I got hemorrhoids when I was in my 20s. Occasional flare-ups occur when my stress levels are high and I’m eating too much junk food and not enough fiber. After a few days of eating right, drinking plenty of water, and exercising more, the symptoms go away.
In May 2009 I moved from my 19 year old home to a condo. I have renovated a lot and I love my new apartment. But even good stress can cause problems. In October I had a severe outbreak of hemorrhoids. Only this time nothing helped. Eventually I was given a prescription ointment and suppositories and the bleeding stopped and the pain subsided. Within a few days it started again and got worse.
I did some research on the internet. There is a lot of good medical information and advice out there. I found a page that was filled with helpful but fun advice. Visit 001yourtranslationservice.com and follow the links to his natural hemorrhoids treatment page.
I experimented with herbal supplements, took sitz baths, ate bran, psyllium fiber, and fruits and vegetables, drank more water, and began exercising regularly. Everything helped a little, but nothing stopped the pain or cured the condition.
Fearing surgery and refusing to shell out hundreds of dollars for so-called miracle cures, I delved deeper into research into topics such as constipation, colon health, and digestion. Did you know that:
– Eating lots of fiber relieves constipation, but not drinking enough water causes it
– Eating regularly (at the same time every day) ensures regular digestion and elimination
– Chewing your food to an almost liquid consistency pleases your gut by facilitating digestion (no more belching and bloating)
– When chewing, enzymes for food digestion are activated
– Food is digested in the order in which it is eaten
– Eating easily digestible foods will kickstart the digestive process (start with water or juice, then soup, salad, veggies, etc.)
– Drinking before eating is good. If you must drink with your meal, drink warm water with fresh lemon juice
– Our digestive systems have to work harder to digest certain food combinations – the worst being meat plus potatoes, rice, pasta or bread. It is better to eat meat with vegetables, or pasta, potatoes or other starches with vegetables
– Fruit should be eaten alone – at least 1 hour before a meal or two hours after – it is digested quickly and can affect the digestion of other foods
– Dairy products should be avoided as they can cause constipation which makes hemorrhoids worse
– Caffeine, chocolate, alcoholic beverages, fried and processed foods do the same
– Exercise is crucial for good digestion – when your body moves, your digestive system moves too, and it’s okay to walk after a meal; actually it helps.
A website provided the key that opened the door to my own lasting recovery. I discovered her colon cleansing detox diet on puristat.com. It is a very easy to follow eating plan. The basics are as follows:
1. Eat only fruit until noon. Any kind as much as you want, but only fruit
2. Do not combine starches with proteins during any meal
3. Don’t eat anything two to three hours before bedtime
4. Drink half your body weight in ounces daily (e.g. a 150 lb person would drink 75 ounces or 9-10 glasses), preferably purified water, but green teas, juices and warm water are also good.
That’s it. The site also offers 10 tips to ease digestion that are easy to follow and make sense.
Not only am I changing what, how and when I eat, I also make it a point to be more active. After lunch I go for a 20-30 minute walk. I work out three times a week at my condo gym – cardio on the elliptical, stretching, free weights, core strengthening exercises and more stretching. This is my basic routine.
When the weather permits, I take longer walks, explore my neighborhood, or go for a walk in a nearby riverside park. I take the stairs when I can, I walk around the office, I get off the bus a few stops early and walk home. Small changes add up to big wins.
I’ve lost over 15 pounds in 3 months and I’ve carved 3 inches off my waist simply by losing fat and building muscle tone. I’m stronger and fitter; I look good and feel great. To quote the character of Billy Crystal from Saturday Night Live: “When you look good, you feel good. And when you feel good, you look great!”
I’m basically a couch potato. I work full-time in the corporate world, writing and editing as a freelancer. My favorite hobbies are reading and watching movies or TV. But if I can do it – change my eating habits, get more exercise, banish hemorrhoid pain, and get fit, strong, and sexy – then so can you!
Thanks to Vera Petkovsky
