Is Greek Yogurt Good Or Bad For You? Busting the Confusion

My girlfriend had a great question for me the other day. She likes to train hard and practices healthy eating like a lot of women these days. But she had a great question. She is smarter than the average person when it comes to nutrition. That comes from the benefit of growing up in a sporting environment (and maybe listening to me rant on about different topics too!), so I am certain that she is not the only one confused by the food myths about nutrition that are out there today.

This question revolved around whether Greek yogurt is healthy for us considering it is higher in fat than other yogurt varieties. It was a great question. Now it is time to bust some myths.

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Greek yogurt is a great source of nutrition because it has minimal human interference. This means that it does not have any artificial sweeteners, flavours, colours or any numbers or words that are too hard to pronounce.

Is Greek Yogurt Good Or Bad For You? Busting the Confusion

That is always the giveaway that a food choice is not a good choice. If it has an ingredients list as long as your arm then it has been removed of any good that it initially had.

Greek yogurt is higher in fat than most other varieties of yogurt because it has not been poisoned with artificial sweeteners that are used to add taste once the fat has been taken out of something.

The danger of artificial sweeteners is they remove your body's ability to detect when you are full. This means that you are more prone to keep on eating and eating, meaning your waist line gets even bigger.

Foods that have natural fat have a tendency to fill you up so you don't need to eat as much. This is the same for foods that are high in protein.

Next time you are in the cold section of your supermarket I challenge you to compare the labels of Greek yoghurt (not fat free or low fat or course) with that of any yoghurt variety. While you are there, compare the same two yogurts with a low or fat free yoghurt and you will see how many more processed chemicals and rubbish is contained in them.

Don't be a victim of marketing that states that low fat foods and fat free foods are better for you. They are making your waist line bigger.

Don't believe all of the rubbish that you read in magazines or newspapers or from "Personal Trainers" and some nutritionist who have their heads stuck in the sand and are recycling the same out of date information that they were taught in college years ago. Take the word of a real world fat loss expert who has been to the dark side and returned. Meaning of course, that I don't eat fat free or low fat foods anymore because I realise how bad they are to my fat loss mission. I hope that you will join me.

Is Greek Yogurt Good Or Bad For You? Busting the Confusion

Are you sick of the way you look? Daniel Munday is a Fat Loss Expert based in Sydney Australia who is dedicated to separating the fitness fact from fiction in helping you solve your fat loss puzzle. He specialises in giving busy Corporate Professionals the fat loss results they finally deserve and now you can finally share in his once secret methods.

Take the steps to change your body today by downloading your free audio and eBook Aussie Fatblast Secrets Revealed report at http://www.aussiefatblast.com

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Yeast Free Diet - What to Eat & What to Avoid on an Anti-Candida Yeast Free Diet

Do you know what to eat & what to avoid on an anti-candida yeast free diet? If not then today I'll give you a quick rundown of what it is you should be eating and what you should be avoiding. Best of all I'll also provide you with an explanation for how to permanently eliminate chronic candida & fungal infections so that you never have to suffer from them again!
 
Good Foods for the Yeast Free Diet
 
Vegetables - Everything except for starchy vegetables like potatoes are welcome, especially leafy green vegetables. Although commonly associated with vegetables, tomatoes are a fruit which is unwelcome on the diet as well.
Grains - Only whole grains such as quinoa, amaranth, millet & buckwheat are allowed in moderate amounts.  
Meat - Lean Organic Meat of Chicken or Turkey is good as is wild fish such as salmon.
 
Foods to Avoid on the Yeast Free Diet
 
Fruits - With the exception of lemons, limes, & grapefruit in moderation, all other fruits are to be avoided as the sugar content will continue to feed the yeast. 
Grains - Wheat & glutinous grains are to be avoided as are all refined grains. 
Meat - Avoid non-organic meat, especially red meat while on the diet if possible.
Dairy - Best avoided, most of those with chronic health problems improve when dairy is removed from the diet 100%. It also has many links to disease such as cancer due to hormones.
 
Processed foods & sugar must be 100% avoided! This also goes for alcohol, with the exception of tinctures and vinegar.
 
How to permanently eliminate a chronic yeast infection
 
The key here is to review the root causes, many times this can go back as far as before you were consciously able to even prevent them such as vaccinations which contain mercury and other toxic compounds which suppress immune function at a young age and can cause chronic illness.
 
In these cases the only real solution is to utilize the right types of cleanses & therapies which will purify the right organs to allow the body to recover itself. Interjecting into a persons health by using anti-fungals is great if they're natural, however they're still only a band-aid solution until the roots are effectively resolved.

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Yeast Free Diet - What to Eat & What to Avoid on an Anti-Candida Yeast Free Diet
Yeast Free Diet - What to Eat & What to Avoid on an Anti-Candida Yeast Free Diet

Want to know if YOU have Candida? Take our thorough FREE Candida Test and also Find out How to Cure Candida

How to - A Fruit Smoothie For Diabetics

Everybody loves blender smoothies, young and old alike. But people with diabetes would need to be careful in the type and amount of food they have an intake of ... and smoothies are definitely part of the foods that they should watch out for.

