How hemorrhoids made me healthy, fit and sexy

How hemorrhoids made me healthy, fit and sexy

I developed hemorrhoids when I was in my 20s. Occasional flare-ups occur when my stress levels are high and I eat too much junk food and not enough fiber. After a few days of eating right, drinking lots of water, and exercising more, the symptoms disappear.

In May 2009, I moved from my home of 19 years into a condo. I have renovated a lot and I love my new place. But even good stress can cause problems. In October I had a severe flare-up of hemorrhoids. Only this time nothing helped. Eventually I was given prescription ointments and suppositories and the bleeding stopped and the pain subsided. Within a few days it started again and got worse.

I researched on the internet. There is a lot of good medical information and advice out there. I found a page that was loaded with helpful but funny advice. Visit 001yourtranslationservice.com and follow the links to his natural hemorrhoid treatment page.

I experimented with herbal supplements, took sitz baths, ate bran, psyllium fiber, and fruits and vegetables, drank more water, and began exercising regularly. Everything helped a little, but nothing stopped the pain or cured the condition.

I was afraid of surgery and refused to spend hundreds of dollars on so-called miracle cures. I delved deeper into issues such as constipation, gut health and digestion. Did you know that:

– Eating a lot of fiber relieves constipation, but not drinking enough water causes it

– Eating regularly (same times every day) ensures that you digest and eliminate regularly

– Chewing your food to a near-liquid consistency pleases your gut by making digestion easier (no more belching and bloating).

– Enzymes for digesting food are activated when chewing

– Food is digested in the order in which it is eaten

– Eating easily digestible foods starts the digestion process (start with water or juice, then soup, salad, vegetables, etc.)

– Drinking before eating is good. If you must drink with your meal, drink warm water with fresh lemon juice

– Our digestive system has to work harder to digest certain food combinations – the worst being meat plus potatoes, rice, pasta or bread. It is better to eat meat with vegetables or pasta, potatoes or other starches with vegetables

– Fruit should be eaten alone – at least 1 hour before a meal or two hours after – it digests quickly and can interfere with the digestion of other foods

– Dairy products should be avoided as they can cause constipation, which worsens hemorrhoids

– Caffeine, chocolate, alcoholic beverages, fried and processed foods do the same

– Exercise is crucial for good digestion – when your body moves, your digestive system moves too and it’s okay to walk after a meal; in fact it helps.

A website provided the key that opened the door to my lasting recovery. I discovered her colon cleanse detox diet on puristat.com. It is a very easy to follow diet plan. The basics are as follows:

1. Eat only fruit until lunch. Any kind, as much as you want, but only fruit

2. Do not combine starches with proteins during a meal

3. Don't eat anything for two to three hours before bedtime

4. Drink half your body weight in ounces daily (e.g. a person weighing 150 pounds would drink 75 ounces or 9-10 glasses), preferably purified water, but green teas, juices and warm water are also good.

That's it. The website also offers 10 tips to ease digestion that are easy to follow and useful.

Not only am I changing what, how and when I eat, but I'm also making it a point to be more active. After lunch I go for a 20 to 30 minute walk. I work out at my gym three times a week - cardio on the elliptical, stretching, free weights, core strengthening exercises, and more stretching. This is my basic routine.

When the weather permits, I take longer walks, explore my neighborhood, or go for a walk in a nearby river park. I take the stairs when I can, walk around the office, get off the bus a few stops early and go home. Small changes add up to big profits.

I lost over 15 pounds and trimmed 3 inches off my waist in 3 months simply by losing fat and gaining muscle tone. I am stronger and fitter; I look good and I feel great. To quote the Billy Crystal character from Saturday Night Live: "When you look good, you feel good. And when you feel good, you look mahvelous!"

I'm basically a couch potato. I work full-time in the corporate world and do freelance writing and editing. My favorite hobbies are reading and watching or watching TV. But if I can do it – change my eating habits, exercise more, relieve hemorrhoid pain and become fit, strong and sexy – then you can too!

Inspired by Vera Petkovsky