The very best fruits for hemorrhoids that are excellent for getting rid of hemorrhoids are watermelon, citrus fruits and cruciferous vegetables. These food items are all rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties which help to soothe irritation, reduce swelling and improve circulation. Here’s what you need to know about each one:
Good & bad foods for haemorrhoids
What you eat and how much you drink can have a significant impact on your digestion, among other bodily functions. Making sure you’re eating a balanced diet with plenty of fibre could help to fend off constipation and prevent the development of haemorrhoids. Read on to find out more about the types of foods that can be good and bad for piles.
Diet and hydration come up a lot when it comes to maintaining good health and wellness, so it’s hardly surprising that they are also some of the possible underlying causes of haemorrhoids.
Eating foods high in fibre and drinking plenty of water helps to maintain healthy digestion and keep things moving by making our stools soft. If we don’t drink enough water or eat enough fibre, our poos can become hard and difficult to pass. In some cases, this can even lead to constipation. If you’ve had less than three bowel movements in one week this could be a sign you may be constipated.
Constipation can result in straining too much on the toilet, which puts extra pressure on the blood vessels in our bottom and can make them become swollen and enlarged. Sometimes they can bleed and become painful or itchy, and these are the common symptoms of haemorrhoids, also called piles.
Good foods for haemorrhoids
There are two types of fibre that can be found in different types of food that aid digestion, among many other health benefits:
Soluble fibre helps to keep stool soft and minimise constipation by soaking up water as it passes through your system.
Insoluble fibre helps to keep your bowel movements regular and moving through the digestive system.
It is recommended that we include about 30 grams of fibre per day so we’ve compiled a list of foods you can include in your diet that contain both soluble and insoluble fibre, as well as some culprit foods that are often associated with constipation.
FRUIT
Fruits like apples, bananas, oranges and strawberries are an easy addition to the grocery basket and a great source of fibre. Most of the fibre is found in the skins of some fruits so be sure to eat the apple peel too. If you can’t get your hands on juicy fresh fruit, canned or dried fruit is a good occasional alternative.
VEGETABLES
Brussels sprouts might divide opinion at the Christmas dinner table, but they are a great source of fibre along with other green veg like kale, broccoli, and spinach. In addition, vegetables such as peppers, celery, cucumbers, zucchini, cabbage, and lettuce also have high water content, which helps to soften the stool further.
WHOLE GRAINS
Another great way to get more fibre into your diet is by increasing your whole grain intake. Try swapping white bread for multi-grain or dark rye breads. Some good substitutions for white rice and pasta include barley, brown and wild rice, bulgur wheat, quinoa, and wholemeal pasta.
LENTILS, NUTS, SEEDS AND BEANS
The legume family and tree nuts provide more great sources of both soluble and insoluble fibre. You can supplement dinnertime staples like stews, soups, and chillies with beans, lentils and nuts, to help your digestive system create stool that’s easier to pass. Kidney beans, for instance, contain roughly 25 grams of fibre for every 100g, while just 20 almonds contain roughly 3g of fibre, so it’ll be easy to reach the daily recommendation of 30g of fibre with a varied diet of lentils, nuts, seeds and beans. The legume family includes clovers, beans, peas, chickpeas, lentils, lupins, mesquite, carob, soybeans, peanuts and tamarinds.
Bad foods for haemorrhoids
As you’ve probably guessed by now, eating too much food that is low in fibre can lead to constipation and potentially haemorrhoids as a result.
Here are some of the foods that are considered bad for haemorrhoids and that it might be best to avoid if you have them:
▶White bread and white rice
▶Milk, cheese, dairy
▶Meat
▶Processed food like some frozen ready-meals and fast food
Ultimately, the goal is to have a balanced diet that provides your body with all the nutrients it needs, while incorporating enough fibre to help produce soft stool that’s easy to pass. If you do find you need to increase your fibre intake, The British Nutrition Foundation recommends you do this gradually and make sure you drink plenty of water (about 6-8 glasses per day) whilst also fitting in regular weekly exercise.
6 Types of Food for Hemorrhoid Relief
Hemorrhoids occur when the veins in and around the anus and rectum swell and become irritated due to pressure. They can be internal (inside the anus) or external (under the skin around the anus).1 Dietary changes, like a high-fiber diet, are commonly recommended for the treatment and prevention of hemorrhoids.
Read on to learn the benefits of adding more fiber to your diet and how to do it.
Symptoms of Hemorrhoids
Some common symptoms of hemorrhoids are:
- Bright-red blood (usually painless) noticed on the outside of stool, on toilet paper, or in the toilet bowl
- Pain and irritation in the perianal area (area around the anus)
- Swelling or hard lump(s) around the anus
- Anal itching
Fiber and Hemorrhoids
Foods that are high in fiber, along with adequate (non-caffeinated, nonalcoholic) fluid intake, can make stools softer and easier to pass. This can help treat and prevent hemorrhoids.
