Pain, itching, burning, bleeding – besides being physically irritating, bleeding hemorrhoids are a constant source of embarrassment for those who suffer from them. Who wants to decline a dinner invitation or a chance to go check out a new hiking trail because of this? Who wants to deal with frustrating discomfort all the time? No one. And the good news is that you can take effective steps to avoid this condition or to relieve it if you have it. The first step is to know what triggers the condition.
People over fifty and those with a family history have a higher chance of developing this condition, and unfortunately, we can’t change either of these things. We can, however, make some easy changes that will reduce our risk. The biggest factor in the development of these inflamed veins is also one that we can easily control: diet. We hear about the benefits of good diet all the time, but we may not realize how essential it is to preventing and treating hemorrhoids. Fiber is the key nutrient. It helps regulate bowel movements and also bulks up and softens stool. How can you add more fiber to your diet? It’s easy. Here are some easy ways:
• For breakfast, eat a whole grain cereal. There is a huge variety available, so you can find many that appeal to your taste buds. For an added splash of flavor, put a handful of berries on your cereal. Not only are they sweet, they’re packed with fiber.
• Enjoy snacks like apples and pears, which have about four grams of fiber each.
• A lunch of lentils or other dried beans or lean meat on whole wheat bread with a small salad will provide plenty of filling fiber to get you through the afternoon.
• Dinner can be a plate of whole grain pasta or vegetable and mixed grain stir fries, lean chicken, beef, or pork, and plenty of dark green vegetables.
These are only a few suggestions. Adding fiber into a diet is easy because the variety of foods is so large. You don’t have to eat the same foods day after day. The American Dietetic Association recommends that people eat between 20 and 35 grams of fiber each day. The average American only eats between 5 and 10 grams. Poor diet is one of the leading causes of bleeding hemorrhoids, so add more fiber. You’ll also see improvements in heart health, cholesterol levels, and weight loss: good diet affects our entire bodies.