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Gallstones are very common, every fifth woman under the age of 60 suffers from them. The most common risk factors for this condition include being overweight and having too much estrogen. But diet remains one of the most influential risk factors for the formation of gallstone disease.
According to the NHS, research shows that regular consumption of refined sugar can double the risk of painful gallstones, the Express reports.
It has been suggested that consuming more than 40 grams of sugar per day can double the risk of symptomatic gallstones. This is due to the fact that white refined sugar and starchy foods can increase the secretion of insulin, which rids the blood of sugar.
The increased level of insulin, in turn, increases the concentration of cholesterol in the bile-liquid, which helps digestion. Up to 70 percent of gallstones form when cholesterol particles clump together inside the gallbladder. Moreover, the hard ball grows each time it is washed with bile fluid.
This happens due to changes in the metabolism of lipoproteins and, therefore, changes in the composition of bile. The phenomenon has been demonstrated in studies examining the effects of sugary drinks.
One study found that people who drank two or more juice drinks a day doubled their risk of developing gallbladder cancer and increased their risk of bile duct cancer by 79 percent.
Along with sugar, egg yolk and red meat - all of them significantly increase the risk of gallstone formation by increasing the saturation of bile cholesterol.
The results of a French study showed that the risk of gallstone disease increases in men who consume more than 2500 calories per day. Carbohydrates such as added sugars and sweeteners, white flour and refined grains should be avoided, the authors say.
