Embarrassing Illnesses

There's no guaranteed way of preventing haemorrhoids, but a high-fibre diet will help keep your stools (faeces) soft, reducing your risk of becoming constipated. This will ensure that you avoid straining to pass a stool, which is the primary cause of haemorrhoids.

It's also recommended that you empty your bowels as and when you need to. By delaying when you pass your stool, this could mean the stool becomes harder and drier. As a result, this increases the likelihood of pressure building up in your anus and rectum blood vessels.

General recommendations include:

• Eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables (at least five portions a day).
• Cutting down on fat (particularly animal fat), sugary food, and refined and processed food.
• Eating plenty of pulses such as peas, beans and lentils.
• Eating plenty of wholegrain foods such as wholemeal bread, pasta and breakfast cereals.
• Drinking plenty of fluid. You should drink one to two litres (six to eight glasses) of water every day in order to keep your faeces soft.
• Drinking alcohol in moderation.
• Losing weight - being overweight can be a contributing factor to having haemorrhoids.
• Exercising regularly - this can prevent constipation, reduce the pressure in your blood vessels, and help you lose weight.
• Avoiding medication that causes constipation - such as painkillers that contain codeine.

Fibre

If you already have haemorrhoids, eating a high-fibre diet can help ease your symptoms.

Fibre is found in plant foods such as fruit, vegetables, cereals, nuts and seeds. It's also known as roughage.

A diet too low in fibre can cause constipation because the waste material is too hard. This can lead to other problems such as hiatus hernia, appendicitis and diverticular disease.

Gradually increase the amount of fibre you eat, as your digestive system will need time to adapt. You may find that you experience bloating, constipation, excessive wind and even pain if you introduce too much fibre too quickly.

Dietary fibre acts like a sponge absorbing water to increase the bulk and softness of stools. This ensures that they are eliminated easily from the body. If you increase your intake of fibre, it's also important that you increase your fluid intake.