What foods help with hemorrhoids

What foods help with hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are common, with up to 40% of Americans suffering from these swollen blood vessels. But it’s also an embarrassing condition that people are reluctant to discuss. That’s because hemorrhoids are located in and around the rectum and anus, often cause itching, irritation, and pain with bowel movements. 

Hemorrhoid pain is made worse by irregular, firm stools and the straining required to pass them. For relief from painful hemorrhoids without the need for medical intervention, strive to get 28 grams of fiber every day (for a 2,000-calorie diet).

Fiber is a nutrient that’s essential for digestive health. It’s an element of many plant-based foods that the human body can’t break down, so it keeps your digestive tract clean and bowel movements soft.

When hemorrhoid discomfort starts affecting your quality of life, Elvira Klause, MD can help. She offers a range of nonsurgical hemorrhoid procedures, from sclerotherapy to rubber band ligation. These treatments cut blood supply to the enlarged vessels, allowing them to disappear.

But before you turn to laxatives or an in-office hemorrhoid treatment, try adjusting your diet to reduce constipation and prevent hemorrhoid pain. Get more fiber by adding these foods to your diet.

Legumes

Legumes include beans, peas, chickpeas, and lentils, to name a few. Legumes are high in soluble and insoluble fiber, which are both important for a healthy digestive tract. They help give stools bulk to reduce straining and decrease your risk of developing hemorrhoids.

Just one cup of lentils contains about half the daily recommended amount of fiber. Adding legumes to your diet is a quick and easy way to get more fiber and minimize hemorrhoid pain.

Whole grains

Whole grain foods contain all parts of the grain, including the high-fiber germ, bran, and endosperm. While white flour and the foods made with it have less fiber, choosing whole-grain options gives you more fiber without sacrificing taste.

Oats, barley, quinoa, brown rice, corn, and whole-wheat flour all have gut-healthy benefits. When you’re shopping, look for breads, cereals, and other foods made with whole grains.

Cruciferous vegetables

Cruciferous vegetables are broccoli, cauliflower, arugula, kale, radishes, cabbage, and more. They’re high in fiber, and they encourage regularity and high-quality stools. Toss some of these healthy options into your next salad to fight hemorrhoid pain.

Plus, these cruciferous veggies offer more than just fiber. They contain other chemicals that your digestive system breaks down, which diversifies and strengthens the healthy bacteria in your gut.

Pears

Pears are some of the best fruits to choose if you need to eat a diet with more fiber. One pear has about 6 grams of fiber. When you eat pears, be sure to eat the peel because that’s where most of the fiber is.

Another fiber-packed fruit that makes an easy snack is the apple. Apples have about 5 grams of fiber each.

Berries

Pears and apples aren’t the only fruits with fiber. Berries of all kinds — including blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries — are all high in fiber. 

Snack on berries to add more fiber to your diet. While all berries are a good choice, raspberries tend to have the most fiber, with about 8 grams in a cup.

Water

Although water isn’t a food per se, it’s a crucial element of a gut-healthy diet. Staying hydrated boosts fiber’s effects in your digestive tract and makes stools softer and easier to pass. Make water your beverage of choice to prevent hemorrhoid pain.

The amount of water you should drink each day varies depending on a number of factors like your age and activity level. Talk to Dr. Klause to determine how much water is enough to keep you hydrated. 

If you’re fighting hemorrhoid pain, focus on adding the above foods to your diet. Strive to avoid certain foods and beverages that can make constipation and hemorrhoids worse, including:

  • High-salt foods

  • Fried foods

  • Spicy foods

  • Dairy products

  • Red meat

  • Caffeine

  • Alcohol


Eat a healthy, nutritious diet to encourage regularity and prevent hemorrhoid discomfort. If you’re still bothered by uncomfortable hemorrhoids, Dr. Klause is here to help you find relief. Call our office or request an appointment online to learn more about your options.

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Yet, certain techniques can prevent or provide relief for those affected by hemorrhoids. Your diet and lifestyle choices play a big role in managing this condition. Certain foods can help to reduce symptoms while others can cause a flare-up.  

Read on to learn more about finding the best diet for those that suffer from hemorrhoids.

The Main Causes of Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids result from inflamed veins in the anus and rectum. This can cause sensitivity, itching, hemorrhoid pain, and bleeding. They also make bowel movements more painful and difficult and may produce mucus discharge.

Certain activities or situations can cause a flare-up to occur. This includes bathroom habits like straining while trying to pass a stool. Doing this may cause rectal veins to swell.

