Thats the advice everyone gets about hemorrhoids — and its good. But what does it mean when you’re shopping for food or making dinner?
Check out these foods that can help with this painful issue and learn how to add them to your meals. And on the flip side, what you may want to stay away from.
The Health Benefits and Risks of Eating Tuna with Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids can be an irritating and painful condition When hemorrhoid flare-ups occur, your diet choices become especially important You want foods that will ease inflammation and avoid aggravating your symptoms. So is tuna a smart choice if you have hemorrhoids?
In this article, we’ll examine the potential pros and cons of eating tuna with hemorrhoids. We’ll look at the key nutrients tuna provides impact on hemorrhoid symptoms, digestion recipe ideas, and more. Let’s dive in!
An Overview of Painful Hemorrhoids
Also called piles, hemorrhoids are swollen veins located in the lowest portion of the rectum and anus. They can develop internally or under the skin around the anus. Hemorrhoids often result from straining during bowel movements, pregnancy, aging, obesity, and a low-fiber diet.
Symptoms include itching, discomfort, bleeding, swelling, inflammation, and pain. The specific treatment depends on the type and severity. Lifestyle changes like getting more fiber and fluids, losing weight, and avoiding extended sitting help manage hemorrhoids.
How Tuna Nutrition Can Benefit Hemorrhoids
So why might tuna be a good choice if you’re dealing with hemorrhoid misery? Let’s look at some of the key nutrients tuna provides:
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Protein for wound healing – A 3 ounce serving of tuna contains around 22 grams of protein which helps repair damaged tissues.
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Omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation – Tuna is rich in anti-inflammatory omega-3s, with over 1 gram in 3 ounces. This can ease swelling.
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Vitamin B12 for cell metabolism – Tuna delivers over 80% of your vitamin B12 needs which assists in energy production.
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Selenium antioxidant for immunity – You obtain over half of your selenium requirement from tuna, boosting your defenses.
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Niacin for circulation – The niacin in tuna helps increase blood flow to aid circulation and healing.
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Lean protein prevents constipation – The fiber-free protein keeps you feeling full without weighing down digestion to ease hemorrhoid-aggravating constipation.
Potential Drawbacks of Tuna for Hemorrhoids
While tuna provides hemorrhoid-fighting nutrition, there are also some potential concerns to be aware of:
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Mercury exposure risk – Larger tuna accumulate more mercury, which can damage the brain and nerves with high exposure over time.
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Canned tuna contains additives – Canned tuna includes added broth, oils, preservatives and flavoring agents which may irritate sensitive hemorrhoids.
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Difficult to digest for some – Despite being lean, individuals with digestive issues may struggle to break down and absorb tuna properly, worsening symptoms.
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Can trigger food sensitivities – Allergies to tuna could result in abdominal pain, diarrhea and stomach upset which are problematic for hemorrhoids.
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Not enough fiber – Plain tuna lacks the fiber you need to prevent constipation and hemorrhoid flare-ups.
Tips to Safely Include Tuna in a Hemorrhoid Diet
If you want to eat tuna but also need to be mindful of hemorrhoid triggers, here are some tips that can help:
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Choose wild-caught tuna which has less mercury and more omega-3s than farmed tuna.
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Limit intake to 6 ounces per week and emphasize smaller tuna like skipjack that accumulate less mercury.
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Select tuna canned in water over oil for fewer additives. Rinse before eating to reduce sodium content.
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Include plenty of vegetables and whole grains along with tuna to increase hemorrhoid-friendly fiber.
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Cook tuna thoroughly and chew well if you have digestion issues. Eat tuna early in the day giving you more time to digest.
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Stop eating tuna if you experience any intolerance or allergy symptoms until they resolve.
7 Tasty, Nutritious Tuna Recipes for Hemorrhoids
Here are 7 tuna recipes that provide hemorrhoid healing nutrients along with antioxidants, fiber and fluids to created balanced, soothing meals:
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Tuna Avocado Salad – Anti-inflammatory omega-3s from tuna and avocado with greens.
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Tuna Poke Bowl – Flaky tuna paired with brown rice, edamame, cucumber and carrots.
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Tuna & White Bean Salad Sandwiches – Tuna and fiber-rich beans served on whole grain bread.
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Tuna Zoodle Soup – Tuna and spiralized zucchini noodles in an easy tomato broth.
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Mediterranean Tuna Wraps – Tuna, olives, spinach and artichokes in a fresh wrap.
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Tuna Casserole with Whole Wheat Pasta & Broccoli – Comfort food packed with extra fiber.
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Tuna-Stuffed Tomato – Tuna salad spooned into vitamin C-rich tomato halves.
Should You Eat Tuna If You Have Hemorrhoids?
Overall, tuna can be beneficial for many people with hemorrhoids due to the powerful anti-inflammatory omega-3s, lean protein, micronutrients and easy digestibility. When paired with plenty of produce, whole grains and legumes, tuna can help reduce constipation and supply nutrients vital for healing inflamed tissues.