My grandmother - she has type 2 diabetes mellitus, a disease where the body cannot regulate glucose in the blood - loves smoothies so much, even before she was diagnosed. Her diet is now controlled with weight loss programs, exercises and oral medications in tow. But she would never give up her beloved smoothies. But instead of regular, classic smoothies (with just fruit and some milk), she was advised to include yogurt in the drink.

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Apparently, clinical studies on yogurt and mice showed that engineered microbes and probiotics (the good bacteria) have shown much promise in Mickey's diabetic relatives. While the studies aren't conclusive yet, some diabetics have decided to have a go at it, my grandma included.

How to - A Fruit Smoothie For Diabetics

Here are some recipes that she already tried without any damaging effect on her newfound lifestyle:

- Strawberry lovers can try this with a smile on their lips: Blend 8 ounces of plain nonfat yogurt, one-fourth cup of skim milk, and 3 packets of Equal sweetener (or 1 teaspoon of Equal). With blender on, open the top lid and gradually add 3 cups of frozen strawberries. Blend until smooth. Add ice cubes and blend and process until smooth. (Nutritional value: 76 calories, 0 grams of fat, 2 mg of cholesterol, 54 mg of sodium, 0 grams of saturated fat, 2 grams of dietary fiber, 14 grams of sugar, 4 grams of protein, 16 grams of carbohydrates.)

- Grandma is a coffee lover and gives herself a once-a-week treat by making this smoothie: Blend 3 cups fat-free milk (not low-fat, mind you), a cup of water, half a cup of sugar-free chocolate flavored syrup, 2 teaspoons of instant coffee granules and a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Add 1 quart of vanilla sugar-free and fat-free ice cream in the blender. Blend until creamy. Note: most blenders are a bit small for this recipe, so you can pour half of the coffee mix in a bowl and put in half of the ice cream. Blend until creamy; pour in a pitcher. Combine remaining chocolate mix and ice cream and repeat process. (Nutritional value: 124 calories, 2 grams of fat, 7.2 grams of protein, 25.1 grams of carbohydrates, 1 grams of saturated fat, 0.5 grams of dietary fiber, 2 mg of cholesterol, 125 mg of sodium.)

Diabetics are no different from non-diabetics - they still need the basic food groups, much like what other people need. So it gives them the right to enjoy what others enjoy too. Drinks up!

How to - A Fruit Smoothie For Diabetics

Low fat smoothie. Click on the link for more info.

Colon Health - Good Foods Versus Bad Foods

A healthy colon is the biggest step to a healthy you. You should avoid a colon build up because it will be the source of unwanted diseases resulting in illness. Here are some good and bad points you should know about the foods you eat:

Good Foods:

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Raw foods are living foods. These foods are raw, baked, steamed, boiled, microwaved or frozen. They are still in their original state and they have maintained their enzymes. Foods that have maintained their enzymes can aid to proper digestion.

Colon Health - Good Foods Versus Bad Foods

Good carbohydrates are foods without refined sugar. Complex carbohydrates are better than simple.

An organic food contains no chemicals. An organic food contains no chemicals because no fertilizers are used when growing them. Chemically treated foods are dangerous to the body, who knows what kind of damage it can cause in the bloodstream.

Good fats. Fats have a terrible reputation. Now is the era of low fat and fat free diet. Good fat foods are good for the body. No one will ever blame an avocado for heart disease.

Unprocessed foods, These kinds of food contain no chemicals or additives. Foods without preservatives are on its original state the way nature grew.

Bad foods:

Overcooked vegetables do not have enough nutrients you need to nourish your body.

Bad carbohydrates or simple carbohydrates contain sugar that's bad for the body. During the refining process, lots of vitamins and minerals were lost and these kinds of foods contain pure sugar that's bad for the blood stream.
To those who are planning to conduct a colon cleansing, you should know the best and most effective way of cleaning the digestive tract properly. The Natural way of cleaning the colon is one of the most effective, yet, affordable. There are lots of herbs which have been used by lots of people centuries back to aid them in taking care of their colon. Before you try an herb, you should first know their importance and functions.

Colon Health - Good Foods Versus Bad Foods

Although colon cleansing and colon health should be a part of everyone's daily life, people just don't put in the effort and this is a direct result of peoples busy lives so how can someone detox their body? The answer is to use a good colon cleansing product. Colon cleansers make it extremely easy to achieve your weight loss goals and help your lose excess weight around the waist to produce a body with a flat stomach. Power Colon Cleanse is The Best Colon Cleanser available and you can get a free trial today. Power Colon Cleanse, will not only help you shed unwanted weight but it also helps your body run more efficiently by burning more fat and calories helping you to lose even more weight, and it does so while improving your overall health.

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An Overview of Fat Soluble Minerals and Vitamins

The next time you decide to go on a strictly fat free diet, you should know that you may end up having a deficiency of some of these very important vitamins and minerals. Fat soluble vitamins and minerals depend on fats for their absorption and also for their transportation around the body. Here are some of the fat soluble minerals that are of great importance to the body especially to bodybuilders.

