Diet Food List For Bleeding Hemorrhoids
Saturday, August 1, 2020
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Symptoms
What to avoid on the table
Astringent foods
What about lemon?
Irritating foods
Diet for hemorrhoids
Aid from physical activity
A very common and annoying disorder that can
be countered with a healthy diet and an active lifestyle, but before
complications arise.
Improperly, the term hemorrhoids often refer
to dilations of the veins (varices) of the anus and rectum due to constitutional,
family, and environmental factors.
To be more precise, hemorrhoids are anatomical
structures that we all have in the anal area: these are three hemorrhoidal pads
or columns (also called gavoccioli) present in the anal canal (two on the right
and one on the left), formed by a sort of ball of blood vessels, through which
the blood circulates, and fixed by fibrous ligaments that keep them adhering to
the anal wall.
The amount of blood that enters and exits is
regulated by very small valves which, consequently, favorthe swelling and
deflation of these pads. When hemorrhoids undergo dilation there is the
so-called
hemorrhoidal disease which, as anticipated, can depend on various
factors, including constitutional and family, as well as environmental.
Among the former there is reduced elasticity
of the venous walls and circulatory problems, while among the latter we find:
obesity
disordered eating habits
a diet too high in fat and low in fiber
chronic constipation
pregnancy
smoking
alcoholism
very strenuous jobs or sports that force you
to stand for a long time
sedentary lifestyle.
In particular, hemorrhoidal pathology seems to
be particularly favored by all those factors capable of causing relaxation and
a breakdown of the supporting ligaments of the hemorrhoids, especially when the
intrarectal pressure increases (like when pushing hard). With the relaxation of
the tissues, the blood vessels dilate (a condition further favored by any
diseases or disorders of the circulation, including a malfunction of the small
valves that regulate the swelling level of the hemorrhoids) whereby the
bearings become enlarged and also the mucous membrane that it coats the
internal mucous membranes ends up weakening, tears and bleeds.
Symptoms
Hemorrhoids can stay for a while without
giving symptoms, but when the affected area becomes inflamed, the discomfort
begins:
itch
heartburn
tenesmus (continuous feeling of having to
evacuate or insufficient evacuation)
swelling around the anus
pain in defecation.
In the most difficult and neglected cases,
complications can occur: major bleeding, anal fissures (fissures of the skin
around the anus), and intense pain, which make the evacuation difficult and
troubled. Furthermore, a prolapse may appear: the hemorrhoids move and slide,
coming out on the anal margin. Prolapse, which can reach various degrees, is
often accompanied by a sense of discomfort and heaviness at the level of the
anus.
In the worst cases, surgery may be necessary
which may not be conclusive, persisting the basic cause, which is almost always
constipation. That is, all that can induce constipation (sedentary lifestyle,
various foods, and drugs).
What to avoid on the table
The two worst enemies of our hemorrhoidal
veins are astringent foods (which absorb water) and irritating ones. Both hurt
the walls of the intestine and rectum and on those of the vessels.
Astringent foods
They are foods that have non-digestible
components that tend to absorb water increasing in volume and thus causing a
relaxation of the walls of the colon.
In this way, they prevent the normal
contraction, necessary to push the slag to the lower part of the intestine
where the stool will form. The feces can become dehydrated and accumulate
becoming difficult to expel, thus requiring an abnormal effort that can favor
the appearance of hemorrhoids.
In this regard, we are on the alert: wheat
bran, known for its beneficial effects against constipation can, in some cases,
become too bulky aggravating the situation.
To prevent this from happening, it is best to
avoid astringent foods such as:
carrots
potatoes
rice
dried fruit
banana
aged, fatty and fermented cheeses
canned goods
shellfish
too fatty sweets and dehydrated eggs found for
example in mayonnaise and industrially produced sweets.
What about lemon?
The astringent power of lemon juice has been
known since ancient times. However, if a few drops of lemon juice is added to a
large glass of water to be consumed every morning on an empty stomach, and a
few minutes before sitting at the table for the main meals, the intestine seems
to regain physiological regularity, to the full advantage even hemorrhoids.
Irritating foods
As for the foods that cause irritation and
inflammation in the intestine - and which can, therefore, aggravate the hemorrhoidal
symptomatology - the subjective factor must be considered.
