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 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 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 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 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.
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.
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:
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.