Iron is a trace element that's responsible for the transport of oxygen in your body ad also for the production f energy in your body. It is responsible for how fast your body recovers. It's mainly stored in the liver, spleen and marrow. Spinach is not the only source of iron so you can relax, regardless of what Popeye says. Meat, grains, fish, beans ad vegetables are also rich I iron. Iron deficiency may lead to anemia, fatigue, excessive menstrual bleeding, digestive problems and even intestinal hemorrhaging. It is very dangerous if take in excess and it can be fatal in kids. It can cause liver and heart damage as well as lower zinc levels.

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Magnesium which is known to bodybuilders as their testosterone booster is also fat soluble. It is involved in both protein synthesis and energy production which are two crucial roles especially to bodybuilders. A deficiency will cause poor memory, confusion, irritability and severe depression. Excessive intake is rarely toxic but toxicity may cause kidney and cardiovascular problems. Magnesium sources include sea food, apples, nuts, water and meat and also some vegetables.

An Overview of Fat Soluble Minerals and Vitamins

Calcium is a fat soluble mineral that's especially important to weight trainers. It helps in maintaining a high bone density meaning that you won't fracture your bones just after picking a dumbbell. It is also involved in the contraction of muscles as well as in the transport of various amino acids and creatine as well. A deficiency may lead to muscle cramps, weak bones, stunted growth in kids and also convulsions, depression, insomnia, arthritis and eczema among other effects. An excessive intake may cause one to experience magnesium deficiency as well as low zinc and iron absorption. Sources of calcium are dairy products, fruits, seafood as well as some vegetables.

Vitamin D is fat soluble and is referred to as the sun vitamin because it I synthesized when cholesterol is influenced by unfiltered sunlight. It helps in the absorption of both calcium and phosphorus which are two important minerals in the body. A deficiency in vitamin D will ultimately lower the levels of calcium and phosphorus in the body. Toxic effects cause vomiting, calcifying of veins, abdominal cramps and increased thirst. Sources are tuna, butter, egg yolks and liver.

Vitamin E is an excellent antioxidant and its sources include nuts, oils, beef, seafood and celery among other sources. It is also good at preventing and curing simple illnesses such as the common cold. Deficiency though rare will be shown by acne, decreased fertility, cancer ad gall stones among other effects. If taken in excess I can lead to diarrhea.

An Overview of Fat Soluble Minerals and Vitamins

Dane Fletcher is the world's most prolific bodybuilding and fitness expert and is currently the executive editor for BodybuildingToday.com. If you are looking for more bodybuilding tips or information on weight training, or supplementation, please visit http://www.BodybuildingToday.com, the bodybuilding and fitness authority site with hundreds of articles available FREE to help you meet your goals.

What To Do When You Dog Has Diarrhea?

I'm almost sure that you have been through at least one incident of dog diarrhea, but if you haven't, you can be sure that sooner or later you will.

Knowing before hands the steps to take when your dog has diarrhea will give you peace of mind when the time comes.

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In this article you'll learn the main causes, symptoms and treatments you can apply if your dog has diarrhea.

What To Do When You Dog Has Diarrhea?

Causes

If a dog has diarrhea it could have been caused by different reasons:

  1. The most frequent event is called dietary indiscretion which occurs when a dog eats something it shouldn't be consuming. This could typically happen on holiday seasons when a lot of cooking goes on and dogs are exposed to ingestion of new foods which they haven't consumed before.

  2. Oftentimes the ingestion of leftovers causes an upset GI. Sometimes a dog's owner won't notice when it has been digging into the trash eating up all the leftovers. Other times dogs eat things they find around the yard, which provokes diarrhea.

  3. A sudden change in dogs' regular food, allergies to certain foods and poor quality dog foods could be other causes.

  4. Parasites like giardia can also cause intermittent diarrhea. This microscopic parasite causes a fluctuating wax and wane diarrhea that happens suddenly.

  5. Viral and bacterial infections in the digestive tract can also cause diarrhea, as well as certain medications.

  6. Another common reason is stress, which can bring an episode of sudden diarrhea in dogs and puppies.

Symptoms

  • The clearest sign of diarrhea when your dog gets anxious at the front or back door is that there is urgency and often times they would pass lose watery stools. Although there are times when the dog will not urge you, you'll find some watery stool on the floor at some time during the day, which would typically indicate that they have diarrhea.

  • A less obvious and sometimes confusing sign of diarrhea is when the dog seems to be straining. Sometimes it rely looks like constipation instead of diarrhea. Diarrhea upsets the normal rhythm of the muscles contraction in the dog's GI tract.

  • Other symptoms are fever, lethargy, malaise or discomfort, loss of appetite and dehydration.

How to treat it?

Most healthy dogs experience that occasional episode of loose stool and just simply overcome it normally. In these cases, the issue was likely caused by something that it ate which it shouldn't or by a stressful situation.