In practice, the same foods could be well
tolerated by one person suffering from hemorrhoids and, on the contrary, become
annoying for another.
Generally considered irritating to the mucous
membrane of the intestine:
coffee
cocoa (and also chocolate)
spices (mustard and pepper in particular) and
of course also spicy foods in general
tomatoes and spicy tomato sauces (ketchup)
vinegar
carbonated drinks
radishes
pepperoni
eggplant
truffles.
To these are added too salty foods, sausages,
greasy sauces, fries (fried and fried). As condiments better to opt for olive
oil or flaxseed oil and apple cider vinegar.
In general spicy foods are considered
irritating. The red pepper, however, contrary to popular belief, could even
have an anti-inflammatory action. But it should be used in moderation,
preferably in powder form and after cooking. However, even in this case, what
matters is listening: the reaction is subjective.
Even ginger, although considered a spicy food
by the presence of gingerol, is often recommended for those with hemorrhoids,
not only for its alleged anti-inflammatory action but because it seems capable
of promoting (like garlic ) the cleavage of a protein (fibrin), which
intervenes in the coagulation processes, facilitating the repair of tissues and
blood vessels.
Diet for hemorrhoids
Since constipation is one of the factors that
can promote and / or worsen hemorrhoids, it is better to enrich one's diet with
foods rich in fiber, with laxative and regularizing effects on intestinal
transit. Instead, refined foods should be avoided or limited, because the
process they undergo tends to eliminate most of the fibers.
In fact, for a correct intestinal activity, a
regular supply of fiber, quantifiable in about 25-30 grams per day, basically
guaranteed by the "famous" five portions of daily fruit and
vegetables. However, one should not exaggerate because the fibers can have an
irritating effect on the intestinal mucosa.
As for fruit, almost all types are fine, but
in particular:
prunes
apricots
kiwi
melon
pere
cherries
chestnuts.
The ideal is to consume it fresh and, when
possible, with the peel, where the greatest amount of fiber is concentrated.
Also about vegetables, the choice is varied,
although green leafy vegetables (chicory, spinach, beets for example) and
artichokes are particularly useful. Legumes and cereals (such as oat flakes)
are also excellent sources of fiber: the former is useful both fresh and dried,
while the latter is better aimed at whole grains (also pasta and bread are
preferable on the whole version).
Valuable is then yogurt and fermented milk
containing probiotics, that is, good bacteria that thicken the host of
intestinal flora, thus allowing to maintain their balance, promoting regular
intestinal activity.
Even water has a fundamental role: it keeps
them soft and hydrated stool and allows the fibers to perform their laxative
action. It is necessary to drink a liter and a half or two a day, preferably at
room temperature and in small sips, especially between meals, starting with one
or two glasses in the morning as soon as you wake up and just before going to
bed.
Against hemorrhoids it may be useful to
include berries (such as blueberries and currants) in your diet, rich in
antioxidants, in particular anthocyanins, which strengthen the connective
tissue that supports the blood vessels, thus improving their elasticity, and
have an antihemorrhagic action.
It is also important to choose foods rich in
iron because, with hemorrhoidal bleeding, you can lose a lot of this mineral;
they are rich in it, in particular:
Food / Iron content (mg / 100 g)
Red meats (Horse meat: 3.9)
Bovine liver (8.8)
Some fish (Salmon: 0.8, Cod: 0.38, Tuna: 1.25)
Clams (Mussels: 5.8, Oysters: 6)
eggs (1.5)
Dried vegetables (Beans: 5, This: 6)
Help also from physical activity
Carrying out regular physical activity is
important, not only to counteract a sedentary lifestyle, which is one of the
triggers of hemorrhoidal disease but also to help you lose weight and thus cure
any obesity or overweight, conditions that can favor the appearance of
hemorrhoids. Moving, however, also stimulates intestinal regularity and
counteracts constipation.
However, it is necessary to opt for a moderate
practice, which does not excessively strain the abdominal muscles by increasing
the internal pressure: no, for example, to jumps and weight lifting, yes to
walking and swimming.
If there is a prolapse, sports that require
sitting (cycling, horse riding, for example) and that can be annoying must also
be avoided.