You may be able to prevent or relieve hemorrhoids by incorporating more high fiber foods, like whole grains, beans, and cruciferous vegetables, into your diet.
The pain, tenderness, bleeding, and intense itching that accompany hemorrhoids are often enough to drive you up the wall.
Also known as piles, these distended or swollen veins in the anus and lower parts of your rectum can clot or bulge if left untreated,
One major rule of thumb when trying to avoid or prevent flare-ups is ensuring you’re getting enough fiber. Fiber in your diet helps bulk up your stool and make it pass more easily, preventing straining that can make hemorrhoids more likely.
Eating high fiber foods may help relieve symptoms and prevent hemorrhoids.
Here are 15 helpful foods for hemorrhoids.
How much fiber do you need?
Most adults should get
- Females under 50: 25 to 28 grams per day
- Males under 50: 31 to 34 grams per day
- Females 51 and older: 22 grams per day
- Males 51 and older: 28 grams per day
If you are increasing your fiber content, it’s best to do so gradually to help your body get used to it.
Consuming too much fiber or increasing your intake too quickly can cause bloating and other digestive symptoms.
You can get
Legumes are the edible seeds of plants in the Fabaceae family. They include:
- beans
- lentils
- peas
- soybeans
- peanuts
- chickpeas
They contain both kinds of fiber but are
For instance,
Lentils and other legumes can bulk up your stool, making it less likely that you have to strain when going to the bathroom. This can help prevent hemorrhoids or ease symptoms.
Like legumes, whole grains are nutritional powerhouses. They retain their germ, bran, and endosperm, which contain beneficial components like fiber.
Whole grains are especially rich in insoluble fiber. This helps move your digestion along, which can help reduce pain and discomfort associated with hemorrhoids.
Remember that whole grains go beyond hearty whole wheat flour and bread. While these are good options, this category also includes:
- barley
- corn
- spelt
- quinoa
- brown rice
- whole rye
- oats
Oatmeal is an especially good option to include in your diet when trying to reduce symptoms of hemorrhoids.
It contains a specific kind of soluble fiber called beta-glucan, which benefits your gut microbiome by acting like a prebiotic. Prebiotics help feed the friendly bacteria in your gut.
When shopping for oatmeal, remember that steel-cut oats take longer to cook but are less processed. They provide a more toothsome bite and about
Cruciferous vegetables include:
- broccoli
- cauliflower
- Brussels sprouts
- arugula
- bok choy
- kale
- radishes
- turnips
- cabbage
In addition to having anticancer properties, they also deliver an impressive amount of insoluble fiber.
For example, 1 cup (76 grams) of raw broccoli provides about
Cruciferous vegetables contain glucosinolate, a plant chemical your gut bacteria can break down.
They also contribute to diversity among your gut bacteria.
The diversity of gut bacteria is linked to a more resilient gastrointestinal system and improved immunity. Cruciferous vegetables’ insoluble fiber content makes them great for preventing hemorrhoids.
Artichokes are loaded with fiber, with a raw, medium-sized one (128 grams) packing about
Like many fiber-rich foods, artichokes’ fiber helps feed the friendly bacteria in your gut.
Research suggests that inulin, a type of soluble fiber in artichokes, increased the number of beneficial gut bacteria, such as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli.
Keeping your gut healthy and regular may help prevent the onset of hemorrhoids or reduce symptoms.
Root vegetables like sweet potatoes, turnips, beets, rutabagas, carrots, and potatoes are filling and packed with nutrition.
They’re rich in gut-healthy fiber, containing about 3 to 5 grams per serving.
Remember that much of their fiber is in the skin when it comes to tubers, so be sure to leave it on when you enjoy them.
Cooked and cooled white potatoes contain a carbohydrate known as resistant starch. This starch passes through your digestive tract undigested, and like soluble fiber, it helps feed your friendly gut bacteria.
As this reduces constipation, it may ease the symptoms of hemorrhoids.
The best way to incorporate root vegetables into your diet is to roast, steam, sauté, or boil them with their skin on. They’re also wonderful mashed or cut up and baked skin-on as a substitute for fries.
Squash brings color and fiber to your dinner plate from summer to winter.