However, any dog may become ill due to chronically diarrhea. Puppies, small dogs and seniors are at higher risk of dehydration after one round of diarrhea; so it's important that your pet has access to fresh and clean drinking water at all times, and you should also encourage them to drink water.

If the dog seems to be fine after a bout of diarrhea, just keep an eye on it, but if you notice sluggishness or fever or any changing behavior, then you should contact your veterinary.

If you see blood in your pet's stool, or it seems to be week or have other signs of weakening along with the diarrhea you should also contact your vet.

If it seems to be fine, but continue to have bouts of diarrhea, you should then make an appointment to have the vet check the causes.

When going to the vet, you should bring along a stool sample, even if it is watery. This will help the vet to correctly diagnose and identify the problem.

If your pet is an adult, is healthy and behaving normally, but has diarrhea, I recommend you not to feed it for 12 hours. During this time the dog should continue drinking water.

After 12 hours you can feed the dog with a bland fat - free diet, like ground turkey with 100 % pure pumpkin or fresh cooked pumpkin. You'll be cooking the turkey to remove all the grease or extra fat it may have.

You could also feed your pet with cooked sweet potatoes or even instant mashed potatoes as a replacement to pumpkins. I know you've heard about ground beef and rice before, but even lean ground beef contains a lot of fat which can exacerbate diarrhea. Also, even though rice is bland it is very fermentable, and you'd want to avoid having fermented rice in the dog's GI to avoid gasses.

Whenever a dog has diarrhea it will absorb pure pumpkin or sweet potatoes much better. Just mix the cook turkey and the pumpkin or sweet potatoes 50/50 and feed 2 - 3 small meals a day until their stool looks normal, which regularly occurs within 72 hours.

What To Do When You Dog Has Diarrhea?

Don't miss out my next post where I talk about a super effective dog diarrhea treatment. Click here to go straight to it.

Facts About Gallbladder Disease

Gallbladder disease is one of the leading causes of problems with digestion that result in hospital admissions. Did you know that around 10% of the population (on average) in most Western countries has gallstones? Most of these are "silent" but about 4% of patients with stones develop symptoms each year. For about half of them, the symptoms reoccur within 12 months. More men than women suffer from acute gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis), whereas more women than men experience gallstones (men have more kidney stones), and married women with children have more gallstones than unmarried women. The term "gallbladder disease" is in one sense a misnomer, for it is the liver, bile ducts and gallbladder that form the system that enables your body to digest fats and all are likely to participate in gallbladder problems.

I have always said that doctors generally see health problems as conditions with symptoms requiring drugs, whereas surgeons see health problems as conditions requiring the knife, and when a patient is admitted with abdominal discomfort surgeons are often keen to remove the gall bladder as it is believed that it 'serves very little purpose' and that the patient can "live comfortably without it". This is a ridiculous and very untrue notion however, and I want you to think twice about having your gallbladder removed, because over half of people I have seen who had their gallbladder removed still had the same digestive problem they started with in the first place unresolved, yet now without their gallbladder. Once it is out that is it, it does serve a purpose like every organ you were born with and having your gallbladder removed will affect your health to some degree. For some patients, the removal of their gallbladder had a major consequence on their health down the track. For others, it was a minor consequence.

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A surgeon I once spoke to many years ago mentioned that the gallbladder operation was one frequently performed in larger hospitals by the younger surgeon to "bring them up to speed" in the operating room. He said that it was a relatively easy operation lasting from thirty to forty minutes enabling them to gain surgical experience before they move onto "bigger and better things" as far as abdominal surgery is concerned. I can't help wondering if all the gallbladder operations performed are really that necessary, because they are so quick to take it out these days. The apprentice mechanic will first be introduced to the engine by learning to replace the spark plugs before he is allowed to work deeper into the engine. If the plugs were removed, carefully cleaned and then replaced they generally last a long time. But then again, today more than half the stuff we buy is made in China and it is "chucked" as soon as it is even slightly defective!

Facts About Gallbladder Disease

What is the gallbladder's function?

Your gall bladder's main function is to collect and concentrate bile produced by the liver that the body uses to digest fats. Think of bile a bit like you would dishwashing liquid. Have you ever tried to wash dishes with fat or grease on them in water without dishwashing liquid? Not really effective is it? Not at least until you squirt a little dishwashing liquid into the warm water then they are clean in no time. Your gallbladder makes plenty of its own type of "degreasing liquid" called bile. Bile becomes up to twelve times more concentrated in the gallbladder (and hence much more effective) than it was in your liver. Think about this, with your gallbladder gone, your liver now has to produce, store and secrete bile. It can do this but not as effectively as it can without that little purse called the gallbladder hanging by its side.

The liver makes between 600 - 900 mls of bile each day, and what is not sent during meals to the duodenum (beginning of your small bowel) directly via the liver's main duct to emulsify fat, it is diverted through a smaller duct (branching off the main liver duct) to the gallbladder for storage until required. When fat in a meal reaches the duodenum (where most of the food you eat is digested and absorbed), hormones enter the circulation and along with nerve signals, stimulate the gallbladder to contract. This contraction, assisted by the small intestine's contractions, induces the gallbladder's small round muscle and the stored bile is propelled into the duodenum where it mixes with food from your stomach and pancreatic juices from the pancreas by way of the pancreatic duct. If you eat a fairly fatty meal (fish and chips for example) your gallbladder can empty completely within one hour. It is this combination of bile and fats that can make one feel "queasy" at times after a fatty meal.

