Left Side Abdominal Pain Under Ribs – Causes & Remedies Covered by Dr. Berg

Summary

This video script delves into left-sided abdominal pain, focusing on the potential issues with the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. It explains the bile production process and the risk of pancreatitis due to gallstones or obstructions. The script highlights biliary sludge as a possible cause of pain, which is hard to detect but can lead to gallstones. It suggests solutions like reducing carbs, managing insulin levels, and taking purified bile salts to improve bile flow and reduce inflammation. The video also touches on the importance of diet and lifestyle changes to prevent such health issues.

Takeaways

• 📍 Pain under the left rib cage can be related to organs like the liver and pancreas.
• 🧪 Bile is produced in the liver, stored in the gallbladder, and helps in fat digestion.
• 🔗 The bile ducts and pancreatic ducts join in the mid-part of the abdomen, which can be a site for blockages.
• 💧 Pancreatitis often results from excessive alcohol, gallstones, or in 40% of cases, an unknown cause.
• 🌡 Biliary sludge is a pre-gallstone condition with thickened bile that's hard to detect in medical imaging.
• 🚫 Biliary sludge is not from high cholesterol levels but from a lack of bile to regulate cholesterol.
• 💊 Adding purified bile salts can help thin cholesterol and improve drainage.
• 🍚 Reducing carbohydrates and grains can help decrease insulin levels, which can deplete bile reserves.
• 🚫 High estrogen levels, from birth control or pregnancy, can increase the risk of gallstones by affecting bile.
• 🥜 Omega-6 fatty acids from vegetable oils and nuts can increase insulin and create resistance, affecting bile flow.
• 🍺 Alcohol consumption should be limited to reduce irritation and potential for pancreatitis.
• 🌽 GMO corn with glyphosate can irritate bile ducts and should be avoided for better bile health.
• 📅 Taking purified bile salts in the morning and evening on an empty stomach can help maintain bile flow and reduce inflammation.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video script?

The main focus of the video script is to discuss the potential causes of left-sided abdominal pain, particularly under the rib cage, and the role of the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder in this condition.

What are the two main organs located on the left side of the abdomen mentioned in the script?

The two main organs located on the left side of the abdomen mentioned in the script are the liver and the pancreas.

What is the function of bile and how is it stored and used in the body?

Bile is made in the liver, drains through ducts, and is mostly stored and concentrated in the gallbladder. It is then released into the small intestine to aid in the digestion of fats when eating.

What is the role of the pancreas in digestion?

The pancreas produces enzymes that aid in digestion, particularly lipase for breaking down fats, and other enzymes for digesting proteins and carbohydrates.

What is pancreatitis and what are its common causes?

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas, which can be caused by excessive alcohol consumption, gallstones, or, in up to 40% of cases, an idiopathic (unknown) cause.

What is biliary sludge and why is it hard to detect?

Biliary sludge is a thickened bile that is a precursor to gallstones. It is hard to detect on imaging tests like CT scans, MRI, or ultrasound because the crystals are very small.

How does a lack of bile lead to an increased risk of gallstones?

A lack of bile can lead to an increase in concentrated cholesterol, as bile is essential for regulating cholesterol levels in the body. When bile is lacking, cholesterol can become concentrated and form biliary sludge, which can lead to gallstones.

What dietary changes can help reduce the risk of gallstones?

Dietary changes that can help reduce the risk of gallstones include reducing carbohydrates, practicing intermittent fasting, decreasing grain consumption to lower insulin levels, and avoiding too much estrogen which can deplete bile reserves.

Why are vegetable oils and nuts potentially problematic for gallbladder health?

Vegetable oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids, which can increase insulin and lead to insulin resistance, potentially causing problems with bile production. Nuts and nut butters, which are also high in omega-6, can irritate the gallbladder area.

What is the role of alcohol in the development of pancreatitis?

Excessive alcohol consumption is a common cause of pancreatitis because it can lead to the production of toxic substances that irritate the pancreas and cause inflammation.

What is the suggested solution for improving bile flow and reducing inflammation?

The suggested solution is to take purified bile salts, preferably one in the morning and one in the evening on an empty stomach, to help thin the cholesterol material and allow for proper drainage and reduced inflammation.

