Hemorrhoids are a common problem. By age 50, one out of every two adults are affected by the embarrassing condition. Though symptoms vary — itching, tenderness, or rectal bleeding — they can be unpleasant and, at times, alarming.
Hemorrhoids may resolve on their own with at-home care. But if your symptoms are bothersome or not improving, our team of gastroenterologists at Digestive Disease Consultants of Orange County can help.
We develop personalized treatment plans based on the type of hemorrhoids you have and your symptoms. However, no matter the type or severity, we always make diet suggestions to alleviate your discomfort and prevent future problems. We want to share with you some of the best and worst foods for hemorrhoids.
Add more fiber-rich foods
One of the best ways to avoid hemorrhoids is to add more fiber-rich foods to your diet. Fiber is a type of carbohydrate your body can’t digest. It adds bulk and moisture to your stool, making it easier to pass, improving bowel movements and preventing constipation.
Constipation and straining during a bowel movement adds stress and pressure to the anal tissue, leading to the development of hemorrohoids.
To add more fiber to your diet, include foods such as:
- Whole grains (barley, oats, whole-wheat bread)
- Fruits and vegetables
- Legumes (beans and peas)
- Nuts
- Seeds
You need to up your fluid intake when adding more fiber to your diet to help keep things running smoothly. Too much fiber and not enough water causes or worsens constipation. The Mayo Clinic recommends 12 to 16 cups of fluids a day.
Limit foods that exacerbate symptoms
In addition to adding high-fiber foods to improve bowel movements, you want to avoid foods that may worsen or cause constipation. Though your constipation trigger foods may differ, some of the most common include:
- Milk
- Cheese
- Processed foods (white bread, chips, crackers, cookes)
- Red meat
- Fried foods
You may also want to limit alcoholic beverages, which leads to dehydration and may result in constipation. Spicy foods don’t back up your bowels, but they can increase pain and discomfort associated with hemorrhoids.
Making changes to your diet may alleviate your hemorrhoids and the related symptoms, but if your hemorrhoids worsen or fail to improve, we can help.
For internal hemorrhoids, we use the FDA-approved CRH O’Regan System, which efficiently and comfortably removes hemorrhoids without surgery.
What you eat or don’t eat can affect how long you suffer with hemorrhoids. If diet fails to alleviate your symptoms, contact the office nearest you, which includes Irvine, Huntington Beach, Tustin, and Foothill Ranch, California, by phone or online today.
