallbladder diet. White meat, fish, beans and soy products are good choices. You can also achieve this goal by removing the skin from meat and cutting off the white fat.

  

• - Low-fat dairy products: Dairy products contain a large amount of calcium which can meet the daily intake requirement and support gallbladder health. But they also contain a considerable amount of fat. Replace your consumption with low-fat or zero-fat versions.

  

• - Coffee: Related researches indicate that drinking a moderate quantity of coffee may have potential benefits to your gallbladder. The special substances in coffee can stimulate the action of your gallbladder. Remember to drink plain black coffee instead of one with a lot of syrup and cream.

Red-light foods

The gallbladder concentrates and stores bile generated by the liver. When you eat food rich in fat, your gallbladder releases bile into your intestine to help your body break down and absorb it. Bile comprises several substances, some of which like cholesterol can accumulate into gallstones which cause gallbladder attacks and more seriously, cholecystitis. Therefore, you should avoid including the following foods in your gallbladder diet.

• - Highly processed carbohydrates: This category includes foods made from white flour, cookies, cakes, candy and chocolate. When you consume high amounts of added sugar and refined carbohydrates, your insulin production will surge. This can increase cholesterol production in the liver and accelerate the formation of gallstones.

  

• - Foods with unhealthy fat: This category includes red and fatty meat, fried foods, processed foods and full-fat dairy products. An extra intake of fat, especially unhealthy fats like saturated fat and trans fat, will increase the burden on your gallbladder.

Other tips

• - Stay hydrated: Unlike kidney stones, drinking lots of fluids cannot help your body pass the gallstones. However, staying hydrated does help prevent stone formation. Make sure you drink at least 2 liters of fluids every day. Water is the best beverage.
• - Weight management: Being overweight can increase your risk of developing gallbladder disease so maintaining a healthy weight is recommended. If you need to lose weight, doing this gradually is safer. Do not follow any low-carb diet unless you have consulted your doctor.
• - Cook by yourself: Self-cooked meals can help you follow your diet and avoid unnecessary fat intake, because you can swap inappropriate ingredients for diet versions and use healthier cooking methods. Eat takeaway or in the restaurant as little as possible. They usually contain a lot of fat and sugar.

Renal Diet Principles: Three Elements and Two Substances

The kidney filters the waste and excess water from your body and removes it through urine. Wastes in your blood come from the food and liquid you consume. If the kidney function is compromised, the waste won't be cleaned out from your blood in time, then the electrolyte balance will be disrupted and the waste will poison your body. People with kidney disease need to follow a renal diet that controls the intake of sodium, protein and fluid. Depending on individual circumstances, the intake of potassium, phosphorus and other elements may also be limited.

Sodium

Sodium is one of the three major electrolytes in the human body (the other two are potassium and chloride). It contributes to controlling the acid-base balance of blood, blood pressure and nerve function. But too much sodium in your body will cause edema, high blood pressure and heart failure. Salt is a compound of sodium and chloride. Reducing salt intake is important for controlling kidney diseases. To limit your sodium intake, you should not eat any processed foods with high salt content, like bacon, hot dogs and canned soup. Before purchasing for your dinner, remember to read food labels. Find reduced-sodium versions, and don't eat too much. Self-cooking is a good choice. Just remember to add no salt or use other non-salt seasonings as alternatives.

Potassium

Potassium plays a significant role in regulating the heartbeat and muscle movement. It is also a necessary element for maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance in your bloodstream. An excess level of potassium may cause irregular heartbeat, slow pauses and heart attacks. Potassium is found mainly in fruits, vegetables and dairy products. You’ll need to avoid certain fruits and vegetables and limit the amount of others. Avocados, bananas, potatoes and tomatoes are high in potassium. Eat low-potassium alternatives like apples and carrots. Drink soya milk or coconut milk as substitutes. Most importantly, you should talk with a renal dietitian about what you can eat and how much you can have.

