Gallstones

Usually the size of a pea, but sometimes as big as a pebble, gallstones can be extremely painful when they get lodged in the bile duct - the narrow tube connecting the liver with the gall bladder. They occur in 1 in 10 people and are particularly common in women over the age of 40 who have a less than ideal diet.

They happen when there is an imbalance in the components of bile - an important digestive juice composed of various salts and pigments. The biggest cause of this imbalance is eating a diet that's high in fat, sugar and coffee, and low in fibre found in fruit and vegetables.

So, to avoid this often painful ailment, try to cut out those tempting, unhealthy snacks and opt for fruit or crudit' of veg instead. Interestingly, beans have been found to aggravate gallstones, while olive oil has been found to improve the problem.

How about a dish that will help alleviate gallstones? Here's my recipe for Warm Red Cabbage with Walnuts...

Ingredients
1 small red onion, minced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tbsp olive oil
300 grams red cabbage, sliced thin
50 grams walnut halves
2 tbsp walnut oil or extra virgin olive oil

  • In a large wok, saute the onion and garlic in the olive oil for approximately 1 minute.
  • Add the cabbage and sauté for a further 3 minutes
  • Serve and sprinkle with walnuts and drizzle with the walnut oil
Usually the size of a pea, but sometimes as big as a pebble, gallstones can be extremely painful when they get lodged in the bile duct - the narrow tube connecting the liver with the gall bladder. They occur in 1 in 10 people and are particularly common in women over the age of 40 who have a less than ideal diet.

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