After surgery for many diseases, there are often guidelines for patients to follow in order to reduce the risk of recurrence!! “Hemorrhoids” is another condition that patients need to pay attention to in self-care after surgery, especially in diet, to prevent recurrence. The dietary guidelines can be divided into 2 phases as follows:
Phase 1: After Surgery
After surgery, soft foods should be consumed, avoiding spicy foods such as rice porridge, congee, noodle soup. Vegetables and meat used in cooking should be boiled until soft to avoid putting strain on the intestines.
Phase 2: After Recovery Period
After returning to daily life, appropriate dietary choices to prevent recurrence of hemorrhoids include the following guidelines:
- Choose foods high in fiber
Fiber helps stool move smoothly by increasing bulk and weight, thus preventing constipation, which is a cause of hemorrhoids. Sources of fiber include vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. The recommended amount is 25 grams per day.
Table showing fiber content in vegetables, fruits, and grains per 100 grams
| Vegetables | Fiber (grams per 100 grams) |
|---|---|
| Pea eggplant | 6.1 |
| Roselle | 4.2 |
| Yardlong bean | 3.8 |
| Water mimosa | 3.8 |
| Carrot | 3.4 |
| Chinese morning glory | 2.9 |
| Kale | 2.8 |
| Spinach | 2.4 |
| Chinese cabbage | 2.3 |
| Napa cabbage | 2.1 |
| Cauliflower | 1.9 |
| Cabbage | 1.6 |
| Tomato | 1.1 |
| Cucumber | 1 |
100 grams of vegetables equals 1 tablespoon of raw vegetables or 1 tablespoon of cooked vegetables.
| Fruits | Fiber (grams per 100 grams) | Fruit size per 100 grams |
|---|---|---|
| Guava | 3.7 | Half fruit |
| Green mango (Keo Savoy) | 3.5 | Half fruit |
| Apple | 3.3 | 1 small fruit |
| Dragon fruit | 2.6 | Half fruit |
| Namwa banana | 2.4 | 2 fruits |
| Cantaloupe | 1.7 | 8 bite-sized pieces |
| Rambutan | 1.6 | 7 fruits |
| Mandarin orange | 1.6 | 1 fruit |
| Cavendish banana | 1.5 | 1 fruit |
| Papaya | 1.3 | 6 bite-sized pieces |
| Rose apple | 1.1 | 2 fruits |
| Nam Dok Mai mango | 1.1 | 6 bite-sized pieces |
| Pineapple | 1.1 | 7 bite-sized pieces |
| Green grapes | 0.7 | 20 fruits |
| Watermelon | 0.3 | 4 bite-sized pieces |
| Grains | Fiber (grams per 100 grams) | Grain portion per 100 grams |
|---|---|---|
| Oats | 12.3 | 5 tablespoons |
| Whole wheat bread | 5.9 | 4 slices |
| Mung beans | 4.3 | 1 tablespoon |
| Brown rice | 2.8 | 2 tablespoons |
| Pumpkin | 2.4 | Half a cup |
Foods high in fiber should contain more than 3 grams of fiber per 100 grams. Therefore, emphasis should be placed on choosing foods from this group. An example of a diet providing 25 grams of fiber per day is to select foods high in fiber, including 300 grams of vegetables, 300 grams of fruits, and 3 tablespoons of brown rice or 3 slices of whole wheat bread to meet the fiber requirement.
- Drink enough water, at least 8 glasses per day, to prevent constipation as water helps soften the stool.
Sample Menu
| Meal | Menu |
|---|---|
| Breakfast |
Rice porridge 4 tablespoons
Stir-fried Chinese morning glory
Steamed fish with plum (fish meat 4 tablespoons)
1 small apple
|
| Lunch |
Sukhothai noodles
Half a green mango (Keo Savoy)
|
| Dinner |
Brown rice 2 tablespoons
Roselle salad
Clear soup with napa cabbage and tofu
Half a guava
|
Simply consume enough vegetables and fruits by adding them to each meal along with drinking an appropriate amount of water. From the sample menu, it can be seen that it is easy to adapt and follow, helping to prevent constipation and thus reducing concerns about the recurrence of hemorrhoids.
