DIET FOR PATIENTS WITH HEMORRHOIDS

DIET FOR PATIENTS WITH HEMORRHOIDS

HEMORRHOIDS
CONSTIPATION
HEMORRHOIDS
CONSTIPATION

Diet Plan for Hemorrhoids Patients

Hemorrhoids can be managed effectively through dietary adjustments. A high-fiber diet, adequate fluids, and limited fats can help prevent constipation and ease discomfort associated with hemorrhoids.

Dietary Recommendation:

  1. Include foods that support Gut health, and avoid trigger foods as mentioned in Table 1.
  2. Consume fiber-rich foods such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables to promote regular bowel movements.
  3. Drink plenty of water daily to keep stool soft and ease bowel movement.
  4. Incorporate dried fruits like soaked figs, raisins, apricots, dates, and prunes for their natural laxative effects.
  5. Increase intake of leafy vegetables for additional fiber and nutrients.
  6. Incorporate fibrous grains like rolled oats, broken wheat, buckwheat, whole wheat, and millet.
  7. Limit or avoid spicy foods and strong spices like chili powder, pickles, chutneys, garlic, and onion to prevent digestive discomfort.
  8. Opt for cooking methods like steaming, boiling, or baking instead of frying to minimize added fats and promote digestive comfort.

Reference Meal Plan for Hemorrhoids

Morning
Afternoon
Night

Early Morning (6:00 AM)

• 1 glass warm water
• 1 tsp chia seeds/basil seeds with a squeeze of lemon juice OR overnight soaked in dates (3)

Breakfast (8:00 AM)

• 1 cup broken wheat (dalia) upma
• 1 cup herbal tea (fennel/peppermint) / warm skim milk

Mid Morning Snack (11:00 AM)

• Soaked raisins /dried figs /prunes (2-3) OR 1 fruit (banana/
papaya 4-5 slices)

Lunch (1:00 PM)

• 1 cup cooked rice OR 2 small whole wheat fulka
• 1 cup green moong dal
• 1 cup spinach/methi curry (use less spices)
• Chicken curry made with minimum spices.

Afternoon Snack (4:00PM)

• Boiled sweet potato OR 1 fruit (orange/sweet lime/guava)

Note: If hungry in between, include a glass of buttermilk

Dinner (8:00 PM)

• 1 cup buckwheat khichadi (buckwheat + yellow moong dal) /2 small millet fulka
• 1 cup bottle gourd (lauki) curry
• Fresh vegetable salad ( cucumber, carrots and beetroot)

Bed Time

• 1 cup warm milk with pinch of turmeric powder

GUT Healthy Super Foods to Include
Trigger Food to Avoid

Probiotic Foods
Yogurt, buttermilk, and fermented foods like Idli, dosas, dhokla, fermented kanji, kimchi, kefir, and kombucha

Processed Foods
• Sugary cereals, packaged snacks, processed meats, Frozen foods, sweets with artificial colors and flavors
• Foods containing Artificial Sweeteners

Fiber Rich Foods
• Foods high in Soluble Fiber: Oats, barley, chia seeds, apples, citrus fruits like oranges and sweet lime, figs, strawberries, carrots, peas and ladyfinger
• Foods High in Insoluble Fiber: Whole-wheat flour, wheat bran, millets like sorghum (jowar), pearl millet (bajra), foxtail millets (ragi), dals like Bengal gram (chana dal), green gram (moong dal), Kidney beans (rajma), vegetables, such as cauliflower, green beans are good sources of insoluble fiber

Low Fibre foods
Refined Flour Products:
White bread, pav, instant noodles, pasta, and biscuits

Prebiotic Foods
Onions, garlic, bananas, barley, and apples
Packaged fruit juices and soft drinks Excess intake of tea/coffee Alcohol

Healthy Fat Source
Cold pressed (kachhi ghani) oil – mustard, groundnut, coconut, olive oil, ghee, fatty fish, avocados, nuts like almonds and walnuts

Unhealthy Fat Sources
Refined oil, vanaspati, and excess intake of fried foods

Additional Tips:

  1. Limit street and junk food intake for their low fiber and nutritional content.
  2. Consider ginger or spice tea (cumin, coriander, fennel, carom seeds) post-meals to get relief from constipation symptoms.
  3. Create a healthy snacking routine eg. a serving of fruit, steamed sprouts etc.
  4. Engage in regular physical activity to stimulate digestive tract muscles and promote bowel movements
  5. Practice stress-reduction techniques like meditation and deep breathing to support digestive health.
  6. Prioritize good quality sleep of at least 7 hours.

References:

  1. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for Hemorrhoids. What should I eat if I have hemorrhoids? (October 2016). Available at https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/hemorrhoids/eating-diet-nutrition. Accessed on 28th March 2024.
  2. Bellini, M., Tonarelli, S., Barracca, F., Rettura, F., Pancetti, A., Ceccarelli, L., Ricchiuti, A., Costa, F., de Bortoli, N., Marchi, S., & Rossi, A. (2021). Chronic Constipation: Is a Nutritional Approach Reasonable?. Nutrients, 13(10), 3386. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13103386
  3. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Wellness and Prevention. (n.d). Your Digestive System: 5 Ways to Support Gut Health. Available at https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/your-digestive-system-5-ways-to-support-gut-health.