When it comes to your interior plumbing, the gallbladder hardly gets any respect, shoved under the liver like some afterthought. But when gallstones pull a surprise attack by gallbladder pain, you'll wish you'd given it more thought, especially since diet plays a leading role in this drama.

Gallstones are usually harmless choirboys, with only about 10% belting out gallbladder pain--a kind of greatest hits that may include abdominal pain after eating, nausea or vomiting, fever or chills, and a yellowing of either the whites of your eyes or skin.

And here's the rub: in spite of the common deceptive link to the 'cholesterol' label, gallstones are not related to the blood cholesterol your doctor obsesses over. They form from either bilirubin or cholesterol with the cholesterol version being far more popular, like a high-cholesterol one-hit-wonder on radio play.

So how do you sidestep this whole gallstone scenario? The number one step is to change your diet, preferably before the gallstones start their own rebellion.

Cut Down the Fatty Meats: Your gallstones will not be inviting fatty meats like beef and bacon to their gallbladder party anymore. Tracking your saturated fat intake is key here.

Opt for Low-Fat Meat Options: If you still want to be a carnivore, go for leaner meats such as low-fat beef, poultry, turkey, or chicken. Better still, cut off any visible fat before cooking it.

Bring in the Seafood and Veggie Proteins: Alternatively, you can swap out the meats for fish and other seafood. Veggie proteins like beans, tofu, legumes, and peas are also excellent accomplices in your gallstone prevention plan.

In the end, while there's no definitive 'eat this and not that' type of diet for gallstone prevention, it's clear that a sensible diet could be your gallbladder's best friend. Your gallbladder may be the stepchild of your interior plumbing, but smart choices can keep it quiet, happy, and free from gallstones' torment.