Outlines

00:00

🤕 Left-Sided Abdominal Pain and Its Causes

This paragraph delves into the potential causes of left-sided abdominal pain under the rib cage. It discusses the presence of the liver and pancreas in this area, the role of bile ducts and the gallbladder in bile storage and concentration, and the function of the pancreas in producing enzymes like lipase to break down fats. The paragraph also explains how gallstones or obstructions can lead to pancreatitis due to back pressure in the pancreatic ducts. It highlights biliary sludge as a possible cause of pain, which is a thickened bile that is hard to detect and can lead to clogged ducts and inflammation. The solution suggested includes adding purified bile salts to thin the cholesterol and improve drainage.

05:03

📞 Support for Keto Diet and Digestive Health

The second paragraph offers assistance for individuals interested in the keto diet or those experiencing difficulties with it. It mentions the availability of a keto consultant for support, specifically for people in the US, with an aim to expand services in the future. The paragraph provides a contact number for those seeking help with their keto journey, emphasizing the importance of proper guidance and support to ensure a smooth transition or maintenance on the diet.

Keywords

💡Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain refers to discomfort or aching in the stomach area. In the video, left-sided abdominal pain under the rib cage is the main focus, which can be associated with issues in organs like the liver and pancreas. The script discusses how pain in this region might indicate problems with these organs or their related ducts.

💡Liver

The liver is a vital organ that performs numerous functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of bile, a fluid that aids in digestion. The video mentions the liver's role in bile production and its position on the right side of the body, which is relevant when discussing left-sided abdominal pain.

💡Pancreas

The pancreas is a gland that secretes enzymes for digestion and hormones for blood sugar regulation. The video script explains its role in producing lipase, an enzyme that breaks down fats, and how obstructions can lead to pancreatitis, which is connected to the theme of abdominal pain.

💡Gallbladder

The gallbladder is a small organ that stores and concentrates bile produced by the liver. The script discusses the gallbladder's function and its potential to develop gallstones, which can cause pain and obstructions in bile ducts, relevant to the discussion of abdominal pain.

💡Bile Ducts

Bile ducts are tubes that transport bile from the liver to the gallbladder and then to the small intestine. The video explains how obstructions in these ducts can lead to back pressure and pancreatitis, illustrating the connection between bile duct health and abdominal pain.

💡Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas, often caused by gallstones or excessive alcohol consumption. The script describes how pancreatitis can result from obstructions in the pancreatic ducts, which ties into the overall theme of the video regarding abdominal pain causes.

💡Biliary Sludge

Biliary sludge refers to a thickened substance in the bile ducts that can be a precursor to gallstones. The video script explains that this sludge is hard to detect and can cause obstructions, leading to pain and inflammation, which is a key point in understanding the causes of left-sided abdominal pain.

💡Cholesterol Crystals

Cholesterol crystals are solid forms of cholesterol that can form in bile when bile salt levels are low. The video mentions that a lack of bile can lead to the formation of these crystals, which can contribute to biliary sludge and gallstone formation, directly relating to the video's theme of abdominal pain.

💡Bile Salts

Bile salts are substances that help emulsify fats and cholesterol, aiding in their digestion and absorption. The script suggests that adding purified bile salts can help thin cholesterol and improve bile flow, which is a potential solution for the issues causing abdominal pain discussed in the video.

💡Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance is a condition where the body's cells do not respond properly to insulin, leading to high blood sugar levels. The video script connects insulin resistance to an increased risk of bile depletion and gallstone formation, which is relevant to the discussion on abdominal pain.

💡Keto Consultant

A keto consultant is a professional who provides guidance on the ketogenic diet, which is a low-carb, high-fat diet. The video script mentions a keto consultant as a resource for viewers interested in this diet, which may be relevant to managing conditions related to the topics discussed, such as pancreatitis or gallstones.

Highlights

The video discusses left-sided abdominal pain, particularly under the rib cage.

Mentions the presence of the liver and pancreas on the left side of the body.

Explains the bile production process in the liver and its storage in the gallbladder.

Describes the role of the pancreas in creating and secreting enzymes for digestion.

Details the anatomy of bile and pancreatic ducts and their junction.

Discusses the potential for gallstones or obstructions causing back pressure in the pancreas.

Presents pancreatitis as a possible cause of left-sided abdominal pain.

Introduces the concept of biliary sludge as a pre-gallstone state.

Explains the difficulty in detecting biliary sludge through imaging techniques.

Discusses the impact of biliary sludge on bile ducts and the potential for blockage.

Clarifies that biliary sludge is not related to high cholesterol levels or diet.

Suggests the importance of bile in regulating cholesterol and preventing gallstones.

