Most people who suffer from hemorrhoids don’t go to the doctor for treatment, and the problems often resolve on their own. Chronic hemorrhoids can be probelmatic though, and should be treated with natural approaches. There are some surgical approaches that are sometimes used for treatment, but usually the natural approaches work fine by themselves and are much less invasive.

The most important natural treatment for hemorrhoids - internal or external - is making changes to your diet. If your hemorrhoids appear to be caused by constipation and straining when trying to have a bowel movement, the primary change you’ll need to make is to increase the amount of fiber you’re getting each day.

Getting more fiber will help your bowels move more regularly, which will in turn prevent straining and stool hardening. Additional fiber can be gotten by adding fiber rich foods or supplements. Foods are the best option, because foods high in fiber often also contain higher amounts of vitamins and minerals essential for our body’s health.

Excellent sources of fiber include dark green leafy vegetables such as broccoli, spinach and asparagus. Leafy green lettuce such as romaine are also excellent sources of fiber, as is any whole grain foods.

Changing from a cold cereal breakfast to oatmeal in the morning is a simple step towards adding more fiber. If you’re attached to cold cereals though, you can easily find cereals made with whole grains, and these will add fiber to your diet too.

At lunchtime or for snacks, you can add salads and raw vegetables. Alternatively, just adding some vegetables to your sandwiches can make a difference too. Don’t forget to use whole grain breads for sandwiches though.

Dinner time is also to add more fiber too. Again, it’s just a matter of adding fruits or vegetables to your plate, and having a side salad regularly.

Water is another very important element needed to help keep your bowels moving and prevent hemorrhoids too. Drinking at least 8-10 large glasses of straight water each day makes a huge difference in keeping your stools soft. When your stools are soft and pliable, they are able to move through your colon, rectum and anus easier, without causing damage.

Additional water can be added to your diet with fruits as well, because most fruits contain water naturally as part of their general makeup. Fruit juices help relieve constipation too, but these don’t provide the natural fiber that whole fruits do.

Statements made in this article may not be approved by the FDA, and should not be taken as professional medical advice.