What Foods Shrink Hemorrhoids Fast: 15 Best Foods for Quick Relief

If you’re dealing with the discomfort of hemorrhoids, you’re likely searching for fast, natural relief. The good news is that dietary changes can make a significant difference in reducing hemorrhoid symptoms and promoting healing. By incorporating specific high-fiber foods into your diet, you can help shrink hemorrhoids and prevent future flare-ups.

Hemorrhoids, also known as piles, are swollen veins in the lower rectum and anus that cause pain, itching, bleeding, and discomfort. While they can be extremely bothersome, the right foods can help soften stools, reduce straining during bowel movements, and support faster healing.

The key to managing hemorrhoids through diet is consuming adequate fiber and staying well-hydrated. Fiber helps bulk up stools and makes them easier to pass, which reduces pressure on hemorrhoidal veins. Let’s explore 15 powerful foods that can help shrink hemorrhoids quickly.

Why Fiber Matters for Hemorrhoid Relief

Before diving into specific foods, it’s important to understand why fiber is so crucial for hemorrhoid management. Dietary fiber comes in two forms: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber dissolves in water to form a gel-like substance that softens stools, while insoluble fiber adds bulk and helps food move through your digestive system more efficiently.

Both types of fiber work together to prevent constipation and reduce straining during bowel movements—two major factors that contribute to hemorrhoid development and worsening symptoms. Adults should aim for 25-35 grams of fiber daily for optimal digestive health.

1. Legumes: Powerhouse Fiber Sources

Legumes are among the best foods for shrinking hemorrhoids fast due to their exceptional fiber content. This family includes beans, lentils, chickpeas, peas, and soybeans—all packed with both soluble and insoluble fiber.

A single cup of cooked lentils provides approximately 16 grams of fiber, which is nearly half of your daily recommended intake. Black beans, kidney beans, and navy beans are equally impressive, offering 12-15 grams of fiber per cup.

The high fiber content in legumes helps bulk up stools and promotes regular bowel movements, reducing the strain that worsens hemorrhoids. Additionally, legumes are easy to incorporate into soups, salads, stews, and side dishes.

2. Whole Grains for Digestive Health

Unlike refined grains, whole grains retain their bran, germ, and endosperm—the parts that contain the most fiber and nutrients. This makes them particularly effective for hemorrhoid relief.

Excellent whole grain options include:

• Oatmeal (especially steel-cut oats)
• Brown rice
• Quinoa
• Barley
• Whole wheat bread and pasta
• Bulgur
• Whole rye

Oatmeal deserves special mention as it contains beta-glucan, a type of soluble fiber that acts as a prebiotic, feeding beneficial gut bacteria. This supports overall digestive health and can help reduce inflammation associated with hemorrhoids.

3. Broccoli and Cruciferous Vegetables

Cruciferous vegetables are excellent for shrinking hemorrhoids quickly. This family includes broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, and bok choy.

These vegetables are rich in insoluble fiber, which adds bulk to stools and promotes regular bowel movements. One cup of raw broccoli provides about 2 grams of fiber, and when cooked, you can easily consume more volume.

Beyond fiber, cruciferous vegetables contain glucosinolates—plant compounds that support gut bacteria diversity. A healthy, diverse gut microbiome is linked to better digestive function and reduced inflammation, both beneficial for hemorrhoid healing.

4. Artichokes: Fiber-Rich Vegetables

Artichokes are fiber superstars, with one medium artichoke delivering approximately 7 grams of fiber. This makes them one of the most fiber-dense vegetables available.

Artichokes contain inulin, a type of soluble fiber that acts as a prebiotic, promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria like Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli in your gut. These friendly bacteria support digestive health and regular bowel movements, which are essential for hemorrhoid relief.

You can enjoy artichokes steamed, grilled, or roasted. The hearts are particularly tender and delicious in salads, pasta dishes, or as a side vegetable.

5. Root Vegetables: Nutritious and Filling

Root vegetables are excellent foods for managing hemorrhoids due to their high fiber content and nutritional density. Sweet potatoes, carrots, beets, turnips, rutabagas, and regular potatoes all provide 3-5 grams of fiber per serving.

An important tip: keep the skin on when preparing root vegetables, as much of the fiber is concentrated there. Additionally, when you cook and cool white potatoes, they develop resistant starch—a type of carbohydrate that acts like soluble fiber in your digestive system.

Resistant starch feeds beneficial gut bacteria and helps prevent constipation, making it particularly valuable for hemorrhoid management. Try roasting, steaming, or boiling root vegetables with their skins on for maximum benefit.

