Foods to Avoid for Hemorrhoids

White bread, cheese, and fast-food burgers and fries are 3 of 8 foods to consider limiting for hemorrhoids, especially if you have constipation or eat little fiber. The ai symptom analyzer can help you organize symptoms, but it cannot diagnose hemorrhoids or replace medical care. You can also explore the best drinks for hemorrhoids for hydration choices.

No single food is proven to cause or cure hemorrhoids. The aim is to make room for enough fiber and fluids to help prevent hard stools and straining, not to follow a rigid list of forbidden foods.

Which foods are best to choose when you have hemorrhoids?

Fiber-rich foods include beans, lentils, oats, whole-grain bread, fruit, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. They can help make stools easier to pass, particularly when they replace low-fiber choices in a diet that otherwise lacks fiber. A change in eating habits is most useful when constipation or hard stools are part of the problem.

Commonly cited daily fiber intakes for adults ages 19–50 are 25 g for women and 38 g for men; needs vary with age, pregnancy, and individual health. Increase fiber gradually rather than trying to reach a target all at once, since a sudden increase can cause gas or bloating. Drink enough fluid unless a clinician has advised you to limit it.

The foods below are practical choices to limit, not proven hemorrhoid triggers. No hemorrhoid-specific studies were supplied to establish that removing any individual food improves symptoms.

Which 8 foods should you limit for hemorrhoids?

1. White bread and rolls

White bread and rolls are usually made from refined flour, which has less fiber than whole-grain flour. If they regularly replace higher-fiber foods, they can make it harder to get enough fiber to help prevent constipation.

Try replacing some white bread with whole-grain bread, or add a fiber-rich filling such as beans or vegetables. There is no required amount to avoid: white bread can still fit into an otherwise fiber-rich diet. The reason to limit it is general nutrition guidance, not direct evidence that cutting it treats hemorrhoids.

2. Cheese

Cheese contains little or no fiber. Eating it frequently is not automatically a problem, but meals built around cheese and other low-fiber foods may leave less room for foods that support regular stools.

Keep portions that work for you and pair cheese with whole-grain crackers, fruit, vegetables, or beans. If you notice that a cheese-heavy eating pattern coincides with hard stools, consider changing the overall meal rather than assuming cheese alone is responsible. There is no direct hemorrhoid-specific evidence establishing a safe or harmful amount of cheese.

3. Fast-food burgers and fries

A burger on a refined-flour bun with fries may provide less fiber than a meal built around whole grains, beans, and vegetables. Eating this kind of meal often can make it more difficult to meet fiber needs, which matters most when you are prone to constipation.

You do not have to eliminate it. Consider having it less often, choosing a whole-grain option where available, or adding a side of vegetables or beans. The concern is the overall low-fiber pattern; there is no direct evidence that avoiding burgers and fries specifically improves hemorrhoids.

4. Processed meats

Processed meats, such as sausages, hot dogs, and deli meats, provide little or no fiber. When they take the place of beans or other plant foods regularly, the resulting diet may be less helpful for preventing hard stools.

Use smaller amounts or choose them less often, and build the rest of the meal around fiber-rich foods. For example, add vegetables and beans to a meal instead of relying on processed meat and white bread alone. This is a substitution strategy, not a proven treatment for hemorrhoids.

5. Chips and refined-flour crackers

Many chips and crackers made with refined flour contribute little fiber compared with whole-grain or bean-based snacks. Frequent low-fiber snacks can crowd out foods that help you reach your daily fiber needs.

Check the nutrition label for fiber, and try fruit, nuts, or whole-grain crackers for some snacks. You can still have chips or refined crackers occasionally; a single snack is unlikely to determine your bowel habits. Direct evidence that removing these foods improves hemorrhoids is lacking.

6. White rice

White rice has less fiber than brown rice because its outer layers have been removed. If large amounts of white rice are a regular staple in an otherwise low-fiber diet, replacing some of it may help increase your total fiber intake.

Try brown rice or mix beans, lentils, or vegetables into white rice. You can also keep eating white rice while getting fiber from other foods throughout the day. There is no established hemorrhoid-specific limit for white rice, and no direct evidence that it needs to be avoided.

7. Ice cream

Ice cream generally provides little fiber, so it does not contribute much toward a fiber goal. For someone who has lactose intolerance, it may also cause digestive symptoms, although that does not mean ice cream causes hemorrhoids.

Enjoy it occasionally if you tolerate it, and choose fruit or another fiber-containing food for some desserts. If dairy seems to cause diarrhea or discomfort, note the pattern and discuss persistent symptoms with a clinician. There is no direct evidence that eliminating ice cream treats hemorrhoids.

8. Pastries and doughnuts

Pastries and doughnuts made with refined flour are generally low in fiber. When they frequently replace higher-fiber breakfasts or snacks, they can make it harder to maintain a diet that supports comfortable bowel movements.

Consider having them less often or pairing a smaller portion with fruit, nuts, or another fiber-rich food. Oatmeal or whole-grain toast can be an alternative when you want a more substantial source of fiber. The recommendation is based on their place in the overall diet, not on direct hemorrhoid-specific evidence.

How strictly should you limit these foods?

There is no proven number of servings you must avoid. Focus first on the foods you eat most often: replacing one low-fiber choice with a higher-fiber one is a practical starting point. If your stools are already soft and easy to pass, removing a favorite food may offer little benefit.

Constipation is not the only issue that can irritate hemorrhoids; diarrhea and straining can also contribute to discomfort. Track what you eat alongside your bowel habits if you notice a pattern, but avoid cutting out several food groups without a clear reason. Persistent changes in bowel habits deserve medical attention rather than repeated dietary restrictions.

Who should be careful, and when should you see a doctor?

Ask a clinician before substantially increasing fiber if you have a history of bowel obstruction or narrowing, an inflammatory bowel disease flare, or another condition requiring a restricted diet. If you have kidney disease or have been told to limit fluids, ask how to adjust your diet and fluid intake safely. Pregnant people and children with constipation or suspected hemorrhoids should seek individualized advice from a clinician.

Arrange a medical assessment for rectal bleeding, new or persistent pain, or a change in bowel habits; do not assume bleeding is caused by hemorrhoids. Seek urgent care for heavy or ongoing bleeding, black or tarry stools, fainting or marked dizziness, or severe pain. A clinician can check the cause and recommend appropriate care.