The condition called hemorrhoids, also known as piles, is incredibly unpleasant. This condition presents with swollen veins on or near one’s rectum or anus. While unpleasant, there are several natural ways to treat this condition. Plus, foods make an enormous impact in helping to prevent flare-ups and calm then once they occur.
Foods to Treat Hemorrhoids
This condition occurs when the veins around the rectum or anus become swollen as a result of inflammation and irritation, resulting in an embarrassingly unpleasant appearance and sensation.
If you are dealing with hemorrhoids, consider the following foods to start feeling better.
1. Aloe Vera
If you’re looking for an all-natural treatment for this condition, consider aloe vera. Thanks to this plant’s anti-inflammatory properties, it is an excellent way to soothe any discomfort and cool inflamed areas.
Additionally, aloe vera can help to keep the swelling down and improve the appearance of your skin at this time.
In addition to easing inflammation, aloe vera helps to eliminate bacteria, making it easier to avoid an infection–something quite common with this condition.
2. Turmeric
Another easy remedy for this condition is the spice turmeric.
This spice contains curcumin, which has significant antiseptic and antimicrobial properties. These help to prevent one from developing infections as a result of piles.
Additionally, consuming this spice regularly will help to reduce inflammation, and ease the discomfort, allowing you to feel relief from this condition.
Many people consume turmeric by adding it to their meals or using it in their juices or shakes. When adding turmeric to your daily lifestyle to benefit from its properties, you can also consider creating a paste out of the spice to help heal the skin. Use glycerine and turmeric to make a paste to apply to any affected areas.
3. Tea Bags
Drinking tea can be a powerful way to center yourself and promote health, but it also has a different use: treating piles.
The caffeine in caffeinated tea is a vasoconstrictor. This means that this active ingredient will cause your blood vessels to shrink, making it a great treatment for piles.
Tea bags are effective at treating painful skin conditions like spots, ulcers, rashes, and piles. The gentle cooling effect of these tea bags helps to nourish affected areas.
Theanine and tannins found in natural teas help to draw blood out in the skin and help to soothe the area.
4. Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus as an essential oil is another natural treatment for piles. Like other essential oils, eucalyptus has healing, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, relaxing, and nutritious properties
These benefits all help to reduce the effects of piles and help you feel and look better.
Just as this essential oil works to kill bacteria and reduce inflammation, it also is known for its numbing and cooling effect. Similar to the effect of mint or menthol, eucalyptus essential oil is a powerful agent in treating pain.
5. Prunes
Though prunes won’t work in quite the same way over-the-counter medication will when treating this condition, it is helpful in treating piles.
As an excellent source of fiber and sorbitol, prunes help to make stool softer so that it’s easier to pass. Sorbitol especially helps to draw more water in, which is an effective way to soften feces by diluting it.
Since harder feces tends to strain the veins around the rectum and anus, working to soften one’s stool will help to ease the effects of this condition.
6. Water
Though one may not consider water to be a food, it is an important way for anyone trying to combat the effects of piles.
Staying hydrated is essential to guaranteeing healthy bowel movements. Drinking healthy levels of water will help keep one’s stool soft, which will allow it to pass through the body more easily.
Additionally, staying properly hydrated is one of the most important ways to keep your immune system functioning as it should.
7. Olive Oil
Olive oil is often considered a healthy fat for good reason.
With its many benefits, olive oil is also a great food to include in one’s diet when treating piles. This anti-inflammatory and antioxidant is capable of shrinking blood vessels and improving their elasticity as a result of its phenolic, squalene, and oleic acid contents.
Not sure how to use olive oil to benefit from it as a treatment for piles? Take this oil orally or apply it to the affected area directly.
8. Apple Cider Vinegar
When it comes to finding the best foods to treat piles, don’t rule out apple cider vinegar.
ACV is another remedy that can be used both internally and externally. With astringent and anti-inflammatory benefits, using ACV to treat piles will help one shrink hemorrhoids quickly.
