What Are the Seven Foods That Patients with Hemorrhoids Should Not Eat?

Jul 01, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Li Jingxiang

Introduction

Capsaicin in chili peppers can strongly irritinate the intestinal mucosa, causing abnormal dilation and congestion of the perianal blood vessels, thereby worsening the varicosity of hemorrhoidal venous plexuses. This can easily induce or aggravate symptoms such as rectal bleeding and pain. In addition, chili peppers may also lead to hard, dry stools, increasing abdominal pressure during defecation, which further compresses the hemorrhoids and hinders recovery from the condition.

Generally speaking, there is no list of seven specific foods that patients with hemorrhoids must avoid, but certain foods are not recommended for individuals with hemorrhoids, such as chili peppers, fried chicken legs, white spirits (baijiu), lychees, and cream cakes, as they may have adverse effects. If any abnormalities occur, timely medical consultation is advised. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Chili Peppers: Capsaicin in chili peppers strongly stimulates the intestinal mucosa, causing abnormal dilation and congestion of blood vessels around the anus, thereby worsening the varicosity of the hemorrhoidal venous plexus. This can easily trigger or exacerbate symptoms such as rectal bleeding and pain. Additionally, chili peppers may lead to constipation, increasing abdominal pressure during defecation, which further compresses the hemorrhoids and hinders recovery.

2. Fried Chicken Legs: Fried chicken legs are high-fat, high-calorie foods that are difficult for the intestines to digest and absorb. They tend to accumulate in the body, slowing intestinal motility and potentially causing constipation. Difficulty in passing stools prolongs toilet time, increases anal pressure, and may tear the mucous membrane on the surface of the hemorrhoids, worsening symptoms such as bleeding and pain.

3. White Spirits (Baijiu): Baijiu has a high alcohol content and strong irritancy. Consumption accelerates systemic blood circulation, leading to excessive congestion and dilation of blood vessels in the hemorrhoidal area, aggravating swelling of the hemorrhoidal nodules and potentially causing severe pain and significant rectal bleeding. Furthermore, baijiu irritates the gastrointestinal mucosa, disrupts normal digestion, and may cause either diarrhea or constipation, both of which can negatively affect hemorrhoids.

4. Lychees: Lychees are a typical heaty fruit. Consumption may cause excessive internal heat accumulation, triggering heatiness (excess internal heat). This can lead to dry, hard stools, increased difficulty in defecation, greater pressure on the anus, irritation of hemorrhoidal tissues, and localized congestion and edema, thus worsening hemorrhoid symptoms.

5. Cream Cakes: Cream cakes are processed foods containing large amounts of sugar and fat, with very low dietary fiber content. Excessive consumption not only fails to promote intestinal motility but also easily causes constipation. The high sugar and fat content increases the body's metabolic burden, indirectly affecting hemorrhoid recovery and potentially worsening the condition.

Patients with hemorrhoids should avoid the above-mentioned foods in daily life and instead opt for fiber-rich foods such as celery, bananas, and oats. Maintaining a light and regular diet, developing good bowel habits, and avoiding prolonged sitting or standing are also important to promote recovery.

View All

What should patients with hemorrhoids avoid eating?

Under normal circumstances, patients with hemorrhoids should avoid eating spicy foods such as chili peppers, fried chicken, white liquor (distilled spirits), lamb, and mustard, as well as medications including bisacodyl enteric-coated tablets, warfarin sodium tablets, Jiuzhi Dahuang Pills (processed rhubarb pills), aspirin enteric-coated tablets, and prednisone tablets. Patients with hemorrhoids should maintain a light diet in daily life, consume more vegetables and fruits rich in dietary fiber, ensure regular bowel movements, and avoid prolonged sitting or standing.

View Full Answer

What Are the Seven Foods That Patients with Hemorrhoids Should Avoid Eating?

Generally speaking, there is no such claim as "seven foods that patients with hemorrhoids cannot eat." However, hemorrhoid patients should avoid eating spicy foods such as chili peppers, Sichuan peppers, fried foods, strong alcoholic beverages, and mustard, as these foods can easily irritate the intestines or exacerbate congestion of the blood vessels in the anal area, possibly worsening discomfort such as pain and bleeding associated with hemorrhoids. It is also important to maintain anal hygiene and keep the area dry.

View Full Answer

What should patients with hemorrhoids avoid eating?

Under normal circumstances, patients with hemorrhoids should generally avoid eating spicy foods such as chili peppers, fried chicken, alcoholic beverages, lychees, and celery that has not been thoroughly cooked. They should also avoid medications such as aspirin enteric-coated tablets, phenolphthalein tablets, Salvia miltiorrhiza tablets, tetracycline tablets, and prednisone tablets. If in doubt, it is recommended to seek medical advice in advance. Patients with hemorrhoids should maintain a light diet in daily life and consume more easily digestible foods rich in dietary fiber.

View Full Answer

What Should Not Be Eaten for Hemorrhoids

Under normal circumstances, patients with hemorrhoids should generally avoid eating foods such as spicy hot pot, fried French fries, strong white liquor, durian, and tough leeks. They should also avoid taking medications including ibuprofen sustained-release capsules, bisacodyl enteric-coated tablets, sanqi tablets, azithromycin dispersible tablets, and dexamethasone tablets. If in doubt, it is recommended to seek medical advice in advance. Patients with hemorrhoids should maintain a light diet in daily life.