Hemorrhoids: What are they?
Hemorrhoids are varicose dilatations of the veins of the anus and rectum. Depending on whether the upper and middle hemorrhoidal plexus veins or those of the lower hemorrhoidal plexus are affected, internal hemorrhoids and external hemorrhoids can be distinguished.
The congestion of the veins surrounding the rectum and anus is a fairly frequent disorder, affecting mainly mature men.
Hemorrhoids are due to factors of a constitutional nature (weakness and reduced elasticity of the venous walls, circulatory problems) and environmental factors (excessive and disordered nutrition, low-fiber diet, constipation, pregnancy and particularly heavy work or sports).
Hemorrhoids are generally accompanied by symptoms such as itching, eczema, proctitis, fissures, bleeding and pain during evacuation. For this reason it is necessary to try to contain them with the same precautions with which constipation is fought: healthy diet and movement .
Hemorrhoid nutrition
The diet for hemorrhoids is aimed primarily at the prevention of constipation; on the other hand, in some cases hemorrhoids can also be caused by persistent diarrhea.
Both conditions, when associated with an irritable colon, can be controlled by ensuring the constant intake of dietary fiber and water.
NB . In case of diarrhea NOT from irritable colon, sometimes it may be necessary to identify the cause (celiac disease, lactose intolerance, etc.).
The fibers contained in the diet should be made especially with food, trying to privilege especially the soluble ones; alternatively, there are various specific food supplements based on soluble fiber.
Feeding for hemorrhoids should include a good dose of probiotic microorganisms (physiological bacteria) and prebiotic molecules (polysaccharides and dietary fiber).
Recall that the activity of the intestinal bacterial flora promotes the release of molecules that nourish enterocytes and improve the health of the intestinal mucosa (butyric acid and polyamines). Probiotics can also be taken with specific supplements and drugs.
The biochemical balance of the diet for hemorrhoids must fully respect the nutritional balance, with great attention on the amount of proteins and lipids. Being partially responsible for fecal pH, in the right doses they form a slightly acid substance (never alkaline); given the same bacterial flora, let us remember that fecal pH decreases with the increase of fat molecules and rises with the increase of protein ones.
Furthermore, fats have an additional protective function against hemorrhoids; in fact, in the right percentage (25-30% of the energy), they play a strongly emollient action on the faeces and promote their expulsion.
The hemorrhoid diet avoids subjecting the intestine to any form of chemical-pharmacological stress, preventing irritation, inflammation and therefore vasodilation (which would contribute to the triggering or worsening of hemorrhoids). Spicy molecules such as: capsaicin, piperine, gingerol, isothiocyanate and allicin must be avoided (chilli, pepper, horseradish, mustard, ginger, wasabi, radish, garlic, onion, shallot, etc.). Furthermore, nervine molecules such as: ethyl alcohol, caffeine, theine, theobromine (alcoholic beverages, fermented teas, coffee, cocoa, chocolate) are completely contraindicated.
Certain drugs must also be limited (in the case, it is necessary to consult the leaflet or the pharmacist) and osmotic laxatives (lactulose, sorbitol, etc.) and / or irritants (anthraquinones, phenolphthalein, etc.).
The hemorrhoid diet also limits the intake of "foreign" or unnatural molecules; among these we recognize: sodium chloride and added sucrose (salt and sugar), food additives, etc.
In the case of constipation, all astringent foods should be avoided, such as the tannins of fermented tea, unripe khaki, unripe banana, etc.
Diet and Hemorrhoids
Combat Constipation
The efforts made to eliminate hard, dry and modest-sized stools enormously increase intra-abdominal pressure and the flow of blood in the anal vessels, favoring dilation and rupture.
The hypothesis has also been advanced that the external anal sphincter, not being usually dilated by bulky stools, progressively undergoes a narrowing, which prevents adequate blood circulation in the area.
The treatment of hemorrhoids must therefore make use, first of all, of the hygienic-dietetic measures aimed at the regularization of the alvus. For this purpose a diet without irritating foods and alcoholic beverages, as well as rich in liquids and vegetable fibers is recommended.
In fact, the non-digestible residues of food tend to absorb water by stretching the walls of the colon and preventing their nervous contraction. Because of their ability to bind water, plant foods must be associated with a diet rich in liquids (at least a couple of liters of water per day), which soften the fecal content facilitating the evacuation and reduction of pain and gas.
It must however be considered that in some subjects a diet too rich in vegetable fibers causes an aggravation of constipation, while in others it causes attacks of diarrhea.
In case of Diarrhea
In addition to constipation, a situation of diarrhea with repeated episodes also tends to worsen the hemorrhoids, chemically irritating the anus and causing inflammation.
Pepper and Chili Pepper
The influence of potentially irritating foods - such as alcohol, spices (pepper, peppers, peppers, paprika) and chocolate - is instead variable from subject to subject.
In predisposed subjects, these foods can favor the exacerbation of symptoms and should therefore be limited.
Not recommended foods | Recommended Foods |
Spirits and spirits, coffee and tea, chocolate and cocoa, carbonated soft drinks, too salty foods (sausages, cheeses, canned food ...), vinegar and lemon, spices, spicy foods, fatty foods and animal fats fries and gravy, seafood and shellfish, garlic and onion, aubergines, radishes and truffles | Foods rich in fiber Oats, meat broth, beetroot, chestnut, cabbage, safflower, bran, yeast, lemon (in case of diarrhea) melon, blueberry, potato, pollen, leek, sage, dandelion, yogurt |
Supplements and Phytotherapy
See also: Herbal teas for hemorrhoids and other natural remedies
In mild forms are useful numerous herbal remedies that find fertile ground in the treatment of hemorrhoids.
These include extracts or decoctions based on yarrow, pineapple, cypress, horse chestnut, mallow, mullein and tormentilla.
To stimulate natural evacuation, one or two glasses of warm water can be used to take at the end of meals.
Constipation can improve considerably even if a regular diet is accompanied by a glucomannan supplement.
In the case of hemorrhoids, local functions with an oleito based on scrophularia, morella, linaria and linaiolo are also useful. The oily-based ointment made of cypress, five-leaf, barberry and horse-chestnut tincture, is instead indicated for its analgesic properties.
In the treatment of hemorrhoids are also used different ointments based on shark liver oil, yeast, horse chestnut and witch hazel.
We must not forget, however, that hemorrhoids can heal spontaneously and that in many cases the link between healing and foods, diet and medicines, is purely coincidental.
Do you know which foods to avoid and which are useful for hemorrhoids?
Take the Test and Evaluate Your Knowledge
Lifestyle
A sedentary lifestyle is often one of the causes of constipation and hemorrhoids. Therefore, it is essential to associate adequate exercise with a correct diet.
A simple walk, devoid of contraindications for most people, is therefore an effective drug, to be taken day by day, regularly. The bicycle, on the other hand, could cause problems in subjects in whom the haemorrhoidal disease is already overt or recurrent.
Finally, proper local hygiene is essential, morning and evening or in any case after each evacuation.