Phosphorus

Phosphorus is a critical mineral in bone maintenance and development. It also assists in the development of organs and muscle movement. High phosphorus levels can pull calcium out of your bones and weaken them. It also leads to dangerous calcium deposits in the blood vessels, lungs, eyes, and heart. Dairy foods and meats are the major sources of phosphorus in the diet. Some vegetables like dried beans and broccoli also contain phosphorus. Regarding carbohydrates, whole grain products have a higher level of phosphorus than white bread and rice. Eat smaller portions when you are eating these foods. Ask your physician about using phosphate binders at mealtime if needed.

Protein

The process of protein digestion will create waste. More protein than you need makes your kidneys work harder and may make your problem worse. But too little isn't healthy either. Both animal and plant foods have protein. When you are choosing protein foods on your plate, pick more fresh meat instead of processed meat, and use special methods to remove excess elements in your food like peeling. Remember to ask your dietitian. He or she can help you figure out the right combination and amount of protein to eat.

Fluid

Fluid control is important for patients in the later stages of CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease) because normal consumption may cause too much fluid in the body which could become dangerous. To control your fluid intake, you should drink the same amount of fluid as your doctor orders. And don't forget to count the fluid you use in cooking. Water is the best beverage, both tap water and bottled water. You can also drink a moderate amount of light-colored drinks, such as lemonade and Sprite. Dark-colored drinks usually have phosphorus in order to enhance flavor and prevent decoloration.

5 Risk Factors of Gout that You Should Know

Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints. It will cause urate crystals to emerge and accumulate in your joint, causing inflammation and intense pain in a gout attack. Gout occurs when the level of uric acid in your body is too high. If your body makes too much or removes too little uric acid, urate levels will build up in your body, and you will face a potential risk of developing gout. There are 5 major risk factors of gout that you should know.

Diet

The human body produces uric acid in the process of breaking down purines. High-purine foods can exert extra pressure on your kidneys and increase the risk of developing gout. They are exemplified by certain meats, seafood and beverages.

• - Meat: red meat, organ meat, game meat.
• - Seafood: Anchovies, sardines, mackerel, scallops.
• - Beverage: Beer, distilled liquors, drinks rich in fructose (like fruit juices).

It's worth mentioning that diet doesn't cause gouts on its own. Metabolism is also an important factor, which is affected by several internal and external situations.

Age and Sex

Generally, gout strikes men more often than women. Women have lower uric acid levels because of the female hormone estrogen, which can increase the removal of uric acid by the kidneys. After menopause, women lose estrogen, and their uric acid levels will rise. That means their chances of getting gout are increased. Gouts tend to be more common after middle age. However, men are more likely to develop gouts earlier (usually between the ages of 30 and 50). Whereas women generally develop signs and symptoms of gouts after menopause.

Medications

Certain medications can increase the levels of uric acid in the body. If you notice any gout symptoms, ask your doctors and confirm whether you can have the medicine you are taking currently. This category includes:

• - Diuretics (or water pills): This kind of medicine helps your body eliminate excess fluid. Diuretics are used to treat conditions such as high blood pressure and edema. However, they can also cause a side effect of too much uric acid in your body.
• - Aspirin: It can raise uric acid in your blood. Even low doses of aspirin can trigger gouts. Research shows that this effect of aspirin is more common in women than in men.
• - Niacin: It is a kind of vitamin. When taken in large amounts, it can cause an excess of uric acid in the blood.
• - Cyclosporine: It is an immunosuppressant for organ transplant accepters and is approved to treat some autoimmune diseases. Cyclosporine therapy may decrease renal urate clearance and cause hyperuricemia, which means high uric acid levels in your body.
• - Salicylates: Drugs containing salicylates can worsen the condition. It can also lessen the effects of some medicines used to treat gouts.

Health conditions

People with certain health conditions are more likely to develop gout, including:

• - Overweight or obesity.
• - Congestive heart failure.
• - Diabetes.
• - Hypertension (high blood pressure).
• - Kidney disease.
• - Blood cancer.

Besides, some special conditions may cause a high production of uric acid by the body. This includes inherited genetic metabolic disorders, leukemia, or chemotherapy for cancer.

Genetics

Genetic factors influence multiple complex processes in the human body. A family history of gout can increase a person’s risk of developing gouts. If your first degree relative, such as a sibling or a parent, has gouts, you're more likely to develop this disease. Ask a doctor to know if you should get genetically tested for gouts.