I developed hemorrhoids when I was 20 years old. The occasional flare-ups happen when my stress levels are high and I eat too much junk food and too little fiber. After a few days of eating right, drinking plenty of water, and exercising more, the symptoms go away.
In May of 2009, I moved out of my home of 19 years to a condo. I did a lot of renovation work and I love my new place. But even good stress can cause problems. In October I had a severe bout of hemorrhoids. Only this time, nothing helped. I finally got a prescription ointment and suppositories, and the bleeding stopped and the pain lessened. Within days, it started again and got worse.
I did a little research on the internet. There is a lot of good information and medical advice out there. I came across a site that was chock full of helpful yet fun tips. Visit 001yourtranslationservice.com and follow the links to their natural hemorrhoid treatment page.
I experimented with herbal supplements, took sitz baths, ate bran, psyllium fiber, and fruits and vegetables, drank even more water, and began exercising regularly. Everything helped a little but nothing stopped the pain or cured the condition.
Terrified at the prospect of surgery, refusing to spend hundreds of dollars on so-called miracle cures, I delved into research on topics like constipation, colon health, and digestion. Did you know that:
– Eating a lot of fiber relieves constipation, but not drinking enough water causes it
– Eating regularly (at the same time every day) keeps you digesting and eliminating regularly
– Chewing food to an almost liquid consistency delights the intestines by easing digestion (no more belching and bloating)
– Enzymes to digest food are activated when you chew
– Food is digested in the order in which it is eaten
– Eating easy-to-digest foods starts the digestive process (start with water or juice, then soup, salad, vegetables, etc.)
– Drinking before food is good. If you must drink with your meal, take a sip of warm water with fresh lemon juice
– Our digestive system has to work harder to digest certain food combinations – the worst is 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 plain – at least 1 hour before a meal or two hours after – it digests quickly and can interfere with the digestion of other foods
– Dairy products should be avoided as they can cause constipation, which aggravates hemorrhoids.
– Caffeine, chocolate, alcoholic beverages, fried and processed foods do the same
– Exercise is crucial for good digestion: if your body moves, so does your digestive system, and it’s okay to walk after a meal; in fact, it helps.
A website provided the key that opened the door to my own permanent recovery. On puristat.com, I discovered your colon cleanse detox diet. It is a very easy eating plan to follow. The basic concepts are the following:
1. Eat only fruit until noon. Any kind, as much as you like, but only fruit.
2. Do not combine starches with proteins during any meal
3. Do not eat anything for two to three hours before bed
4. Drink half your body weight in ounces daily (eg, a 150 pound person would drink 75 ounces or 9-10 glasses), preferably purified water, but green teas, juices, and water are also good tibia.
That’s all. The website also provides 10 tips to ease digestion that are easy to follow and make sense.
In addition to changing what, how and when I eat, I aim to be more active. I’m going for a 20-30 minute walk after lunch. I work out three times a week in my condo gym: cardio on the elliptical, stretching, free weights, core-strengthening, and more stretching. That is my basic routine.
When the weather permits, I take longer walks, explore my neighborhood, or walk in a park near the riverbank. I take the stairs when I can, walk around the office, get off the bus a couple of stops early, and walk home. Small changes add up to big gains.
I lost over 15 pounds in 3 months and have lost 3 inches off my waist, just losing fat and building muscle tone. I am stronger and fitter; I look good and I feel great. To quote Saturday Night Live’s Billy Crystal character, “When you look good, you feel good. And when you feel good, you look wonderful.”
I’m basically a couch potato. I work full time in the corporate world and do freelance writing and editing. My favorite hobbies are reading and watching movies or television. But if I can do it – change my eating habits, exercise more, banish hemorrhoid pain, and get fit, strong and sexy – then you can too!