6. Squash Varieties

From summer zucchini to winter butternut squash, these colorful vegetables add fiber and nutrition to your hemorrhoid-fighting diet. Acorn squash is the fiber champion of this group, providing 9 grams of fiber per cup of baked cubes.

Other beneficial squash varieties include:

• Yellow squash
• Zucchini
• Butternut squash
• Pumpkin
• Spaghetti squash

Squash is versatile and can be roasted, sautéed, spiralized, or added to soups and stews. Its natural sweetness makes it appealing even to picky eaters.

7. Bell Peppers: Hydration Plus Fiber

While bell peppers may not have as much fiber as some other vegetables on this list, they offer a unique advantage: they’re approximately 90% water. This high water content, combined with their fiber, helps soften stools and prevents the straining that worsens hemorrhoids.

Red, yellow, orange, and green bell peppers all provide these benefits. Add them raw to salads, roast them for a sweet flavor, or stir-fry them with other vegetables for a fiber-rich meal.

8. Celery: Crunchy and Hydrating

Celery is another vegetable that combines fiber with high water content (about 95% water). This dual action helps soften stools naturally and reduces the need to strain during bowel movements.

Each large celery stalk provides about 1 gram of fiber. While this may seem modest, the hydration factor makes celery particularly valuable for hemorrhoid management. Enjoy it as a crunchy snack with nut butter, add it to soups, or include it in salads.

9. Cucumbers and Melons

Like celery and bell peppers, cucumbers and melons from the Cucurbitaceae family are hydration heroes. They provide fiber, water, and beneficial antioxidants that support digestive health.

For maximum fiber benefit from cucumbers, eat them with the peel on. Melons like watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew are also excellent choices, especially during hot weather when staying hydrated is more challenging.

10. Pears: Nature’s Fiber Snack

One medium pear with the skin on provides nearly 6 grams of fiber—about 22% of your daily needs. The skin is where most of the fiber resides, so don’t peel your pears before eating them.

Pears make an excellent portable snack and can also be added to salads, baked into desserts, or stewed for a warm, comforting treat. Their natural sweetness satisfies sugar cravings while supporting hemorrhoid healing.

11. Apples: Pectin-Rich Fruit

The old saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” holds true for hemorrhoid sufferers. One medium apple provides about 4-5 grams of fiber, including pectin—a soluble fiber that creates a gel-like consistency in your digestive tract.

This gel helps soften and bulk up stools, making them easier to pass without straining. As with pears, eat apples with their skin on to maximize fiber intake. All apple varieties are beneficial, whether you prefer tart Granny Smith or sweet Honeycrisp.

12. Raspberries: Berry Fiber Champions

Among all berries, raspberries stand out as exceptional sources of fiber. Just one cup of fresh raspberries delivers an impressive 8 grams of fiber along with high water content (about 85% water).

This combination of fiber and hydration makes raspberries particularly effective for hemorrhoid relief. They’re delicious eaten fresh, added to yogurt or oatmeal, blended into smoothies, or sprinkled over salads.

Other berries like blackberries, strawberries, and blueberries also provide fiber and antioxidants, though raspberries offer the highest fiber content.

13. Bananas: Pectin and Resistant Starch

Bananas are ideal for managing hemorrhoid symptoms due to their pectin content and resistant starch. One medium banana provides about 3 grams of fiber.

Interestingly, slightly green bananas contain more resistant starch than fully ripe ones. Resistant starch acts like soluble fiber, feeding beneficial gut bacteria and promoting regular bowel movements.

The pectin in bananas creates a gel in your digestive tract, softening stools and making them easier to pass. Bananas are also gentle on the stomach and easy to digest, making them perfect for daily consumption.

14. Prunes: Nature’s Gentle Laxative

Prunes have long been recognized as nature’s laxative, and for good reason. They contain both fiber and sorbitol—a sugar alcohol that draws water into your digestive tract, softening stools naturally.

Research shows that consuming moderate amounts of prunes (up to 120 grams or about 10-12 prunes daily) can improve stool consistency, frequency, and digestive motility in people with constipation.

Stewed prunes are particularly effective. To make them, simmer dried prunes in filtered water for about 10 minutes until soft. The extra water content makes them even more beneficial for hemorrhoid relief.

15. Adequate Fluid Intake

While not a food per se, adequate hydration is absolutely essential for shrinking hemorrhoids fast. Water works synergistically with fiber to soften stools and prevent constipation.

Aim for 9-13 glasses of fluid daily, depending on your age, sex, activity level, and climate. Water should be your primary beverage choice, but you can also include:

• Herbal teas (unsweetened or lightly sweetened)
• Clear, low-sodium broths
• Water infused with lemon, cucumber, or berries
• Coconut water (in moderation)

Proper hydration ensures that the fiber you consume can work effectively to keep stools soft and easy to pass.