Studies have shown that fiber supplementation can reduce the bleeding associated with hemorrhoids by 50%, though it does not appear to help prolapse (hemorrhoids that protrude outside the anus), pain, and itching.
What Are the Different Types of Fiber?
The two different types of fiber, both of which can help with hemorrhoids, are:
- Soluble fiber: Soluble fiber attracts water and turns to gel, which slows digestion. It is found in oat bran, barley, nuts, seeds, beans, lentils, peas, and some fruits and vegetables, as well as in psyllium (a common fiber supplement).
- Insoluble fiber: Insoluble fiber adds bulk to stool, and it may help food pass more quickly through the digestive system. It’s found in wheat bran, vegetables, and whole grains.
Foods High in Fiber
When increasing your fiber intake, start slowly and work your way up. Too much fiber too quickly may cause gas or bloating. It’s also important to drink enough caffeine-free and nonalcoholic fluids when you increase your fiber intake.
There are a variety of fiber-rich foods that can be incorporated into your regular diet.
Vegetables
Eating vegetables is a great way to increase your fiber intake. Try vegetables such as:
- Lettuce
- Swiss chard
- Raw carrots
- Spinach
- Asparagus
- Beets
- Mushrooms
- Turnips
- Pumpkin
- Baked potatoes and sweet potatoes with skin
- Broccoli
- Artichokes
- Squash
- String beans
- Green peas
- Collard greens
Fruits
Fruit (especially dried fruit) is another good source of fiber.
Add these fruits to your diet:
- Apples (with skin)
- Avocados
- Bananas
- Peaches
- Pears (with skin)
- Tangerines
- Prunes (stewed)
- Berries
- Figs and other dried fruits
- Kiwis
Grains
Whole grains are a tasty way to get more fiber. Try these options:
- Hot cereals, such as oatmeal and farina
- Whole-grain breads
- Brown rice
- Quinoa
- Popcorn
- High-fiber cereals, such as bran, shredded wheat, and puffed wheat
- Whole wheat pastas
- Bran muffins
Legumes, Nuts, and Seeds
To increase your intake of fiber, you can also eat:
- Lentils
- Black beans
- Split peas
- Kidney beans
- Lima beans
- Chickpeas
- Navy beans
- Pinto beans
- Sunflower seeds
- Almonds
- Pistachios
- Pecans
Foods to Avoid
Foods that contain little or no fiber can make constipation—and, by extension, hemorrhoids—worse. Limit foods such as:
- Dairy products
- Meat
- Chips
- Fast food
- Processed foods, such as hot dogs and some microwavable dinners
- High-fat and/or high-sugar foods
Not all meats need to be avoided. While they are low in fiber, fish, chicken, turkey, or other lean meats won’t make constipation worse.
Why Should You Avoid Processed Foods If You Have Hemorrhoids?
Processed foods are often high in fat and low in fiber, which contributes to constipation. Limit (or avoid) processed foods, such as:
- White breads
- Pastries
- Doughnuts
- Sausage
- Fast-food burgers
- Potato chips
- French fries
Other Treatments for Hemorrhoids
A high-fiber diet is a good start for treating hemorrhoids, but other treatments may be necessary if diet alone is not effective enough.
Home Treatments
In addition to increasing fiber intake and drinking plenty of fluids, at-home treatments for hemorrhoids include:
- Avoiding straining during bowel movements
- Limiting time spent sitting on the toilet
- Taking warm baths or sitz baths (soaking the rectal area in a shallow tub of warm water)
- Applying an ice pack or cold compress to the anal area
- Using over-the-counter (OTC) hemorrhoid treatments (under the advisement of a healthcare provider)
In-Office Procedures
Medical procedures may be required for more serious or treatment-resistant hemorrhoids.
In-office procedures work by creating scar tissue, which cuts off blood flow to the hemorrhoid, often shrinking it. Procedures include:
- Rubber band ligation: A specialized rubber band is placed around the base of the hemorrhoid to cut off the blood supply, causing the banded part of the hemorrhoid to fall off, resulting in scar tissue.
- Sclerotherapy: A solution is injected by a healthcare provider into an internal hemorrhoid.
- Infrared photocoagulation: A tool directs infrared light at an internal hemorrhoid, generating heat.
- Electrocoagulation: A provider uses a tool to send electric currents into an internal hemorrhoid.
Surgery
Rarely, outpatient surgery using anesthesia may be needed in more serious or complicated cases. This includes:
- Hemorrhoidectomy: Surgical removal of large external hemorrhoids and prolapsing internal hemorrhoids that do not respond to other treatments.
- Hemorrhoid stapling: A stapling tool is used to remove internal hemorrhoid tissue and put a prolapsing internal hemorrhoid back into place inside the anus.
