How can I lower my risk of gallstones?

Q:

My mother had to have her gallbladder removed, and her doctor said the gallstones that caused her trouble can be hereditary. What can I do to reduce my risk?

A:

Her doctor is right: Gallstones, or hardened deposits of cholesterol in the gallbladder, can be passed down genetically, and they are much more common in women than in men. Thankfully, there are a few easy ways to reduce your risk.

Drinking plenty of fluids can help flush the buildup of bile and cholesterol out of the gallbladder, but many of us are dehydrated in the summer, so it’s important to keep an eye on water intake. A good goal: Try to drink half your body weight in ounces of water daily. Sipping two cups of coffee or three cups of black tea daily can also help: In fact, German researchers say doing so can reduce your gallstone risk by 27% in just one week, as the acids in tea and coffee help dissolve the cholesterol buildup that causes gallstones to form.

Also smart: keeping your cholesterol levels within a healthy limit. Research in The Journal of the American Medical Association found that folks who had lower cholesterol had a notably reduced risk of gallstones. To reduce your cholesterol naturally, try taking 500 mg. to 1,000 mg. of bergamot extract daily (like Naomi Citrus Bergamot, NaomiW.com). In a study at the University of Illinois, doing so reduced cholesterol as effectively as statins in one month.

Keeping up with yearly tests on liver function and cholesterol levels is also important when you’re at higher genetic risk of gallstones. And look out for symptoms like stomach or lowerback pain after eating, especially after meals high in fat. If you experience this symptom, see your doctor, who may order tests to check for gallstones.