Reduce Coffee and Cola Intake if You Have Hemorrhoids
Winter brings cold, dry weather, and people tend to eat spicy foods and various tonics, leading to increased hemorrhoid flare-ups. From a medical perspective, adjusting diet is crucial for preventing hemorrhoids, relieving symptoms, and reducing recurrence.
If you have hemorrhoids, avoid overly refined foods and eat more fiber-rich options. Fiber increases intestinal motility, softens stool, prevents accumulation, and avoids pressure on veins. Such foods include oats, whole wheat bread, brown rice, vegetables, and fruits. However, avoid tropical fruits that stimulate fire, such as mango, durian, lychee, and longan. Dark green leafy vegetables are high in fiber and vitamin K, highly effective for bleeding hemorrhoids. Also, increase fluid intake, especially drinking a large glass of water upon waking each morning—this helps clean the colon and prevent constipation. Additionally, consume foods that clear heat, promote diuresis, cool blood, reduce swelling, and lubricate the intestines—such as adzuki beans, black sesame seeds, honey, bamboo shoots, persimmon cakes, bananas, figs, pine nuts, and black fungus.
Those with hemorrhoids should avoid spicy foods, including chili, curry, black pepper, ginger, star anise, and strong liquor. Spicy foods directly irritate the rectal mucosa, causing obvious congestion and burning pain during defecation. Some foods may not worsen hemorrhoids but can trigger itching during bowel movements—such as coffee, beer, and cola—so should be consumed in moderation. Also, control salt intake; excess salt causes fluid retention in circulation, leading to vein swelling in the anus and elsewhere, worsening the condition.