Diet to treat and improve hemorrhoids

Published: 07/30/2014 - Updated: 08/13/2019

This diet is geared especially towards women just after giving birth or while breastfeeding, as it’s quite common to suffer from hemorrhoids after delivery.

Hemorrhoids are varicose veins then become inflamed and appear in the anus due to several reasons, among which, is pregnancy.  This is because of the weight the baby places on the torso, especially the intestines.  Hemorrhoids are frequently varied in size, the smallest of which being nearly imperceptible unless they become inflamed. Those that are larger can frequently cause irritation during bowel movements, or while sitting.  This condition should be treated, so the hemorrhoids do not continue growing, or develop complications.  If indeed they can be cured, diet plays a huge part in the healing. 

If you have the following symptoms after giving birth, it is quite possible that you have hemorrhoids:

  • Anal bleeding
  • Pain or burning during defecation
  • You feel some sort of inflammation while washing yourself or during bowel movements (some hemorrhoids are internal and don’t appear outside the body, but they do cause bleeding and internal pain).

Hemorrhoids can be treated and cured naturally if you take responsibility of this situation right now.  Women breastfeeding must follow a special diet, so as to retain all necessary nutrients, and still be able to produce good milk for their baby.

Foods to avoid

There are several foods that create toxins and stress for the intestines, and that also harden feces, making bowel movements more difficult.  This could cause hemorrhoids to become inflamed and painful, or to bleed more.  Here, we will provide you with a food substitution table so as to avoid this, so you can eat the most nutritious foods for tissue repair, and avoid causing more damage and worsening your hemorrhoids.

There are particular foods that are extremely nutritious, and that also repair tissues, even helping to repair your abdomen and to regain firmness in the tissues, muscles, and veins.  They can also heal openings or wounds caused by birth.

Foods to avoid, and their substitutions

AVOID                                    SUBSTITUTE

Cow’s milk…………………..               Almond or oat milk

Refined sugar………………               Honey or unrefined cane sugar

Refined grains………………Whole grains, especially quinoa, or cereal bars

Lunch meat…………………..Vegetarian “meats” or strained yogurt

Salty cheeses………………..Fresh cheeses, jocoque, or tofu

Bleached rice………………..Whole grain rice (only 1 cup a day)

Of course, eliminate all soft drinks and bottled or sugared juices.  It is best, for your condition, to eat the following foods:

  • Fresh vegetable juices, with carrots, aloe (or cactus pear), and alfalfa are fantastic for helping the intestines mobilize stagnant toxins and repair tissues.  Drink it mid-morning.
  • Vegetable soups and broths.  Avoid wheat for the time being, the best grains to use right now are quinoa, amaranth, and oatmeal.  Soups with lentils, green beans, beans, garbanzo beans, etc., are really good to try.  Eat them with a bit of extra virgin olive oil every time you eat them.
  • Papaya for breakfast!  This is a stupendous way of calming inflammation and healing hemorrhoids.  Papaya also helps provoke soft bowel movements that don’t hurt coming out.  Eat a large plate of papaya with raw oats on top, along with almond or nut pieces sprinkled on top.
  • Prunes in apple pie go great after dinner.  If you make prune pie, you will quickly notice how the inflammation immediately goes down in your intestines and abdomen.  Just bring one liter of water to boil with two peeled and cored apples in it.  Boil with a bit of cane sugar and orange juice.  Afterwards, add 10 to 15 prunes.  Let boil for 7 minutes and remove from heat.  Do not overcook the apples, keep them a little crunchy.
  • The best fruits and vegetables for you are: papaya, mango, banana, plums, carrots, chayote, steamed broccoli, etc.
  • Include 2 liters of fresh water a day in your diet to keep your intestines moving.
  • It is normal for women to become constipated after giving birth.  Just keep an eye on it and make sure it doesn’t last for more than 2 or 3 days.  To stimulate the intestines, I recommend you try papaya, plums, and most of all, flaxseed tea.  Flaxseed tea is wonderful for softening stool and promoting bowel movements.

Beyond a proper diet, we recommend walking, as exercise helps quick recovery after birth, and stimulates the intestines.  Try to avoid being stressed right now, and give yourself some time to rest and enjoy your baby.  Stress causes the body to repair more slowly, which then causes hemorrhoids to become even more inflamed.    

About the author
  • Dra. Loredana Lunadei

    Dr. Loredana Lunadei is a specialist in food, dietetics and nutrition. She studied at the University of Milan where she obtained a Master in Food Science and Technology. Subsequently, she continued her studies, completing her PhD also at the University of Milan. Linkedin.