However, it’s important to moderate tuna intake and choose sustainable sources that are lower in mercury. Canned tuna with fewer additives may also be tolerated better. Stop eating tuna if you have any intolerance, until symptoms resolve. Monitor your individual response.
While tuna can be a hemorrhoid-friendly choice for many, your personal reactions can vary. With mindful preparation, portion control and attention to your symptoms, adding tuna to your diet may improve hemorrhoid healing. But always check with your doctor about specific dietary recommendations based on your health profile.
Beans, Lentils, and Nuts
Youll get a lot of bang for your bite with the legume family. About a third of your daily goal can be met with just half a cup of beans, like kidney, navy, lima, or black beans. No matter what kind you pick, it will have between 7 and 10 grams of fiber, both soluble and insoluble.
About 20 almonds or pecans have around 3 grams of fiber. A 1/2 cup of edamame does, too, and it only has about half the calories.
Instead of using just meat in chili and soups, add or substitute beans. You can also use beans and nuts in salads. Try Indian and Middle Eastern recipes, which often call for beans, lentils, and peas.
To get more insoluble fiber, eat whole-grain breads, pastas, and crackers instead of white ones. These can be made with buckwheat, stone-ground cornmeal, rye, or other grains. Cooked oats and barley will give you soluble fiber, too.
Have instant oatmeal for breakfast instead of a plain white bagel. It has twice as much fiber and less than half as many calories. Reach for no-butter popcorn when you get the munchies. Sprinkle oat bran or wheat germ on salads and soups.
You cant go wrong with plant foods. Keep the skins on when theyre thin, like on apples, pears, plums, and potatoes. Thats where the insoluble fiber is, as well as compounds called flavonoids that can help control hemorrhoid bleeding.
Berries, grapes, tomatoes, kale, and other dark leafy greens are just a few examples of foods that are high in flavonoids. And the fresher, the better. Try to keep them whole and not damage the skins or leaves until youre ready to eat them. Avoid cooking to the point that their color fades.
Fruit often has at least 10% of your daily fiber needs met, which is usually 3 to 4 grams. You can get 4 to 5 grams of fiber in a cup of broccoli, Brussels sprouts, green peas, leafy greens, or winter squash.
Some veggies and fruits have fiber plus a lot of water. Cucumbers, celery, mild bell peppers, and watermelon are mostly water — more than 90%.
Every time you eat, add another fruit or vegetable. For example, put berries or bananas in your cereal, apple chunks in your salad, spinach in your omelet, or grated zucchini in your spaghetti sauce.
Snack on dried fruits like figs, apricots, and dates. Swap sugary baked desserts for fresh fruit — raw strawberries rather than strawberry pie.
2 Kinds of Fiber
Soluble fiber dissolves in water to form a gel-like goo. (Picture what happens to oats when you mix them with water. ) You want this stuff. It makes your stool soft, well-formed, and easy to pass. No constipation, little irritation. Sounds like the Holy Grail of poop, right?.
Insoluble fiber is what your grandmother would call “roughage. ” It doesnt dissolve. (If you drop a chunk of celery in water, it just sits there. It helps keep things moving through and out of your body and keeps the chemistry in your intestines in check.
Many “high-fiber” foods have both kinds.
At least 25 to 30 grams of fiber a day should come from the food you eat. That’s about twice as much as most Americans get. In general, youll want about a third of that to be soluble (more when you have diarrhea).
When you first start eating more fiber, don’t add it all at once. Instead, add a little at a time until you get used to it. Also, you’ll need to drink more water to help your body use the fiber. Every day, drink 8–10 large glasses (at least a half-gallon) of water.
Hemorrhoids? Best & Worst Foods For Hemorrhoids |What To Eat & What To Avoid If You Have Hemorrhoids
FAQ
Can I eat tuna fish with hemorrhoids?
What fish can I eat with hemorrhoids?
Is it okay to eat chicken with hemorrhoids?
What foods help with hemorrhoids?
Eating foods high in fiber, such as pulses (beans, lentils, chickpeas), whole fruits and vegetables, with a high skin-to-flesh ratio and water content, and whole grains, can help ease symptoms of hemorrhoids and prevent them. A person should gradually increase dietary fiber intake to reduce the risk of side effects, such as gas and bloating.
What are hemorrhoids and how do you treat them?
Hemorrhoids (piles) are swollen veins that form inside the rectum or outside the anus. Usually, it can resolve with lifestyle changes and in severe cases, surgery may be necessary.
Are bananas good for hemorrhoids?
One medium, 7–8-inch (18–20-cm) banana provides 3 grams of fiber (40). While its pectin creates a gel in your digestive tract, its resistant starch feeds your friendly gut bacteria — a great combination to help your hemorrhoids. 14. Stewed prunes Prunes are considered nature’s laxative.
How can i Improve my hemorrhoids diet plan?
My 5 tips to improve your hemorrhoids diet plan and make hemorrhoids better include upping dietary fiber intake, eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, including sources of healthy unsaturated fats into your diet as well as teas that help with constipation and, finally, drinking more liquids.