What to eat when you have hemorrhoids?
- Legumes
- Whole-Grains
- Fruits
- Cruciferous Vegetables
Whenever someone gets hemorrhoids, we hear the same pieces of advice given to them: drink lots of water, don’t eat this, or don’t eat that, with the list going on and on. For the record, sometimes they give good advice, but it becomes confusing at some point. To help you find the proper diet for your hemorrhoids, we compiled a list of what to eat when you have hemorrhoids.
When you have hemorrhoids, you would want to lessen the chances of constipation and your bowel movements to be healthy.1 You can do this by adjusting to a more fiber-rich diet. There are two types of fibers for your body:
Soluble Fiber: This type of fiber transforms water into a gel during digestion. It makes the process of digestion slower, therefore making it more thorough. This type of fiber will make your stool softer and easier to pass.2
Insoluble fiber: As the name suggests, these fibers are not soluble and add to the mass of the stool. It helps them pass through the intestines quickly.2
On average, adults should have around 25-38 grams per day. Most fiber-rich foods have both types, and both also aid in your battle against hemorrhoids. Here are some of the foods you should eat for hemorrhoids.
LEGUMES
The family of legumes is one of the best sources of dietary fiber you can find. You can consume these types of foods to make your bowel movements easier and avoid aggravating your hemorrhoids. Some legumes that are good for your digestive system include:
Beans
There are many dishes out there that use beans as ingredients. But you can also opt to eat the beans on their own. A half-cup of cooked navy beans already provides 9.6 grams of fiber. The same amount of cooked pinto and kidney beans would give 7.7 g and 5.7 g respectively.3
Lentils
Another type of legume that gives good fiber is lentils. A cup of lentils yields over 15.6 g of dietary fiber already, around half of the recommended daily intake.4
Other types of legumes you can eat include peas, soybeans, peanuts, and chickpeas. Including this in your daily diet will help you pass stool easier when you have hemorrhoids.
WHOLE GRAINS
The immediate alternative to legumes for a good fiber source is whole grains. Despite this, they are known to be rich in other nutrients as well, making them great for your overall health as well as treating your hemorrhoids.6 These foods are well-known to be rich in both types of fibers, but mostly insoluble fiber. The most common are:
Cereals
The reason why cereals make good breakfast foods is that their fiber content helps move bowel movement along in the morning. Three-fourths cup of high-fiber, bran cereal gives you 14.3 grams of fiber.3
Cooked oats
You can always rely on oatmeal to provide enough fiber for the day. With 100 grams, a total of 3.3 grams of dietary fiber will be given.5
Other options include barley, brown rice, and quinoa.
FRUITS
As usual, fruits take some spots on this list because they are naturally packed in nutrients. Of course, some fruits are especially rich in dietary fiber. Here are some of them:
Pears
It may not be obvious to most, but pears are actually good sources of fiber. A medium pear with skin provides 5.5 grams of dietary fiber already.3 Eating this after some cereals for breakfast will get you nearer to your recommended daily fiber intake.
Apples
Eating a bunch of apples every day not only keeps the doctor away but can also help you heal from hemorrhoids as well. A medium apple with skin packs 4.4 grams of fiber.3
CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES
Cruciferous vegetables help keep your bowel movements regular. A cup of broccoli (76 grams) will provide you with almost 2 grams of insoluble fiber.7 Those 2 grams will go into helping your bowel movement along with becoming additional mass for your stool. In combination with other fiber-rich foods listed here, your bowel movements will cause less straining and avoid any complications with your hemorrhoids.
What should I avoid eating when I have hemorrhoids?
In addition to adjusting your diet for high-fiber foods, you should also cut down on low-fiber ones as they cause constipation. Here is a list of some of them:
- Dairy products6/8
- White bread6/8
- Red and processed meat6/8
- Fast food6/8
Also, one of the most common pieces of advice you would hear is to avoid eating spicy foods. You should avoid eating them to keep away from any discomfort. But there is no real proof that spicy foods can cause complications like thrombosis.9
Key Takeaway
Knowing what to eat when you have hemorrhoids is crucial for helping your body heal itself. Hemorrhoids often go away on their own, but without your help, they might turn into bigger problems than they should be. Transition to a high-fiber diet right away to heal faster.
If you want an even faster method of healing from hemorrhoids, you can try Diosmin + Hesperidin (Daflon 1000)! It is an over-the-counter MPFF drug known to treat venous diseases such as hemorrhoids. It is available nationwide, just ask your local pharmacist! Learn more about it here, or check out the answers to frequently asked questions here!
1https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279466/
2https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002136.htm
3https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/hemorrhoids/eating-diet-nutrition
4https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/172421/nutrients
5https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/333008/nutrients
6https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/food-for-piles
7https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/321900/nutrients
8https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/best-worst-foods-hemorrhoids
