Foods to Avoid in Piles: Know 11 High Fiber Foods for Piles that really Helps

What is Piles?

Piles refers to a medical condition wherein some veins present in the lower part of the rectum or anus swell up, thereby increasing difficulty in passing stool the normal way. Added to the discomfort and pain is bleeding, often seen with the stool in the toilet. If the condition worsens or is not treated for a long time, it may even require a surgical procedure for relief.

However, research has it that Piles can be significantly treated, even avoided to a large extent, by following a healthy diet comprising certain foods that help. Food can play a vital role in Hemorrhoids, both worsening or improving the symptoms. Let’s look at some of the best food for Piles in the later sections of this blog.

What are the Different Types of Piles?

Piles is generally classified into two types –

• Internal Hemorrhoids
• External Hemorrhoids

1. Internal Hemorrhoids

The first type is found inside the anus at the start of the rectum. The condition is responsible for causing discomfort and bleeding in passing stool.

2. External Hemorrhoids

The second type of Piles condition is found outside the anal area but near it. There is generally no bleeding involved in passing stool but it can be quite painful though.

What Causes Piles?

The primary reason for this painful condition is prolonged unhealthy eating habits. Sometimes sitting for longer hours or a sedentary lifestyle also contribute to the development of Hemorrhoids. In this case, the person affected may find it extremely difficult to sit or stand.

Listed below are some of the common reasons why Piles develops:

• A diet low in fiber content
• Pregnancy may also contribute to the development of Hemorrhoids in some cases
• A sedentary lifestyle
• Obesity is a contributing factor
• Performing exercises that cause over-straining of muscles
• Prolonged constipation
• Longer hours of sitting in one place

Top Foods to Avoid with Hemorrhoids

As mentioned earlier, Hemorrhoids or Piles can be greatly improved, even avoided, by following healthy eating habits. Your diet can influence the worsening of symptoms or provide immediate symptomatic relief. Here are at least 5 items in the Piles avoid-food list:

1. White Flour Foods

Food prepared from refined white flour (Pizza, Pasta, Noodles, White Bread). White flour preparation discards bran and germ, which is nutritious. What remains is flour that is fibreless, contributing to constipation and eventually Hemorrhoids.

2. Iron Supplements

Iron Supplements must be avoided during Piles as they may harm furthering the tendency of constipation in some people. In case you have been prescribed Iron supplements by your doctor, it is best to notify them if you suffer from regular constipation or Hemorrhoids.

3. Spicy Foods

Consuming too much spice is also a strict no-no during Piles. Spice would generally worsen your bowel movement, causing extreme discomfort, even bleeding, while passing stool. It is highly advisable to keep spicy foods off your menu when suffering from Piles.

4. Processed and Deep-Fried Food Items

Processed food is another contributor to the worsening of the condition. It includes all food that is canned, packaged, and frozen. These items contain sodium in high proportion and are therefore best avoided. If possible, avoid food that is deep-fried too as it is generally difficult to digest and may worsen the symptoms.

5. Salty Foods

Salty snacks or food items are also best kept off the table during Piles. Salted chips, nuts with added salt, or any other food/snack high in salt should be avoided because the sodium content in these items is way too high. This may cause water retention in the body and also interfere with Hemorrhoids.

6. Dairy Products

In addition to the above, some dairy products may lead to gastric troubles and should therefore be avoided for Piles.

7. Red Meat, Alcohol and Caffeinated Beverages

Similarly, the consumption of red meat, alcohol, and caffeine, all have known adverse effects on healthy bowel movement and feature in the list of food to avoid in Piles.

11 High-Fiber Foods for Piles that Help

We talked about the foods to avoid in Piles as they can worsen the symptoms and make the process even more difficult and unbearable for you. However, some foods particularly help patients and even provide immediate symptomatic relief. These are fiber-rich foods for Piles and are generally advised for consumption not just to people suffering from Hemorrhoids but to everyone (to ensure healthy bowel movement and for prevention of Piles). These are:

1. Cucumber
2. Legumes
3. Banana
4. Celery
5. Whole grains
6. Melon
7. Papaya
8. Fluids like fresh juice
9. Water
10. Berries
11. Leafy vegetables