When it comes to the main causes of hemroids, industrialized countries have the worst track records. We tend to eat foods that are highly processed with plenty of simple sugars and little fiber or naturally occurring nutrients. In addition, we tend to spend much of our workdays sitting. Considering that the three most common causes of hemroids are constipation, diarrhea and a sedentary lifestyle, is it any real surprise that industrialized countries have the most cases of hemroids?
Of course, there are a few health conditions that can cause hemroids in and of themselves. Irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease and pregnancy can all make serious contributions towards hemroids. Even so, a fiber-rich diet and sufficient exercise can always be helpful.
The first thing to do is to make a commitment to eating and living better. Realize that this commitment is to a new lifestyle, not to a temporary diet that goes away as soon as the hemroids do. If you quit eating well as soon as the hemroids are gone, they'll soon be back. Making this sort of lifelong commitment will keep you from trying extreme (and extremely bad tasting) diets that you can't live with for very long. Most dietary fiber is found in fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans. There is a huge range and variety to be found within those four types of food, enough to fit any set of tastebuds. Instead of seeing your new diet as a penance to be suffered through, try looking at it as an invitation to explore foods you'll love.
The average human adult needs between 25 and 30 grams of fiber per day, along with about 64 ounces of water intake. More fiber and water than this can really make you miserable as your body tries to deal with the overload. Less, of course, leads to poor digestion, constipation or diarrhea. When working up to these guidelines, do remember to go slowly. Your body is not a machine that you can just suddenly add the right additives to and have it run immediately better. You're an organic being that requires a period of time to adjust to new food and water intake. Add one or two new fiber-rich foods a week, and try to add one more 8 ounce glass of water every couple of days until you reach your targets.
If you just can't get between 25 and 30 grams of fiber in your daily intake of food, you may want to look at fiber supplements like ground flax seed or psyllium seed. These aren't laxatives, they're merely insoluble fiber supplements. That means that they go right though your gastrointestinal tract without being absorbed by your body at all. They absorb water in your intestines, creating bulky, soft bowel movements that help solve hemorrhoid problems. If you start taking one of these, be extra sure to follow the directions that come with it. Failing to do so can lead to all sorts of gastrointestinal unpleasantness.
No matter the cause of your hemroids, a good high-fiber diet will help. If you've got an underlying health condition that's causing them, they may not go away completely, but they'll probably be smaller, less inflamed and less irritating. If constipation or diarrhea was the underlying cause, your hemroids should vanish completely before too long, never to return.
To find out more about hemroid diets check out our hemroids articles and hemroid treatments.
Copyright 2010. Written by Donald Urquhart. All universal rights reserved.
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