Hemorrhoid is a condition in which the veins in the rectal area become swollen causing irritation, itching, pain and sometimes bleeding. Hemorrhoids can be caused by a variety of reasons like constipation, aging, pregnancy, and childbirth, etc. There are many over-the-counter drugs, ointments and hemorrhoid wipes that can help relieve the discomfort accompanied by the condition. A healthy diet too can help cure this condition.
While fiber-rich food help alleviates the symptoms of hemorrhoids, there are certain foods that can further aggravate the discomfort. Here is a list of things that you should avoid eating when you have hemorrhoids.
Polished rice
The white rice that we generally eat is polished rice, which is completely stripped of all its fiber and nutrition. This type of rice is pure starch and its nutritional value is very low. The high amount of carbohydrate present in rice can lead to constipation and can cause a piles flare-up.
Refined grains
Refined grains like polished rice are stripped of all their nutrition as well. These grains are milled to soften their texture, which removes the germ or bran from the grains, which are its source of nutrition. With the lack of nutrition, these grains will become hard to digest and eliminate. They will sit in the intestines thereby contributing to the swelling further.
Salt
Salt, when taken in excessive amounts, slows down the digestive system, which can make your bowel movements painful. Also, the salt built up in blood can cause bloating, which can worsen hemorrhoids further.
Unripe fruit
Although fruits are especially rich in fiber, they should be consumed when ripe. Unripe fruits are hard to digest and will only aggravate the pain and discomfort caused by hemorrhoids. If you are having a flareup then consume only ripened fruit.
Dairy products
Dairy products like milk, cheese, etc. contribute to constipation and thus make your hemorrhoids worse. Taking dairy products alone doesn’t cause constipation, but they can contribute to constipation thereby increasing the pain and discomfort caused by hemorrhoids. Also, researchers have found that consuming dairy products too much can lead to the accumulation of bulks in the digestive system, which makes the stool hard.
Deep-fried food
Deep-fried foods have high fat and oil content, which are really hard to digest. Too much oil can lead to inflammation in the intestinal wall, which can make the hemorrhoids more sensitive. It is better to avoid oily food during hemorrhoid flareups.
Meat
Meat can worsen the condition of hemorrhoids, especially red meat which is pretty hard to digest and contribute to difficult bowel movements, aggravating the hemorrhoids further. When you are experiencing a hemorrhoid flareup, it is better to switch to a vegetarian diet for a while until the hemorrhoid symptoms subside.
Coffee
It is better to avoid caffeinated drinks and beverages when you have hemorrhoids as these drinks cause the stool to become dry. Dry stools can worsen the condition and only increase the pain and irritation. When you are suffering from hemorrhoids switch to decaffeinated coffee or tea for a while until the symptoms of hemorrhoids reduce.
Processed food
These days working professionals stick to the staples of processed food to meet their food requirements. In this fast-paced world, finding time to cook food becomes difficult and so instead of proper home-cooked food people have processed food more often. Processed food is hard to digest and worsen the hemorrhoid condition making it more sensitive and increasing the irritation and discomfort.
Bakery items
Bakery items like bagels and doughnuts that we love me such are all made of refined sugar and flour. Refined sugar and flours are nothing but starch and low in nutritional value. These food items are hard to digest and the lack of fibers in these items causes constipation. Bakery items thereby contribute to difficult bowel movements and increase the discomfort caused by hemorrhoids.