Salmon
Image Credit: Brent Hofacker/iStock/Getty Images Most people who have gallstones don’t even know it, according to U.S. News & World Report. These small pebble-like stones form in your gallbladder when there is an imbalance in the substances that make up bile. If you have gallstones, you should be able to eat seafood. However, if your gallstones are giving you problems, you may need to pay attention to the type of seafood you eat and how you prepare it.
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Gallstones
Gallbladder
Image Credit: decade3d/iStock/Getty Images Your gallbladder is a small organ below your liver that collects bile, and stores and concentrates it. Bile is a thick substance your body needs to help you digest fat. Bile consists of cholesterol, bilirubin, protein, bile salts, water and some trace minerals. If your bile contains too much of any of these substances, particularly cholesterol, your bile is likely to crystallize and form stones. Gallstones affect about 10 percent of the population, but only cause serious issues in about 1 to 2 percent, according to U.S. News and World Report.
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Diet and Gallstones
Fish
Image Credit: George Doyle/Stockbyte/Getty Images Making changes to your diet cannot prevent you from forming gallstones, according to the authors of “Krause’s Food, Nutrition and Diet Therapy.” But if your gallstones are causing pain and inflammation, you may need to limit the amount of fat in your diet to about 40 to 45 grams to prevent gallbladder contractions. Most seafood is low in fat – a good choice when you need to limit your daily fat intake.
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Shellfish
Shrimp
Image Credit: Яна Гайворонская/iStock/Getty Images Shellfish includes shrimp, crab, lobster and scallops. Shellfish is naturally low in fat, making it a good choice in your diet for gallstones, whether you’re experiencing problems or not. A 3-ounce portion of cooked lobster or shrimp contains less than 2 grams of total fat. If you need to limit your fat intake due to problems with gallstones, avoid fried shellfish and any fat such as clarified butter that may be served with it.
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Fish
Grilled fish
Image Credit: Juanmonino/iStock/Getty Images Fish also makes a healthy addition to your diet. But the amount of fat can vary depending on the type of fish. Very low-fat fish choices include cod, flounder, haddock, pollock and orange roughy. A 3-ounce cooked portion of each of these fish contains less than 2 grams of total fat. Fatty fish, which includes salmon, tuna and trout, contains 6 to 10 grams of fat per 3-ounce portion. If your gallstones are not causing problems, you should be able to eat all types of fish. However, if your gallstones are causing pain, you may need to avoid or limit fatty fish. Also avoid fried fish and any fat served with fish, such as butter or tartar sauce.
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references
U.S. News & World Report: Gallstones
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Gallstones
references
U.S. News & World Report: Gallstones
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Gallstones
Salmon
Image Credit: Brent Hofacker/iStock/Getty Images
Image Credit: Brent Hofacker/iStock/Getty Images
Gallbladder
Image Credit: decade3d/iStock/Getty Images
Image Credit: decade3d/iStock/Getty Images
Fish
Image Credit: George Doyle/Stockbyte/Getty Images
Image Credit: George Doyle/Stockbyte/Getty Images
Shrimp
Image Credit: Яна Гайворонская/iStock/Getty Images
Image Credit: Яна Гайворонская/iStock/Getty Images
Grilled fish
Image Credit: Juanmonino/iStock/Getty Images
Image Credit: Juanmonino/iStock/Getty Images
U.S. News & World Report: Gallstones
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Gallstones
