By age 50, about half of American adults have had to deal with the discomfort of hemorrhoid symptoms, according to CNN. Hemorrhoid symptoms range from rectal itching to possible bleeding. Hemorrhoids are veins in your anus or lower rectum that have become inflamed. You may develop hemorrhoids due to strain during your bowel movements.
Dietary Changes
Factors that may contribute to the development of hemorrhoids include obesity and insufficient dietary fiber. If you are overweight, losing weight on a high-fiber, low fat diet can help relieve your hemorrhoids, according to Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology. Eating a high-fiber diet and drinking an adequate amount of fluids may provide you with hemorrhoid relief. Increase your intake of fiber gradually to avoid bloating, gas and abdominal discomfort.
Function of Fiber
Increasing the bran and other fibers in your diet as well as your fluid intake is important for hemorrhoid relief. Eating bran fiber, which is a water insoluble fiber, increases the bulk of your stool. Eating oat fiber and high-fiber fruits and vegetables, which are water-soluble fibers, while consuming adequate amounts of fluid, causes you to have softer stools that pass more easily, say physicians at Hemorrhoid Relief Broward.
Eating a Balanced High-fiber Diet
High-fiber foods include raspberries, strawberries, apples and pears with the skin, whole-wheat pasta, brown rice, cooked barley, popcorn, oat and bran cereals, cooked beans, peas, lentils, nuts and seeds, as well as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, turnip greens, corn and baked potatoes with the skin.
Fiber Requirements
Women should consume from 21 to 25g of fiber each day, while men need 30 to 38g a day, according to Mayo Clinic. You should consume six to 11 servings of whole grains, three to five servings of vegetables and two to four servings of fruit per day as part of a healthy diet for hemorrhoid relief.