Bile itself is made up of water, salts, fatty acids, lecithin, cholesterol, bilirubin, and mucus and has two main functions. The first function is to help in the absorption and digestion of fats, and the second to eliminate certain waste products from the body, especially excess cholesterol and the haemoglobin from worn out red blood cells, which have an average lifespan of 3 months.

In particular, the bile

(1) increases the solubility of fat-soluble vitamins, fats and cholesterol to assist in their absorption,
(2) stimulates secretion of water by the colon to help move its contents along,
(3) is a medium for excretion of bilirubin (the chief bile pigment) as a waste product of destroyed red blood cells, other waste products, medical drugs and their degradation products, and other toxins.

Bile salts are in fact re-absorbed into the small intestine, and re-secreted into the bile after extraction by the liver. All bile salts in the body re-circulate some 10 to 12 times a day by means of this so- called enterohepatic circulation. In each circulation small amounts of bile salts enter the colon where bacteria break them down for excretion with the feces.

Who is the greatest at risk of gallstones?

o Female gender: women outnumber men at least 2:1.
o Family history
o Forty or more years of age
o 3 children or more
o Diet: low calorie, low cholesterol, low fat. (especially a diet like this after a diet high in fat)
o Diet: previously high in refined carbs, alcohol, chocolate, chips, etc.
o Smoking
o High cholesterol history
o Constipation history
o Rapid weight loss
o Obesity
o Food allergy history
o Dehydration due to not enough water
o Liver problems like cirrhosis or past hepatitis infection
o Sensitive to penicillin antibiotics

Signs and symptoms of gallbladder problems

I have seen many women in the clinic who have for years on and off never felt quite well in terms of their digestion. Many have experienced a low grade ill feeling, a digestive discomfort which was put down to indigestion, constipation or diarrhoea or even a "grumbling appendix". They go on for years and years with digestive symptoms and never realise that they may be related to a gallbladder problem. That's because they are so inter-related with other digestive symptoms and too easy for their doctor to say: "You are fine; there is nothing to worry about". Constipation is one of the most commonly missed complaints, and so is farting. Don't be embarrassed here, we all fart, some men (and plenty of smallish children) enjoy boasting about it but women do it too and are generally totally embarrassed. Flatus is most common in bed when you first lie down, during the night or when you get up. This is because your bowel changes its position and gas more easily escapes through the anus with the large intestine in a horizontal rather than in a vertical position. Don't laugh, but do you sometimes feel fat, frumpy and farty and at times "sicky" after eating a fatty meal like fish and chips or chocolate? Does your partner joke about how much you "let off"? Then you may very well have a gallbladder issue.

The Four F's

Have you heard about the four f's? We learn when we study medicine that women who are "fat, fertile, forty and flatulent" are often the gallbladder girls. They are much more prone to having gallstones or a sluggish liver and gallbladder. The following list provided here may be related to gallbladder but please bear in mind that it could also be something else. The first four symptoms mentioned are the most indicative of gallbladder issues. It is not necessary to have all or many symptoms to have gallbladder problems but the more you have from this list, the more confirmation you have that your gallbladder is involved. Please note that it is still advisable to consult your GP for an accurate diagnosis.

Signs and symptoms of impending gallbladder problems (If you answered yes to the first four (with an asterisk) go to your health-care professional for a more accurate diagnosis.)

  • Pain or tenderness under the rib cage on the right side, could be central too*
  • Pain between shoulder blades, central but could be under the shoulder blades*
  • Stools light or chalky colored*
  • Indigestion after eating, especially fatty or greasy foods*
  • History of gallstones or gallbladder removal in your family
  • Weight gain after recent digestive troubles or after gallbladder removal
  • Frequent use of antacids
  • Nausea
  • Dizziness
  • Bloating
  • Farting
  • Burping or belching up gas easily after meals
  • Feeling of fullness or food not digesting
  • Diarrhea (or alternating from soft to firm)
  • Constipation (or simply skipping a day here or there)
  • Headache over eyes, especially right
  • Bitter fluid comes up after eating, could be a slight reflux and very subtle
  • Frequent use of laxatives

Being big is actually in itself a big risk factor in gallbladder problems, and women with a BMI (body mass index) of 30 or greater are more than double at risk than women who have a BMI of 25 or less. Although a decrease in weight reduces the risk of gallstone formation, there is a 15 to 25 percent increase in gallstone formation during or immediately following weight loss! I have seen this with several patients over the years; they have lost weight and are proud of if only to experience digestive problems and then a bad bout of pain within twelve to eighteen months after the weight loss. A major heart study in America discovered that women with Type 2 Diabetes were almost twice as likely (41.8 percent versus 23.1 percent) that non diabetics to have gallstones, and the risk was highest amongst the 30 to 59yr old group.

