If you have been diagnosed with gallstones, you may be thinking about surgery to relieve the pain. But, who wants surgery if they can avoid it right?

First, understand what caused it. Second, learn about one natural remedy that may help you prevent it in the future and avoid surgery altogether.

The gallbladder is a small organ that is located just under the liver. It’s purpose is to store bile produced by the liver and needed for digesting fats.

Gallstones are a result of this bile and mostly made of cholesterol. A stone can be smaller than a grain of salt but also as large as a golf ball.

While many people have gallstones, they may not know it because it is usually not a problem. It only becomes a problem when one plugs up a duct or the gallbladder does not empty as it would normally.

If you have had gallstones or have had them in the past, there are natural remedies you can try first before you seek surgery.

The remedy to both prevent and eliminate them is a combination of fresh apples, apple juice and apple cider vinegar.

You’ve heard the old saying ‘an apple a day keeps a doctor away’. Here’s some of the benefits of apples and how they can help avoid gallstones too.

For one thing, apples offer fiber which help the body process food better. In addition, they are full of antioxidants (good for lowering cholesterol) and can help you lose weight.

In addition, among all the other benefits, apples help to soften gallstones and make it easy for them to be released by the body.

The most benefit for existing gallstones comes from combining apple juice and apple cider vinegar. The malic acid present in apple juice helps to soften the gallstones and break them up while the vinegar in apple cider prevents the formation of cholesterol, which is the main culprit of gallstones in the first place.

This combination of apple juice and apple cider vinegar not only helps to treat existing problem, but can also prevent it in the future. And, it’s one of those natural remedies that are easy to take.

In addition, the mixture can help reduce or eliminate painful flare-ups.

To use this natural remedy, simply mix one glass of fresh apple juice with one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and drink it once every day for five to six days.

After five to six days of drinking the apple juice and apple cider vinegar, use a natural gallbladder cleanse of olive oil and lemon juice. It will stimulate the gallbladder to release the softened stones. Olive oil acts as a natural laxative and helps to lubricate the stones so they can be passed easily while lemon juice helps to extract the stones from the gallbladder.

For this natural cleanse, mix a half glass of olive oil with a half glass of lemon juice. While it may seem hard to drink, it is important for removing the stones. One trick to try is using the olive oil/lemon mix on salad as dressing or with other foods.

Other than using the mixture as a short term remedy, make a habit of eating fresh apples daily even after gallstones are gone. This will help to prevent future occurrence.