9. Lemon Juice
Antioxidants that contain a significant amount of acid have proven to be an effective way to treat piles quickly. Lemon juice contains vitamin C and antioxidants that will boost one’s immune system and help eliminate this condition.
If you’re going to apply lemon juice as a treatment, keep in mind that it can sting. While you may be uncomfortable during the process, you’ll see just how effective this juice is at reducing the effects of this condition.
10. Coconut Oil
A source of fatty acids and saturated oil, coconut oil is a popular health food that is also incredible as a treatment for piles.
Use coconut oil to nourish and moisturize affected areas of the body. Additionally, when taken orally, coconut oil will help to soften stool, making it easier to pass, which will help you avoid exacerbating this condition in the first place.
When using coconut oil as a treatment for piles, melt about 2 – 3 teaspoons of the oil. Soak the affected area with the oils using cotton pads. This treatment can be performed up to 5 times a day ideally.
11. Flax Seeds
Flax seeds are another important addition to the piles-free diet as they help to promote painless defecation.
The seeds help to lubricate the intestines and can work to prevent rectal pain when one defecates while experiencing this condition.
This seed oil is also a helpful way to curb constipation and treat inflammation inside the anus and in the large intestine’s lining. As an excellent source of fiber, flax seeds are also an effective way to treat constipation that would otherwise worsen this condition.
12. Whole Grains
Whole grains and similar foods like starchy vegetables, wheat bran, oats, cereal, and rice bran all are high in fiber.
By making whole grains a regular part of your diet, you’ll be able to increase your stool frequency and avoid constipation. These fibers are an important way to avoid the effects of piles and improve feces quality.
13. Beets
If beets aren’t already part of your diet, start adding them now.
These vegetables are an effective way to treat hemorrhoids by helping to increase one’s fiber intake and to curb constipation.
In addition to being high in dietary fiber, foods like beets also contain vitamin C. This vitamin C content helps to prevent vessels from bleeding as scientists have discovered that vitamin C is helpful in restricting the blood flow in vessels.
Start eating beets regularly by adding them in salads and vegetable sides.
14. Oats
Oats is another food that is often overlooked when it comes to treating piles.
High in nutrients, oats should be eaten daily to avoid hard stools and constipation. Additionally, oats also contain soluble fiber that will help to make stools a bit bulkier, which allows them to pass more easily and will help you avoid the issue of painful defecation.
15. Dried and Fresh Fruits
Both fresh fruits and dried fruits are capable of treating the painful effects of piles.
The high soluble fiber in fruits makes it easier to pass stools as it makes one feel fuller faster which results in quickening the time required for the body to pass stools.
Dried fruits like dates, raisins, and apricots contain higher levels of fiber content than most regular fruits. By adding these fruits to your diet, you’ll be able to avoid constipation and piles.
16. Rhubarb
Rhubarb is an often overlooked natural root that will help you fight the effects of piles. This root helps to keep the body hydrated, soften stools, and relieve bowel movements.
When used as a way to relieve piles, this root will reduce related pain as it also relieves any strain from bowel movements.
17. Papaya
The active enzyme in foods like papaya is papain and it is the key component responsible for this fruit’s wonderful benefits.
Papaya is one fruit that is known for its effectiveness in treating piles. Research shows that symptoms like bloating and constipation are easily treated with this fruit.
Not sure how to use this fruit as a treatment? Consider eating green papaya, as it has more papain. Dietary experts recommend using green papaya in salads and similar vegetable dishes.
18. Horse Chestnut
The horse chestnut tree contains the chemical aescin, which is an effective treatment for conditions like piles.
As it has powerful anti-inflammatory properties, horse chestnut works to treat venous issues caused by piles or similar conditions.
Final Thoughts on Choosing the Best Foods to Treat Hemorrhoids
This condition is undoubtedly an uncomfortable one. When treating the likes of piles, it’s important to create a diet that is focused on treating inflammation, softening stool, and alleviating similar symptoms of this condition.
If you’re fighting off hemorrhoid side effects, keep this guide in mind. While you may need additional medication to treat this condition, the above 18 foods are excellent natural ways to treat this issue.
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