There are many varieties, including:
- yellow squash
- zucchini
- acorn squash
- butternut squash
- pumpkin
The most fibrous of this bunch is acorn squash, which packs
Enjoy roasted, sautéed, or boiled squash to help keep your digestive tract moving while warding off hemorrhoids.
Another great vegetable to help with hemorrhoids is bell pepper.
About 100 grams of sliced, mild peppers deliver nearly
While not as fibrous as some other vegetables included in this list, bell peppers are very hydrating, with a water content of about
Along with fiber, getting enough water makes stool easier to pass and prevents straining.
Similar to bell peppers, celery contains a lot of water and fiber. This softens stools and diminishes the need to strain.
One large, 11 to 12-inch (28 to 31-cm) stalk provides
Slice this crunchy vegetable into salads, add it to soups or stews, or dip the stalks in your favorite nut butter.
Like bell peppers and celery, cucumbers provide fiber, water, and beneficial antioxidants to your digestive tract.
If you leave the skin on, you’ll get the most fiber.
One medium pear packs nearly
Be sure to eat this fruit with the peel on, as that’s where the hemorrhoids-defying fiber is.
Pears make an excellent snack or can be stewed or tossed into soups or salads.
Like pears, apples boast an impressive amount of fiber.
For instance, one medium red delicious apple possesses nearly
This helps soften and bulk up your stool, easing straining and aiding the discomfort associated with hemorrhoids.
While berries are considered fibrous, raspberries stand out as a fiber-packing powerhouse.
Eat 1 cup (123 grams) of raw raspberries for
Together, these nutrients can make it easier to go to the bathroom without straining.
Bananas, with their pectin and resistant starch, are ideal foods to incorporate into your diet to calm hemorrhoids symptoms. Green bananas are even higher in resistant starch.
One medium, 7–8-inch (18–20-cm) ripe banana provides
While its pectin creates a gel in your digestive tract, its resistant starch feeds your friendly gut bacteria, which may help your hemorrhoids.
Many consider prunes nature’s laxative.
Studies show that eating a moderate amount of prunes, up to
This is attributed not only to fiber but also to sorbitol. Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol that your intestines don’t digest well. It draws water into your digestive tract, softens stools, and has a laxative effect.
Stewed prunes pack a bit more water. To make them, simmer dried prunes in filtered water for 10 minutes or until soft.
Keeping yourself hydrated will help make stools softer and easier to pass.
How much water you should drink depends on age, sex, and activity level. Be sure to opt for water the majority of the time. If you need a bit more flavor, you can infuse it with lemon slices or berries.
You may occasionally reach for other fluids low in sugar, such as unsweetened or mildly sweetened teas and clear low sodium broths.
Experts generally recommend between 9 and 13 glasses daily, but it depends on what works best for you.
Try to limit foods that are low in fiber. These can worsen constipation, which can trigger hemorrhoids.
Low fiber foods to reduce or avoid can include:
- White flour: This flour has had the bran and germ removed, making it less fibrous. Products made from this type of flour include white breads, pasta, and bagels.
- Red meat: Avoid this type of meat, as it takes longer to digest and may exacerbate constipation.
- Processed meats: These foods, such as bologna and other cold cuts, are low in fiber and high in sodium, increasing your risk of constipation.
- Fried foods: These can be hard on your digestive tract and difficult to digest.
- Salty foods: They may cause bloating and make your hemorrhoids more sensitive.
You should also avoid:
- Spicy foods: While not necessarily low in fiber, spicy foods may increase pain and discomfort associated with hemorrhoids.
- Caffeinated beverages: These beverages, especially coffee, may harden your stools and make it more painful to use the restroom.
- Alcohol: Like caffeinated beverages, alcoholic drinks can dry up your stools and exacerbate the discomfort of hemorrhoids.
Hemorrhoids, or piles, can cause a lot of pain and discomfort.
While certain foods may worsen your symptoms, others can be highly beneficial.
Increasing your fiber intake may help diminish symptoms, as can staying hydrated with plenty of water.
Whole grains, legumes, vegetables, and fruits are rich in fiber. Eating more of them may help keep you regular and ward off constipation, which can lead to hemorrhoids.
However, if your symptoms don’t improve or worsen, see your healthcare professional to determine the best treatment plan for you.
