Short Answer: Cherries are good for hemorrhoids. Because they have fiber, vitamin C, potassium, and plant compounds that can reduce inflammation, oxidative stress, and pain.
Hemorrhoids are a condition that affects your anus and lower rectum.
In hemorrhoids, your body has swollen veins in the anal and rectal area that cause bleeding and discomfort.
This can lead to various health problems, such as infection, anemia, and anal fissures.
One of the key factors in managing hemorrhoids is diet.
What you consume can affect your stool consistency, which can impact your hemorrhoids symptoms and overall health.
To effectively manage hemorrhoids, you should consume fiber-rich foods like legumes, whole grains, and fruits and avoid low-fiber foods like white bread, cheese, and meat.
Now, cherries are small stone fruits that come in sweet or sour varieties.
People usually eat them fresh, dried, or as juice.
Cherries are good for hemorrhoids because they contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds.
These can help reduce inflammation, oxidative stress, and pain associated with hemorrhoids.
Cherries may also benefit both internal and external hemorrhoids, as well as thrombosed hemorrhoids.
One cup (154 grams) of sweet, raw, pitted cherries can give you 3 grams of fiber (12% of your daily needs), 18% of your daily vitamin C, and 10% of your daily potassium.
Fiber can help soften your stools and prevent constipation and straining, which can worsen hemorrhoids.
Vitamin C can help with wound healing and collagen production, which can improve the integrity of your anal tissues.
Potassium can help regulate your blood pressure and fluid balance, which can affect the pressure on your veins.
Furthermore, cherries are a source of polyphenols, carotenoids, and anthocyanins, which are plant compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
These can help fight cellular damage, reduce inflammation, and promote overall health.
Polyphenols may also protect against chronic conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, which can be linked to hemorrhoids.
You can eat one to two cups of cherries per day safely.
More than that can cause diarrhea, bloating, or gas, which can irritate your hemorrhoids.
Also, you shouldn’t eat cherries if you have an allergy to them or to other stone fruits, such as peaches, plums, or apricots, to prevent anaphylaxis.
Because cherries contain natural sugars, you should also limit your intake if you have diabetes or high blood sugar levels.
You can buy fresh cherries in your local market or can order them online.
Always choose firm, plump, and shiny cherries with green stems.
Because cherries are perishable and prone to bruising, mold, and decay.
You can store them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to a week or in the freezer for up to a year.
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Finally, remember, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management and essential medical care is key to managing hemorrhoids effectively.
I always recommend my hemorrhoids patients to follow a hemorrhoids-friendly diet to improve their overall well-being, and enjoy a longer and healthier life.
