Health Tip: Losing Weight? Reduce Your Risk of Gallstones

If you're among the millions of people who are trying to lose weight, you may not realize that you could be at greater risk of developing gallstones.

The U.S. National Institutes of Health's Weight-control Information Network offers these suggestions to help lower your risk:

• Try to lose weight at a slow pace, generally between 1/2 pound to 2 pounds per week.
• Eat plenty of fiber-rich foods, such as whole wheat bread, brown rice and oats.
• Avoid refined grains and reduce your sugar intake.
• Choose healthy fats, including olive oil and fish oil, to help maintain healthy gallbladder function.
• Aim for about five hours of exercise per week.