How to Prevent Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids can’t always be prevented, but some measures can be taken to reduce the chances of developing them, including:
- Eating a high-fiber diet with adequate fluid intake
- Avoiding straining during bowel movements
- Avoiding sitting on the toilet for long periods of time
- Avoiding regular heavy lifting
When to See a Healthcare Provider
See your healthcare provider if:
- You are experiencing rectal bleeding (especially if it’s for the first time).
- You have new or worsening symptoms.
- You notice more blood than usual.
- Your symptoms persist after one week of home treatment.
- You have questions or concerns.
Seek immediate medical attention if:
- Your anal pain is severe.
- You are losing or have lost a lot of blood.
- Your symptoms are accompanied by abdominal pain, diarrhea, or fever.
- You feel dizzy or faint.
- You think you may be experiencing an emergency.
Remember to slowly increase your fiber intake. Consult with a healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns.
The 10 Best High Fiber Foods To Help Treat Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids or Piles is a bloody disease.
‘Hemorrhoids or Piles’ can make you bleed from your bottom. Often it happens with those who eat a lot of spicy food or those who suffer from constipation. But most of the time it is the latter case. So this disease is prevalent in those people who have a problem passing their stools.
But is there a remedy? Yes, it seems that people who consume a lot of fiber in their diet seem to have fewer chances of having this disease. In fact, there are many doctors who initially prescribe patients to consume more fibrous foods rather than giving them medicines for relief. Eating low-fat, high in fiber whole foods as recommended by your doctor could make stools softer and easier to pass and can prevent the symptoms of hemorrhoids.
That is because fiber helps a person to: –
- Enhance stools weight and softer, reduce the time feces spends in the colon
- Increase water retention in the colon, resulting in softer stools that pass more easily
- It helps reduce the pH levels in the colon, and also reduces colon transit time.
According to doctors, most people should aim to get 14 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories they consume.
There are plenty of foods that contain fiber, yet few of them are the best foods to eat to help with hemorrhoids or piles:
1. Wheat bran and shredded wheat
A 1/3–1/4 cup of high fiber in ready-to-eat bran cereal or 1–1/4 cups of shredded, ready-to-eat wheat cereal contains between 5–9 g of fiber. Wheat bran and shredded wheat, are the naturally rich source of insoluble fiber used most often for constipation and can help in normal bowel function.
2. Prunes
Prunes are dried plums, a good source of Potassium and contain many key vitamins. Pitted plums or dried prunes are an important source of insoluble fiber. Just a half cup of stewed prunes can alleviate constipation, they consist of around 3.8g of fiber.
Dried prunes are safe, and more effective, and may also help keep your tummy feel full for longer. Compounds in prunes called phenols act as an antibacterial agent in the gastrointestinal system, thereby reducing the risk of stomach infection.
3. Apples
An apple a day keeps the doctor away; apples are a great source to boost the fiber content of your diet. A medium-sized apple with its skin is exceptionally healthy which contains around 4.4g of fiber and about 64% of the fruit is insoluble. The insoluble fibers found in this winter fruit’s skin do not break down during digestion and can help you with constipation.
4. Pears
Pears are a rich source of fiber and their skin contains around 6g of fiber. Pears contain fructose that acts as a natural laxative and eating more pears could prevent piles symptoms.
5. Barley
Barley is rich in a fiber called β-glucan, which forms a viscous gel in the colon and softens the stool. Research has also shown barley may help maintain good colon health.
6. Corn or Maze
Corn is known as a maze that people have been using as a cure for piles or Hemorrhoids for many years. A cup of cooked sweet corn will have about 4.2g of fiber. Besides fiber, corn also contains strong antioxidants that prevent cellular damage from free radicals and may help reduce pain.
7. Brown Rice
Brown Rice is an unpolished whole grain; it is rich in insoluble fiber, which increases fecal weight and colon transit time. Brown rice can help relieve Hemorrhoids or piles which contain 3.5g of fiber in 1 cup of cooked rice. Brown rice is a flawless choice for diabetes if you eat it in moderation.
8. Oatmeal
A cup of cooked oatmeal will have about 4g of fiber. The fiber in oats also helps in improving gut health. It also helps soften stool, making it easier to pass without the risk of straining.
9. Lentils
Pulses or grain legumes, such as chickpeas, lima beans, lentils, and split peas, are the best sources of fiber. A cup of cooked lentils will have around 15.6g of fiber. Research shows that consuming green lentils leads to significant increases in the weight of the stool and reduces the colon transit time.
10. Berries
Berries are rich in fiber, such as blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries have a high skin-to-flesh ratio, meaning they contain a lot of fiber per serving. Raspberries are a powerhouse of fiber with one cup or 125g you can get 8 grams of fiber.