Bladder irritants Coffee, tea and carbonated drinks, even without caffeine. Alcohol. Certain acidic fruits — oranges, grapefruits, lemons and limes — and fruit juices. Spicy foods. Tomato-based products.
The key is to know which foods are more likely to irritate your bladder and which ones are more likely to soothe. In general, you will want to avoid coffee, alcohol, citrus fruits, tomato-based products, artificial sweeteners and spicy foods.
-Drinking plenty of fluids: This will help to keep the urine diluted and reduce irritation. -Taking over-the-counter pain medication: This can help to relieve pain and inflammation. Tylenol is better than Motrin or Advil. -Using a heating pad: This can help to soothe pain and cramping.
Dairy: Milk, yogurt, ice cream, and cheese may make overactive bladder symptoms worse in some people. Artificial sweeteners: Preliminary research suggests they may negatively affect bladder function.
Water is the best drink of choice to keep your bladder pain under control. It will also provide other benefits such as healthy skin, increased energy, reduced toxin levels, and a boosted metabolism. You'll want to stay away from acidic, caffeinated, or alcoholic beverages such as fruit juice, coffee, beer, and soda.
Bananas and other high-fiber foods can be good for urinary tract health and preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs) by encouraging regular bowel movements and relieving pressure on urine flow.
Eat Yogurt
But not nearly as many people are aware that probiotics in yogurt could help their urinary systems, too. In fact, yogurt can help fight urinary tract infections, which could also help prevent the development of more serious urinary problems, including bladder cancer.
Foods that irritate the bladder include:
Caffeine – coffee, tea, cola and chocolate can increase bladder activity and act as a diuretic. A diuretic is something that increases the amount of urine you pass.
Things that sometimes irritate the bladder, such as hygiene products, spermicide jelly or long-term catheter use, can also lead to cystitis. Cystitis can also happen as a complication of another illness. The usual treatment for cystitis caused by bacteria is to take antibiotic medication.
Coffee, soda, alcohol, tomatoes, hot and spicy foods, chocolate, caffeinated beverages, citrus juices and drinks, MSG, and high-acid foods can trigger IC symptoms or make them worse.
Breads are bladder-friendly. Choose whole grain, fiber-rich varieties. Nuts. Nuts are rich in protein and fiber.
But it's still best to take a trial-and-error approach one veggie or fruit at a time, if you're experiencing bladder irritation. Lower acid fruit options include blueberries, strawberries, pears and honeydew melon. And some vegetables can even sooth an irritated bladder.
Bananas, apples, grapes, coconut and watermelon are good options for those with overactive bladder. Vegetables – Leafy greens, like kale, lettuce, cucumber, squash, potatoes, broccoli, carrots, celery and bell peppers. Whole grains, like oats, barley, farro, and quinoa (also a great protein).
Drink Plenty of Fluids to Flush Out Bacteria — but Don't Overdo It. Drinking plenty of water — six to eight glasses daily — can flush bacteria out of your urinary tract and help prevent bladder infections.
Drink plenty of water
Drink 6 to 8 glasses of fluid a day (but no more) unless your doctor advises you otherwise. Many people with urinary incontinence avoid drinking fluids, as they feel it causes more problems. However, limiting your fluid intake makes incontinence worse, because it reduces your bladder's capacity.
While we mentioned above some beverages that irritate your bladder, there are also some things you can drink to try to help soothe your bladders, such as plain water, milk, and no-sugar-added cranberry juice. They're also foods you can eat to soothe your bladder and keep it at its healthiest.
Overactive bladder is a collection of symptoms that may affect how often you pee and your urgency. Causes include abdominal trauma, infection, nerve damage, medications and certain fluids. Treatment includes changing certain behaviors, medications and nerve stimulation.
Non-acidic fruits & vegetables
Acidic foods are potential bladder irritants, so try to choose fruits and vegetables that are higher on the pH scale, such as: Avocados (pH 6.27-6.58) Dates (pH 5.49) Figs, Calamyrna (pH 5.05-5.98)
Tomatoes – The acidity in tomatoes may irritate your bladder. Foods that contain tomatoes, such as pasta or pizza sauce, ketchup and salsa, may also affect symptoms. Citrus fruits – Foods like oranges, grapefruits, lemons and limes are also acidic and can affect bladder control.
If you have a bladder condition, such as IC, a variety of foods can irritate your bladder. Both common and unusual foods may cause irritation: All alcohol containing beverages, including champagne. Apples.