Advises on the use of purified bile salts to thin cholesterol and improve drainage.

Recommends lifestyle changes to promote bile production and reduce gallstone risk.

Warns against the overconsumption of vegetable oils and nuts due to their inflammatory nature.

Points out the negative effects of alcohol, GMO corn, and glyphosate on bile ducts.

Emphasizes the role of purified bile salts in maintaining bile flow and reducing inflammation.

Offers assistance for those interested in the keto diet or needing support with it.

Transcripts

now i've talked about right-sided abdominal pain  but i really haven't talked too much about pain on  

the left side other than maybe one video and  it's really hard to find so this video is on  

what happens if you have pain underneath the  rib cage on the left side what could that be  

you have the liver here you have the pancreas here  so your liver is right here and your pancreas is  

on the left side you have the gallbladder on  the right side and then you have all these  

little tubes that help drain bile biles made in  your liver it drains through these little tubes  

they're called ducts and most of it gets stored  in the gallbladder and it's concentrated by  

five to seven times so then when you eat it gets  contracted and it squeezes out through here into  

your small intestine well you also have a pancreas  that makes enzymes so the enzymes especially like  

when you're dealing with fats the pancreas  releases the enzyme called lipase which helps  

break down the fats but there's other enzymes as  well that are created by the pancreas and secreted  

if you look at this area right here which is  kind of right in your below your stomach area  

right here in the mid part you have a joining  of these bile ducts with the pancreatic ducts  

so if by chance there's some type of gallstone  or obstruction in the in these pipes right  

through in here or down here there's going to  be back pressure that goes into the pancreas  

because these enzymes are now dissolving and  irritating itself so typically pancreatitis  

comes from either way too much alcohol or  gall stones but up to 40 percent of the time  

there's an idiopathic cause and that means  unknown cause but if you look up more data on this  

there's an indication that you have  something called biliary sludge  

it's kind of a pre-state or a pre-gall stone  where you're getting this thickened bile sludge  

that is very hard to detect on either a cat scan  mri or even ultrasound because the crystals are  

very very small and i'm going to put a link down  below if you want more information about this but  

what happens if you have sludge that's kind  of clogging up these little pipes right here  

and you have these little valves that might not  close properly we're not getting the drainage it  

can back up and create this right here so this  sludge is concentrated cholesterol crystals  

this does not come from having high cholesterol  or consuming too much dietary cholesterol it comes  

from having a lack of bile because it is the bile  that is a key thing in your body to help regulate  

this amount of concentrated cholesterol it's  the bile that helps keep the cholesterol thinned  

and when you're lacking bile your risk for gall  stones increase you get more biliary sludge  

and you start getting these crystals the solution  is not necessarily to go on a low cholesterol diet  

it's to add more purified bile salts because  when you do that that will help to thin this  

cholesterol bile material and allow drainage to  occur but if we go deeper and talk about what you  

need to do to make sure that your body produces  more bile there's several things that you can do  

cut your carbs down that's called healthy keto do  intermittent fasting cut down the amount of grains  

that you consume because when you increase grains  you increase insulin and too much insulin can  

deplete your bile reserve also too much estrogen  can do it too so if you're taking birth control  

pills or even when a woman is pregnant and she has  a spike in estrogen that can mess with the bile  

that's why women that are pregnant have a higher  risk of getting gallstones same thing with women  

that are taking estrogen replacement therapy  vegetable oils are omega-6 highly inflammatory  

this can also increase insulin and create insulin  resistance which then creates a problem with that  

having too many nuts or nut butters can give you  too many omega-6 fatty acids and irritate this  

area right here of course we talked about alcohol  you're going to have to cut down your alcohol to  

no more than a six-pack on a weekend number seven  corn most corn is gmo that means it has glyphosate  

which is very irritating to the inner lining of  your bile ducts right through in here also it's  

a carbohydrate and then of course taking purified  bile salts this would be very very important take  

one in them in the morning on an empty stomach  and take one in the evening on an empty stomach  

and that can gradually help keep this flow opened  and keep it drained and reduce the inflammation  

all right thanks for watching before you  go if you have a question about a product  

or you're new to keto and you want to know  how to begin keto or you're on keto and you  

need a debug because it's not going as smooth i  have a keto consultant standing by to help you  

this is just for the people in the us hopefully in  the future we'll be able to answer everyone's call  

but i put the number down below  so you can call and get some help