What is the best thing to eat if you have piles?

October 30, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), about 1 in 20 people in the U.S. experience hemorrhoids. When asking what is the best thing to eat if you have piles, the answer consistently points towards a diet rich in dietary fiber and adequate fluids. A high-fiber diet can significantly soften stools, increase their bulk, and reduce the straining that exacerbates symptoms.

Quick Summary

A diet high in fiber and fluids is crucial for managing piles. Consuming whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables helps soften stool and promote regular bowel movements. Specific fruits and vegetables, like prunes and broccoli, offer dual benefits of fiber and water content. Proper hydration is also vital to help fiber work effectively and reduce discomfort. Certain foods, such as refined grains and processed items, should be limited or avoided.

Key Points

Increase Fiber Gradually: Slowly add more high-fiber foods like whole grains, fruits, and legumes to your diet over several weeks to avoid bloating and gas.
Stay Well-Hydrated: Drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water daily to help soften stools and allow dietary fiber to work effectively.
Focus on Whole Grains: Replace white bread, pasta, and rice with whole-wheat, brown rice, or oats to boost insoluble fiber intake.
Load Up on Fruits and Vegetables: Apples, pears, berries, bananas, and green vegetables with edible skins are excellent sources of fiber and water.
Limit Processed and Low-Fiber Foods: Reduce your intake of refined grains, processed meats, and fatty, fried foods that can cause constipation.
Avoid Alcohol and Excessive Caffeine: These can cause dehydration, which hardens stools and worsens piles symptoms.
Eat Prunes and Legumes: Incorporate foods like prunes, lentils, and beans, which are natural laxatives and rich in both soluble and insoluble fiber.

Why Diet is Critical for Managing Piles

Diet plays a significant role in managing and preventing piles (hemorrhoids). Straining during bowel movements, often caused by a low-fiber diet and constipation, is a primary factor in the development and worsening of piles. A diet high in fiber and fluids helps soften and bulk up stool, making it easier to pass and reducing the need to strain, which in turn alleviates symptoms like pain and bleeding.

Best Foods to Include in Your Diet

Focus on incorporating a variety of high-fiber foods to support digestive health and ease piles symptoms.

Legumes and Whole Grains

Lentils, various beans (kidney, black, lima), peas, and chickpeas are excellent sources of fiber. Whole grains like oats, brown rice, quinoa, and whole-wheat products also contribute valuable soluble and insoluble fiber, aiding in stool softening and regularity.

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits such as prunes, apples, pears, berries, and bananas provide fiber and often contain natural laxatives like sorbitol and fructose or beneficial pectin. Vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, and kale are rich in fiber and support healthy digestion. Eating fruits and root vegetables with their skins on maximizes fiber intake.

Foods and Drinks to Limit or Avoid

To prevent constipation and irritation, limit or avoid certain foods.

Foods to Limit

Refined grains (white bread, pasta, rice), processed meats (hot dogs, sausages), high-fat and fried foods, and sometimes full-fat dairy can contribute to constipation.

Drinks to Avoid or Limit

Caffeinated and alcoholic beverages can cause dehydration and harden stools. Sugary drinks are also not beneficial for digestive health.

Hydration is Key

Adequate fluid intake is crucial for fiber to work effectively in softening stools. Aim for at least 8-10 glasses of water daily, and consider other low-sugar fluids to maintain regularity.

Diet vs. Lifestyle for Piles Management


Feature	Diet Management	Lifestyle Changes
Primary Goal	Soften stool and prevent constipation	Reduce pressure and improve bowel function
Key Components	High-fiber foods, ample hydration	Regular exercise, avoiding prolonged sitting
Mechanism of Action	Fiber bulks and softens stool; water aids absorption	Exercise stimulates bowel movements; avoiding strain reduces pressure
Foods to Prioritize	Whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes	N/A
Habits to Avoid	Low-fiber, processed, high-fat foods; excessive alcohol/caffeine	Straining on the toilet, heavy lifting, long sitting periods
Best For	Addressing the root cause of hard stools and constipation	Providing overall support and reducing symptomatic irritation

Gradual Changes for Best Results

Introduce high-fiber foods into your diet gradually over several weeks to prevent digestive discomfort like gas and bloating. This allows your system to adjust to the increased fiber.

Conclusion

The most effective dietary strategy for managing piles involves a diet rich in high-fiber foods and sufficient fluids to promote soft, regular bowel movements. Prioritizing whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes while minimizing refined, processed, and fried items can significantly lessen the straining that aggravates hemorrhoids. This nutritional approach provides relief and improves digestive health. Remember that diet is part of a larger lifestyle that includes exercise and avoiding prolonged sitting. Consult a healthcare professional for persistent or severe symptoms.

Frequently Asked Questions

The best fruits for piles are those rich in fiber and water content, such as apples and pears (with skin), berries like raspberries and strawberries, ripe bananas, prunes, and citrus fruits. These help soften and bulk up your stool, easing bowel movements.

Yes, bananas are good for piles. They contain pectin, a soluble fiber that forms a gel in the digestive tract to soften stools, and resistant starch, which benefits gut bacteria and promotes regularity.

You should avoid foods low in fiber, such as refined white flour products (white bread, white rice, pasta), processed meats (hot dogs, bacon), spicy foods, and fried or fatty foods. Excessive alcohol and caffeine can also cause dehydration and harden stools, so they should be limited.

Adequate water intake is essential for managing piles because it works with dietary fiber to keep stools soft and easy to pass. When you don't drink enough, fiber can lead to bloating or gas, and stools can become hard, causing you to strain during bowel movements.

While not a direct cause, spicy foods can irritate the digestive tract and exacerbate piles symptoms like itching and burning in some people. It's generally best to limit your intake of spicy foods if they cause you discomfort.

Getting fiber from whole foods is generally preferred, as you also receive other essential nutrients and antioxidants. However, if diet alone is not enough, nonprescription fiber supplements like psyllium or methylcellulose can be beneficial. Always ensure you drink plenty of water when taking fiber supplements.

For some individuals, especially those with lactose intolerance or sensitivity, dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt can cause constipation or digestive issues that worsen piles symptoms. Opting for non-dairy alternatives might be helpful.