I always ask a person these standard questions when they come in with a (suspected) gallbladder dysfunction - "Did you loose weight recently, say in the past two years?" "Have you been on a fat free diet lately?" "What kind of foods/drinks do you like to habitually have?" By asking the right questions, you would be surprised how many will actually tell you what is wrong with them, and their answers can point right to the heart of the problem. In my observation, the main factors leading to gallbladder attacks and dysfunction are obesity (and rapid weight loss (for example1 pound a week); "fat-free" diets are especially bad.

Poor dietary habits - especially too many fatty and fried foods, alcohol, too much dairy food like cheeses and full cream milk, refined sugars and starches, high protein foods (in excess), food allergies, parasites, long-term use of birth control pills, and a sedentary (couch potato) lifestyle. The Atkins diet craze caused a lot of gallbladder problems, for example. Once these factors are operating, bile produced in the liver and flowing through the biliary ducts into the gallbladder becomes too thick, the bile ducts may then become obstructed, gravel and stones may form (90% of all gallstones are cholesterol), and the whole biliary system may become clogged. Other causative factors include insufficient water consumption, a weak immune system (increases likelihood of infection in the gallbladder), as well as diabetes and various liver diseases.

Prevention of gallbladder problems lies in controlling obesity, diet and adequate intake of consuming water, and the use of appropriate physical exercise. Louise Hay, an interesting lady who wrote the famous book "Heal Your Life" way back in 1976 with regard to how emotions can trigger physical problems, mentions that anger, aggressiveness, and bitterness can result in gallbladder problems. Keeping the immune system strong and the liver and small intestine healthy is very important too. Let's look now at some non-medical alternatives once gallbladder problems are evident, and also how to prevent this problem in the first instance.

Food allergies

Often finding and eliminating food allergies can stop frequent attacks of gallbladder pain and prevent unnecessary surgical removal. In one study, avoidance of allergens relieved symptoms in 100% of 69 patients with symptomatic gallstones or post-cholecystectomy (after the operation) syndrome (uncontrolled trial commented on by Dr. Alan Gaby, USA). I'm not convinced just testing for antibodies in terms of food allergies is the way to go, try also: muscle testing, you may know somebody who does do electro-dermal testing. Either way, try going on an elimination or allergy diet, it may be the answer to your problems.

For recurring gallbladder pain - suspect food allergies in just about 100% of patients. On average I find that they are reactive to 4 or 5 foods, and according to Dr. Jonathon Wright, one of America's most experienced natural medicine doctors, egg is generally always one of the prime food allergens involved. There are over 800,000 cholecystectomies (gallbladder operations) performed in USA per annum, they cost ,000 US to perform. If you do the math here, effective preventative natural medicine treatment could spare 4 billion US dollars with gallbladder conditions alone. I can imagine how many of the operations are performed needlessly in NZ each year, and it is truely amazing how many people I have seen who have their gallbladder out only to find that it did not fix up the problem they originally went to the doctor for in the first place.

Other medical methods of handling gallstones in the gallbladder include attempts to fragment them with sonic shock waves (lithotripsy). Of course there are other times when surgery may become necessary, such as in perforation of the gallbladder (often from gangrene) or where for example non-benign tumours and cancers are present. All this is what I call "crisis medicine," so common in the orthodox medical procedures used in the hospital system. Does it not make sense to prevent a gallbladder condition in the first place rather than waiting for disaster to strike and then to take action?

How is your back?

See your Chiropractor; you may have mid-thoracic vertebral subluxations. If you have back issues, your fourth thoracic vertebrae may a bit "dodgey", you could be looking at a subluxations which means a slight dislocation (misalignment) or biomechanical malfunctioning of the vertebrae (the bones of the spine). These disturbances may irritate nerve roots and the blood vessels which branch off from the spinal cord between each of the vertebrae, and if this is what is happening around the middle of your back it could be affecting your gallbladder.

Gallbladder removed? - take bile salts

I always recommend that a patient who has had their gallbladder removed take bile salts (digestive enzymes) because fats & oils are not properly digested and absorbed by these folk. I always give bile salts when I give them fish-oil, or Vitamin A. Digestive enzymes are essential for those who have had their gallbladder removed, they will feel a lot better for taking them regularly. Their digestion will improve, their bowels will work better and they will feel less full and bloated. For patients who do not improve their diet following surgical removal of the gallbladder the removal leaves the person with an increased risk of colon cancer. Although fast relief of some symptoms can follow this surgery, the relief is often short-lived and the basic causes are still present. If you have lost your gallbladder, the regular use of bile salts at the start of meals can help substantially, including better processing of the fat-soluble essential nutrients such as essential fatty acids and vitamins A, D, E, and K. Probably the best way to tell if you are using enough bile salts is to monitor the colour of the stool. If the colour is lighter than the normal brown colour, or is even a light beige or yellow, this implies insufficient bile flow; with it's under absorption of essential nutrients, and a need for more bile salts. Such a need for more bile salts will be greater after a meal with greater amounts of fats and oils. Talk to your Naturopath more here, he or she can recommend a product which should work well. I generally find that the digestive enzymes prescribed by your Naturopath to be stronger and much more effective than the retail (health-food shop) products. That is why they are classified as "practitioner-only" products. My website (see resource box) explains more about "practitioner-only" products.