Waiting too long to go to the bathroom can harden your stools and make them more uncomfortable. Be sure to use a comfortable sitting position when going to the bathroom. Don't stay on the toilet for long periods as this creates extra pressure. 

Heavy lifting or an inactive lifestyle may also contribute to hemorrhoids. Sitting for long periods of time puts a strain on your rectal veins. Weight gain is another cause of this condition. 

Some people develop hemorrhoids after an illness that causes repetitive constipation or diarrhea. You can even get hemorrhoids from coughing too much or too intensely.  

Hemorrhoids often occur in pregnancy for many women as well. This is caused by an increase in weight and pressure on the organs. 

An unhealthy diet leads to constipation and other digestive problems. Hemorrhoids can develop from this and symptoms can worsen. 

The Best Diet for Hemorrhoidal Sufferers

The right diet can help prevent hemorrhoids and find relief from their symptoms. Here are 5 helpful tips to follow a proper diet for hemorrhoids sufferers. 

1. Stay Hydrated All Day Long

One important tip is to drink plenty of water. This keeps you well hydrated and helps with bowel movements. Aim for at least 8 glasses of water a day.  

Constipation can come from dehydration, which only complicates hemorrhoids further. Drinking plenty of water also helps you digest fiber to avoid constipation. 

It helps to consume foods with high water content as well. Watermelon, celery, and cucumbers are all great choices. 

2. Fill up on Plenty of Fiber

A hemorrhoids high fiber diet helps to regulate your bowel movements. It increases the amount of water in your stools and also makes your stools more normal and easier to pass. Fiber can reduce symptoms of hemorrhoids and make it less likely that bleeding will occur. 

Fiber is also important for keeping you feeling fuller for longer. This means you're less likely to snack on unhealthy foods that can cause digestive issues.  

Along with protein, it's a key nutrient for those who follow a regular workout routine. Physical activity is another helpful way to avoid hemorrhoids.  

Be sure to include both soluble and insoluble fiber in your diet. Soluble fiber makes it easier to dissolve food in water. Insoluble fiber helps bowels to move along through the intestines. 

Some of the best food for hemorrhoids includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts. Broccoli, apples, black beans, pears, peas, lentils, and bananas are high in fiber. Brussel sprouts, raspberries, brown rice, oatmeal, barley, and prunes are other good choices. 

Fruit skins are a great source of insoluble fiber so be sure to leave them on. Taking a fiber supplement can also be helpful for hemorrhoids. 

3. Focus on Foods High in Flavonoids

Flavonoids are plant-based chemicals that offer anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. These phytonutrients repair tissue damage and support the lymphatic drainage system.  

They also help with weight management and can lower your risk of obesity. Carrying around extra weight has a connection with developing hemorrhoids. 

Research shows that flavonoids can be effective in treating hemorrhoids. You can find flavonoids in tea, red wine, and citrus juice. Spinach, kale, and onions also have a high content of these nutrients. 

4. Limit Foods That Can Cause Constipation

Foods that cause hemorrhoids are often low in fiber. This leads to constipation which worsens the condition. 

Avoid processed foods and refined carbs, like white bread and pasta. Having a gluten or wheat sensitivity should also call for a special diet like this. 

Dairy products, like cheese, yogurt, and milk can also increase constipation. Avoiding red or processed meat can be helpful as well. 

5. Maintain a Healthy Gut 

Your gut health has a lot to do with how your digestive system functions. Good and bad bacteria live inside your gut and it's important to maintain a balance between the two. 

Probiotics can help enhance your gut health and promote healthy bacteria. You'll find these in foods like kombucha, kimchi, and miso.  A plant-based diet is also good for detoxifying your body. 

Foods to avoid with hemorrhoids include fried food or those high in saturated fat. Spicy food can also upset your stomach and cause irritation when going to the bathroom. Avoiding spicy foods will also help reduce acid reflux. 

Caffeine and alcohol are other culprits that can disrupt your gut function. Too much sodium can dehydrate you and increase bloating.  

Finding Permanent Relief from Hemorrhoids

The right diet plan is a key tactic in preventing and finding relief from hemorrhoids. A diet for hemorrhoidal sufferers should be full of fiber and healthy foods. 

Other tips for relief include sitz baths, witch hazel pads, and anti-inflammatory creams. There are also a few non-surgical treatments, such as the CRH banding technique, to help get rid of hemorrhoids. Learn more about Dr. Starpoli's effective treatment options for hemorrhoids.