Foods to Avoid When You Have Hemorrhoids

Just as important as knowing which foods help hemorrhoids is understanding which foods to avoid. Low-fiber foods can worsen constipation and aggravate hemorrhoid symptoms.

Limit or avoid these foods:

Low-Fiber Foods

• White flour products: White bread, regular pasta, pastries, and bagels have had the fiber-rich bran and germ removed
• Red meat: Takes longer to digest and can exacerbate constipation
• Processed meats: Cold cuts, hot dogs, and sausages are low in fiber and high in sodium
• Cheese and dairy: While calcium-rich, many dairy products are low in fiber and can contribute to constipation
• Fried foods: Hard to digest and can slow down bowel movements

Foods That May Worsen Symptoms

• Spicy foods: May increase pain and burning sensations
• Caffeinated beverages: Coffee and energy drinks can dehydrate you and harden stools
• Alcohol: Has a dehydrating effect that can worsen hemorrhoid discomfort
• Salty foods: Can cause bloating and make hemorrhoids more sensitive

Creating a Hemorrhoid-Friendly Meal Plan

Now that you know which foods help shrink hemorrhoids fast, here’s how to incorporate them into your daily routine:

Breakfast Ideas

• Steel-cut oatmeal topped with raspberries, sliced banana, and ground flaxseed
• Whole grain toast with mashed avocado and a side of fresh fruit
• Smoothie made with spinach, banana, berries, and chia seeds

Lunch Options

• Large salad with mixed greens, chickpeas, bell peppers, cucumbers, and olive oil dressing
• Lentil soup with whole grain crackers
• Quinoa bowl with roasted vegetables and black beans

Dinner Suggestions

• Grilled chicken with roasted Brussels sprouts and sweet potato
• Vegetable stir-fry with brown rice and edamame
• Baked salmon with steamed broccoli and barley pilaf

Snacks

• Apple slices with almond butter
• Celery sticks with hummus
• Handful of almonds and dried prunes
• Fresh pear or mixed berries

Additional Lifestyle Tips for Fast Hemorrhoid Relief

While diet is crucial for shrinking hemorrhoids, combining dietary changes with lifestyle modifications provides the fastest relief:

• Don’t delay bowel movements: Go when you feel the urge rather than holding it
• Avoid prolonged sitting: Take breaks to stand and move around, especially if you have a desk job
• Exercise regularly: Physical activity promotes healthy bowel function and reduces constipation
• Practice good bathroom habits: Don’t strain or sit on the toilet for extended periods
• Use a footstool: Elevating your feet while on the toilet helps align your colon for easier elimination
• Maintain a healthy weight: Excess weight puts additional pressure on pelvic veins

When to See a Healthcare Professional

While dietary changes can significantly improve hemorrhoid symptoms, some situations require medical attention. Consult a healthcare professional if you experience:

• Severe pain that doesn’t improve with home treatment
• Significant bleeding during bowel movements
• Hemorrhoids that protrude and don’t retract
• Symptoms that persist despite dietary and lifestyle changes
• Changes in bowel habits or stool appearance

Your healthcare provider can recommend appropriate treatments, which may include minimally invasive procedures for severe cases. Never start any medication regimen without consulting with a qualified healthcare professional first.

The Bottom Line

Hemorrhoids can be painful and frustrating, but the right foods can help shrink them fast and prevent future flare-ups. By focusing on high-fiber foods like legumes, whole grains, vegetables, and fruits, while staying well-hydrated, you can support natural healing and reduce symptoms significantly.

The 15 foods discussed in this article—legumes, whole grains, cruciferous vegetables, artichokes, root vegetables, squash, bell peppers, celery, cucumbers and melons, pears, apples, raspberries, bananas, prunes, and adequate fluids—all work to soften stools, reduce straining, and promote regular bowel movements.

Remember that consistency is key. Make these foods a regular part of your diet rather than only eating them when symptoms appear. Combined with good lifestyle habits and proper hydration, a fiber-rich diet is one of the most effective natural approaches to managing and preventing hemorrhoids.

If your symptoms don’t improve within a week or two of making dietary changes, or if they worsen, be sure to consult with your healthcare provider to rule out other conditions and discuss additional treatment options.

Sources:

• National Library of Medicine – Hemorrhoids
• PubMed Central – Dietary Fiber
• USDA FoodData Central
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• Mayo Clinic – Hemorrhoids Treatment
• PMC – Whole Grains and Digestive Health
• PubMed – Prunes and Digestive Health