About 75 percent of people experience hemorrhoids, or swollen, inflamed veins in or around the anus or rectum, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, NDDIC. Blood in your stool or on toilet paper after wiping are the most common symptoms of internal hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids that form outside of your anus may cause blood clots, triggering pain and bleeding. Medications and lifestyle changes, including dietary changes, can help manage your symptoms while hemorrhoids heal.
Function
Although dietary changes are not known to cure hemorrhoids, they may help reduce swelling and other symptoms, such as pain and strain during bowel movements, according to the NDDIC. Fiber, an indigestible carbohydrate, promotes stool softness and guards against constipation, which can cause and worsen hemorrhoid flareups. Your diet should also contain plentiful amounts of nonalcoholic fluids, as dehydration can also contribute to constipation and bowel strain.
Helpful Foods
As a whole, Americans consume about 15 g of fiber daily, an amount well below the American Dietetic Association's recommended 25 g per day for women and 38 g per day for men. To increase your fiber intake and better manage your hemorrhoid symptoms incorporate fiber-rich foods, such as beans, lentils, fruits, vegetables and whole grains into your eating routine. One cup of cooked lentils, split peas or beans provides 15 to 16.5 g of fiber. Raspberries are top fruit sources of fiber, contributing 8 g per cup. Cooked dark green vegetables, such as broccoli and turnip greens, provide about 5 g per cup. Additional fiber-rich foods include whole grain bread, oatmeal, popcorn, pearled barley and nuts.
Foods to Avoid
Keeping low-fiber foods to a minimum leaves ample room in your diet for nutritious, high-fiber fare. Filling up on fruit juice, for example, which often contains no fiber, may keep you from eating fiber-rich whole fruits. Other low-fiber foods include white bread, enriched pasta, instant rice, pretzels, potato chips and refined cereals, such as puffed rice. The McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign recommends that people with hemorrhoids eliminate or cut back on caffeine and alcohol, because they can cause dry, small stools.
Dietary Supplements
Dietary supplements may provide a useful option, particularly if you have difficulty meeting your nutrient or fiber needs through food alone. The fiber supplement psyllium may help soften your stool, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, and minimize hemorrhoid pain. Healthy bacteria known as probiotics, which may be reaped from supplements or from foods, such as yogurt with "live active cultures," may help prevent and treat hemorrhoids. Dietary supplements can cause side effects and interact with medications, so seek pre-approval and guidance from your doctor.
