Article: The gall of gallstones: fatty foods and high cholesterol increase your chances of developing stones. Here are tips to help avoid them.(DIGESTION)(Fiber foods: the latest on why fiber is a great thing.)

The gallbladder is one of the few organs you can live without. In fact, every year, more than a half a million Americans have their gallbladder removed. Gallbladder removal, or cholecystectomy, is one of the most commonly performed surgeries.

Gallstones are one of the leading reasons for such surgery. Older adults are particularly susceptible to forming these often painful stones.

"One of the risks for developing gallstones is high cholesterol, and the rate of high cholesterol is increased in older adults," explains Erik P. Dutson, MD, assistant professor of surgery at UCLA.

Most gallstones form when too much cholesterol builds up in bile, the ...

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