Useful herbal supplements with liver & gallbladder complaints: Swedish bitters, milk thistle, chamomile, peppermint, greater celandine, gymnema, gravel root, dandelion leaf & root, chicory, rhubarb, burdock, cramp bark, ginger root, fennel, and turmeric.

Homeopathic medicine: one of the most specific homeopathic medicines is Chelidonium 30C, and I recommend this remedy for patients who complain of right-sided pains radiating through the back, pains radiating to the right shoulder blade region. It is mainly thought of as a liver remedy, but I find it fantastic for gallbladder disorders as well.

Diet

Eliminate refined sugar and other refined carbohydrates, because it is these foods which in particular increases the cholesterol saturation of bile. Gallbladder problems don't generally happen in under developed countries, they are a phenomenon of the Western developed world. We call these sorts of health problems the "diseases of modern civilisation". You will find that our Western diet is the highly refined one, most people eat foods from the supermarket and our diets are the ones high in the refined sugars, starches and flours. Foods and drinks to strictly avoid One of the worst beverages to drink with gallbladder issues is coffee whether decaffeinated or not, it aggravates symptoms by causing the gallbladder to contract along with sugar. So, sugar and coffee is not a good idea! I also tell patients to avoid chocolate, deep fried foods and saturated animal fats in general. Most tell me that they cannot tolerate these foods anyway, so listen to your body and avoid what makes you feel unwell or sick.

Gallbladder foods which have a particular favourable effect include beetroot, Brussels sprouts, fennel, sauerkraut, parsley, artichokes, pears, granny smith apples and the bitter foods such as rocket, endive, chicory, and capers.

Consume a little olive oil daily One way to prevent build-up of gallstones is to eat some oil, particularly extra virgin olive oil, daily; this encourages the gallbladder to contract and to daily "sand dump" its contents into the small intestine, preventing sludge from accumulating and forming gallstones.

Treatments

Warm castor oil packs. All you need is 200ml castor oil (try the chemist or supermarket), and old saucepan, an old cloth, and an old towel. Just warm the old cloth in the pot of oil until it is quite warm, squeeze it out and apply it over the region of the gallbladder - central a little to the right just near where your ribcage finishes. Cover with the old towel, place a hot water bottle on top for added warmth and lie down for fifteen to twenty minutes, then rub the area for 2 minutes with an ice cube in a cloth-repeat 3 times once daily for a week can sometimes dislodge gallstones, and is especially a powerful treatment if used in conjunction with the flush and dietary approach. Careful with castor oil, it can stain.

Liver and gallbladder flush

there are many different gallbladder and liver flushes that will work if you have had recurrent gallbladder problems and your diet has been typically Kiwi. You really need to work in with your health-care professional like your naturopath here. I have guided many patients through this procedure the past twenty years and have never experienced a problem, and to be honest have very rarely found somebody with a "gallstone too big to pass" as some may fear.

For a gallbladder "attack" try these recipes Here are a couple of tips to try with acute pain, if the pain doesn't subside, seek medical opinion.

o Drink 1 tbsp of apple cider in a glass of apple juice (warmed). This should relieve the pain quickly.
o In a small glass add ¼ tsp turmeric, ¼ tsp cumin, and ½ tsp Manuka honey - top with boiling water, stir to dissolve and mix together, drink when warm. Take: 3 times a day.
o Citrus tea: have 3 glasses daily of tea made by boiling for 20 minutes in water the rind of a grapefruit.

Recommendations stopping future gallbladder attacks

1. Each morning, drink a "gallbladder attack flush"; 300mls Apple juice (or dilute with water), 3 cloves of raw finely chopped garlic, 1-2 inches of raw finely chopped ginger root, mix well in blender. This drink helps soften sludge and helps prepare your gallbladder to dump rubbish.

2. Liver & gallbladder flush. One simple flush is to drink 3 Tbs of extra-virgin olive oil with the juice of a lemon before retiring and on awakening for at least 3 days, or until no more stones pass. I have other flushes but tend to use them in a consultation with the patient only. This is one procedure in my opinion you are best not to do yourself at home without any guidance, but get the advice from a qualified Naturopath, preferably one with experience in this area.

3. Eat a well balanced diet of 50% raw or partially steamed foods and fresh juices, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts/seeds. This low saturated fat, high fiber diet is a must for healing gallbladder disorders. Flaxseed and olive oil are great additions to your diet for repair and prevention of gallstones. Bitter foods (see below) are a great addition, and will help prevent a build up in future. The two top foods to consume? - Lemon juice and olive oil.

4. Increased your intake of Vitamin C can help with gallbladder ailments. Replenish your vitamin C stores by eating plenty of vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. Good sources include capsicums (red/green/yellow), berries, lemons, and broccoli/green leafy veg. I recommend a high grade Vitamin C powder daily for the prevention and maintenance of many conditions in the body.

