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Happy Tummy Expert

4 weeks ago

Dear SIDDAROOD, Thank you for the question

Hemorrhoids are clusters of vascular tissues, smooth muscles, and connective tissues that lie along the anal canal in three columns—left lateral, right anterior, and right posterior positions. In internal hemorrhoids, bleeding is the most commonly reported symptom. The occurrence of bleeding is usually associated with defecation and almost always painless. Some of the common causes include low fiber diet, inadequate intake of water, heavy lifting, chronic constipation/diarrhoea etc.

Here are a few tips to help manage hemorrhoids

• Include adequate amount of fiber to your daily balanced diet. Some of the good sources of fiber include Whole grains, multigrain, millets, Psyllium, fruits such as apples, banana, citrus fruits, vegetables like green beans, peas, potato, cauliflower, nuts and soybean etc.

• An intake of at least 2 litres of water per day.
• A glass of hot water , preferably taken with lemon juice taken early in the morning, stimulates gastro colic reflex and helps ease constipation.

The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of fiber male is 30g/day

Black stools or tarry stools also known as melena can occur due to various reasons such as gastrointestinal dysfunction, bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract  (the oesophagus, stomach, and the first part of the small intestine), due to consumption of certain medications, supplements or any other dietary changes.

We request you to kindly contact your health care professional such as a gastroenterologist for further diagnosis, assistance & management.

Regular gastritis, flatulence, excess burping, bloating can be a symptom of gastrointestinal digestive issues such as indigestion, constipation, IBS, intolerances etc., and/or due to an underlying health condition which requires medical attention.

Certain food intolerances can cause bloating, flatulence and stomach pain after consuming specific foods. In lactose intolerance it is seen after consuming milk and milk products like cheese, paneer etc. And in gluten intolerance it is seen after consuming, wheat, rye, barley etc.

Here are a few dietary tips to help manage gastritis

• Eat all your meals on regular intervals. Include small snacks in between throughout the day
• Eat slowly and chew the food well, try not to use straws for beverages to avoid swallowing extra air
• Do not suck on ice or candy.
• Limit the intake of high fat foods, spices, acidic foods and carbonated beverages etc., from your daily diet
• One of the dietary factors associated with bloating is the intake and poor absorption of short chain carbohydrates called FODMAP foods. Consumption of foods that as may lead to excess gas production and poor gas clearance. In case of severe bloating abdominal pain and/or IBS try to limit the intake of FODMAP containing foods such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, corn, turnips, onions, peas, wheat, dairy, radishes, lentils, apples, pears etc.
• Practice regular physical activity and stress management

It is necessary to improve your overall digestive system which involves a healthy lifestyle management including a good balanced diet, adequate hydration, regular physical activity and hygiene & stress management is key to maintain a good digestive health. It is also important to ensure adequate fiber intake which is essential for a healthy gut and overall digestive health.

Gut microbiota includes a diverse community of bacteria in human gut, they carry out various functions that influences our overall health. The functions include, nutrient metabolism, natural defense against infections and regulation of immune system.

For managing a healthy gut it is important to consume a diversified balanced diet at regular intervals, maintain hydration and include dietary fibre in your daily diet. It is also important to engage in regular physical activity and include prebiotic and probiotics in your daily diet Prebiotics are food components that confer benefits to the host by selectively stimulating the growth of beneficial gut microbiota whereas Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that incur positive effects on human health. They are present in the human gut and are also taken through food products such as yogurt, fermented foods, dietary supplements etc.

Prebiotics naturally exist in different foods including, asparagus, garlic, chicory, onion, honey, banana, barley, tomato, rye, soybean, cow’s milk, peas, beans, etc.

The common sources of probiotics are yogurt, cultured buttermilk and cheese. The other foods that are produced by bacterial fermentation are, tempeh, sauerkraut, sour dough, bread etc.  Look for food products labelled ‘Probiotic’, ‘Probiotic food’, ‘Contains Probiotics’, ‘with Probiotics’ etc.

Here are a few guidelines for general digestive health.

• Do not skip your meals, have small frequent meals at regular intervals.
• Eat a well-balanced diet including minimum 5 serving of vegetables and 1 serving of fruit in a day as they are good sources of fiber and essential nutrients such as vitamin A, Vitamin B, iron, zinc etc.
• Include prebiotics such as banana, soyabean, garlic etc., good sources of probiotics like yogurt, buttermilk etc., to maintain a healthy gut.
• Try to include whole grains like wheat, millets and multigrain in your diet as they are a good source of fiber and other nutrients.
• Limit the intake of dairy and fiber in case of loose stools/diarrhea
• Avoid large, heavy meals, and practice portion guidance.
• Deep fried foods to be restricted. Method of cooking like baking, grilling, boiling, steaming is preferable over deep frying with excess fat/ oil.
• Try to limit the foods like caffeine, spices, raw onions etc.
• Food should be eaten slowly and chewed well as fast eating provokes gastric feeding reflex.
• Avoid lying down immediately after your meal consumption
• Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water per day
• Have a gap of minimum 2-3 hours between bedtime and your last meal
• Engage in physical activity for a minimum of 30-45 minutes for at least 5 days a week.
• Try to follow a good sleep regimen in terms of both quantity and quality.

For a customised and personalised meal plan for specific conditions please contact your Health care professional or any registered dietician.

Hope we have answered your query.

Wishing you a great day ahead

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