Which foods to eat & avoid to help treat & prevent fistula

One of the main reasons that cause symptoms of fistula are constipation, indigestion, and diarrhea, among others. Patients should consume or avoid certain food items that may improve or aggravate these symptoms.

Individuals showing symptoms or already affected by fistula can control or prevent fistula by sticking to the following [1].

Foods that need to be consumed

Fermented milk products

Fermented milk products such as curd, yogurt, butter, ghee, and others act as natural laxatives, improving bowel movements.

Green leafy vegetables

Green leafy veggies like lettuce, cabbage, bok choy, and spinach should be consumed daily. All of these have sufficient minerals, vitamins, and many other nutrients. They contain significant portions of fiber, so they keep your stomach full for a long time. Because they assimilate food easily, you can pass stools easily.

Fruits

Fruits are fiber-rich, especially avocados, apples, pears, and bananas. These fruits lower the possibility of flashes, inflammation, and pain accompanying fistula. Bananas are especially rich in fiber, helping relieve constipation.

Coconuts

Coconuts are rich in fiber, which helps build up stool and allows you to pass it easily. Coconut kernels are also rich in medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), which improve your digestive system.

Brown rice

Brown rice contains a lot of dietary fiber, which helps reduce the possibility of constipation and makes passing of stool easier.

Cereals

Cereals are rich in fiber, which is necessary for improving digestion and helping you pass stools effortlessly.

Pulses

Some pluses, like kidney beans, green gram, red lentils, soybeans, and chickpeas, provide sufficient protein and are rich in fiber, which helps clean the digestive tract. They also keep your stomach full for much longer and bulk up the stool, allowing it to be passed less painfully.

Fish

Certain types of fish, such as mackerel, salmon, and tuna, are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which help maintain a healthy body.

Lemon

Lemons are rich in vitamin C, an antioxidant. Since it is also water-soluble, it is easily discharged from the body.

Foods to stay away from

Certain dairy products

You should avoid double-fat milk and other cream products because they are tough to digest.

Fast foods

Fast foods, such as French fries, pizza, burgers, and others, must be strictly avoided. You should also avoid food containing purpose flour and processed foods.

Fried foods

Fried foods contain negligible nutrition content, are hard to digest, and are unhealthy. They should strictly be avoided if you have an anal fistula.

Spicy foods

You should stay away from spicy food items, as they are tough to digest.

Salty foods

When you consume salty foods, you feel bloated, making it more challenging to pass stools. They can also lead to irritable bowel syndrome.

Red meat

Red meat is not easy to digest. Furthermore, it does not contain much fiber, making it difficult for the stomach to digest. It also does not bulk up the stool.

Alcohol

More than moderate intake of alcohol leads to dehydration, making it difficult for you to pass stool [2].

Packaged foods

Packaged foods like French fries, canned vegetables, salted nuts, and others lose nutritional value because they are stored in freezers. They may also be chemically and microbiologically contaminated, leading to upset stomachs, diarrhea, or indigestion. So, they should be taken in moderation or avoided totally.

Caffeine

If caffeine is consumed heavily, it can lead to deterioration of the digestive system, disrupting bowel movements [3].
To get further guidance and proper medical advice to manage and treat fistula, Vitality’s Laser Piles Clinic has a crew of trained doctors who can assist you. We are always a call away to provide you with the proper medical assistance when you need it.

References

1. The Johns Hopkins University, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Johns Hopkins Health System. – https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/anal-fistula.
2. The Regents of The University of California. – https://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/nutrition-tips-for-inflammatory-bowel-disease.
3. Cambridge University Hospitals – https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/patient-information/diet-and-fluid-advice-for-a-high-volume-stoma-or-fistula/.