5. Herbal detoxification products may be helpful in stopping and reversing a gallbladder attack. I suggest using formulas that use organic, whole herbs. There are some excellent products available, just ask your herbalist or naturopath.

3 tips for after the gallstones have passed

o Dr. Dick Versendaal, a Chiropractor from America recommends his "carotid-umbilicus technique". For the best results, it is to used every 15 minutes for 1-3 hours as follows (it's easier if someone else does it on you than you try to do it yourself ): using the index finger, apply a steady pressure into the belly button for 5 minutes, such as to depress the belly button 1-1 ½ inches (but avoiding pain). Do this once a day for up to 12 weeks after the stones are passed, it will help your gallbladder a lot.

o Firm rubbing for at least 30 seconds1-2 times a day of the neuro-lymphatic reflexes (these points may feel quite tender if you have gallbladder issues) between ribs 3 and 4, and ribs 4 and 5, just to each side of the breastbone, and between ribs 5 and 6 just under the nipple of the right breast can be quite helpful.

o Also softly holding (not pressing or rubbing) for at least one minute the neurovascular reflexes at the anterior fontanel (front of head the baby's soft spot near crown of head- locate at tip of middle finger when the wrist crease of either hand is placed on the eye brows and the middle finger extended onto the midline of the skull) and at the hairline on the forehead directly above the outer corner of each eye. Look for the "tender spots", you will find them.

Facts About Gallbladder Disease

Eric Bakker is a registered Naturopathic Physician with a Bachelor Degree of Science majoring in Complementary Medicine. Eric is past Vice President of the New Zealand Natural Medicine Association with 20 years of clinical experience in natural medicine.

Eric runs a busy online practice and specializes in distance patients. He has many patients throughout the world in countries such as America, England, Australia and several other English speaking countries.

Patients keep in touch via Skype or the telephone and can easily book consultations online through his popular website. Patients can login as Members and have access to a full range of "Practitioner-Only" products and many free member-exclusive handouts and reports. Products are dispatched daily and we pride ourselves on our fast and professional service.

Eric can help you with many chronic health conditions, especially with liver, gallbladder and bowel complaints. Eric specializes in candida yeast infections, thyroid and adrenal fatigue patients.

Join The Naturopaths regular e-newsletter and receive a FREE Healthy Foods Chart just for subscribing. Just go to http://www.unhub.com/ericbakker and become a newsletter subscriber today!

The Importance of Diet Before and After Gallbladder Surgery

The gallbladder, a small organ situated near the liver, is the cause of the gallbladder disease, an illness that affects millions of people each year. Fats cannot be digested through normal procedures, a special substance is needed by the body in order to digest them. This substance is called bile, and is created by the liver. The gallbladder has the role of keeping the bile produced in the liver until fats enter the stomach. In this moment the gallbladder releases the bile and fat is digested and absorbed by the body through the intestine's walls. When the body gets older, problems can occur in the gallbladder - the bile crystallizes and small stones form inside the pear-shaped organ - gallstones. These stones may be a problem and sometimes this problem can only be fixed through surgery.

Recent research has proven that diet has an important role both in preventing the gallbladder disease and after the surgery too.

\"Fat Free Diet\"

People who are trying to lose weight fast and have a diet designed specially for this purpose are at a much greater risk of developing gallstones inside the gallbladder. This is because a fat-free diet changes the composition of the bile and increases the amount of cholesterol in it. Furthermore, if someone does not eat enough fat substances, no bile is needed by the stomach so bile remains unused in the gallbladder. Bile that stays in the gallbladder too long and also has a lot of cholesterol will surely start to cristallize and form gallstones inside.
A medicine that reduces the concentration of cholesterol from the bile was created, but it has not been approved yet. With its help bile could spend more time in the gallbladder before the cristallization process occurs, because cholesterol helps this process speed up.

The Importance of Diet Before and After Gallbladder Surgery

Also, after someone was operated and his/her gallbladder was removed, a special diet must be followed after the surgery. If the gallbladder was removed then the bile and the fat digestion cannot be controlled properly by the body. So if you eat too much fat, the stomach can't handle it because there isn't enough bile to digest it all, and it eliminates it quickly through diarrhea.

Here are a few tips that must be respected by those who had their gallbladder removed and those who have problems with it and with gallstones:

-do not eat large meals. It's better to eat more smaller meals

-do not eat too much fatty foods

-drink low-fat milk

-do not try to suddenly loose a lot of weight

Diet is an important factor in many diseases, and gallbladder is just one of them. A healthy diet can prevent this illness because certain substances found in food help the body eliminate some of the gallstone which could cause problems. If you eat many fresh vegetables not only will you reduce your risks of getting gallstones, but you will help prevent a lot more diseases, so remember how important diet is for your health.

The Importance of Diet Before and After Gallbladder Surgery

More informations about Gall bladder or gall bladder removal can be found by visiting http://www.gall-bladder-guide.com/