Short Answer: Sugar is bad for hemorrhoids. Because it has sucrose, fructose, and glucose and they can cause inflammation, dehydration, and constipation.
Hemorrhoids is a condition that affects your anus and rectum.
In hemorrhoids, your body has swollen veins in the lower part of your rectum and anus that cause bleeding and discomfort.
This can lead to various health problems, such as infection, anemia, anal fissures, and thrombosis.
One of the key factors in managing hemorrhoids is diet.
What you consume can affect your bowel movements, which can impact your hemorrhoids symptoms and overall health.
To effectively manage hemorrhoids, you should consume fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and avoid sugar-rich foods like candies, cakes, and sodas.
Now, sugar is a sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrate that is present in many foods and beverages.
People usually consume sugar to add sweetness and flavor to their dishes and drinks.
Sugar is bad for hemorrhoids because it contains sucrose, fructose, and glucose.
These are simple sugars that can cause inflammation, dehydration, and constipation.
Sucrose can increase the production of inflammatory cytokines in the body, which can worsen the swelling and pain of hemorrhoids.
Fructose can draw water out of the colon, which can lead to hard and dry stools that are difficult to pass.
This can cause straining and pressure on the hemorrhoids.
Glucose can increase the blood sugar levels, which can impair the healing of the hemorrhoids and increase the risk of infection.
Furthermore, sugar is a refined carbohydrate and refined carbohydrates are bad for hemorrhoids.
Because, they have a high glycemic index, which means they can spike the blood sugar and insulin levels and cause inflammation and oxidative stress.
That’s why I suggest you limit your sugar intake to prevent aggravating your hemorrhoids and causing other health issues.
Stick to less than 10% of your total energy intake from free sugars, as recommended by the World Health Organization.
This means no more than 50 grams of sugar per day for an average adult.
More than that can cause weight gain, diabetes, heart disease, and tooth decay.
Also, you shouldn’t consume sugar if you have diabetes or prediabetes to prevent worsening your blood sugar control and increasing your risk of complications.
Because, sugar can interfere with the action of insulin and cause hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia.
You can buy sugar in any grocery store or online.
Always choose natural and unrefined sugars, such as honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar.
Because, they have more nutrients and antioxidants than refined sugars and may have less impact on your blood sugar and inflammation.
You can store them in a cool and dry place for up to a year.
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.