These include drinks that contain caffeine and fizzy drinks – especially those labeled “Lite” or “Diet” which have artificial sweeteners, such as Aspartame or Saccharine. Alcoholic drinks, particularly spirits, can also irritate the bladder and for some, the acid in various fruit juices can make problems worse.
Caffeine irritates the bladder and can make incontinence worse. Coffee has the biggest effect, so stop drinking it or switch to decaffeinated coffee. Fizzy drinks, tea, green tea, energy drinks and hot chocolate also contain caffeine, so cut down on these too and replace them with water and herbal or fruit teas.
Certain foods, such as tomatoes, citrus fruits, coffee, chocolate, or alcohol, may worsen symptoms of IC for some people. To identify which foods, if any, irritate your bladder, keep a diary of what you eat during the day. When you have flare-ups of bladder pain, see if you can find a pattern in your diet.
What foods calm the bladder? The American Urological Association also recognizes some foods as potentially having a calming effect on sensitive bladders. These foods include pears, bananas, green beans, squash, potatoes, lean proteins, whole grains, nuts, bread, and eggs.
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.
Bladder irritants
Certain foods and beverages might irritate the bladder, including: Coffee, tea and drinks with bubbles, even without caffeine. Alcohol.
Drink enough fluids, especially water.
In general, drink enough fluids so that you need to urinate every few hours. Some people need to drink less water because of certain conditions, such as kidney failure or heart disease. Ask your health care provider how much fluid is healthy for you.
Chocolate can irritate your bladder for the same exact reason: caffeine. While it has less caffeine than coffee and tea, it is still enough to exacerbate bladder symptoms. If you just absolutely need a sweet fix, though, stick with white chocolate for less caffeine.
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.
Dairy products are known as bladder irritants. Those that can be especially bad are aged dairy products like aged cheese and sour cream.
Helps Prevent Urinary Tract Infections
Natural News advocates adding half a cup of lemon juice to your drinking water in the morning to help combat UTIs – lemon maintains the correct pH levels in the urinary tract preventing bacteria from growing.
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.
When You're Drinking Too Much Water. In most people, with normal kidney function, drinking too much water can irritate your bladder increasing the risk of urine leakage. As fluid intake increases, the amount of urine made will increase along with it.
The berries' acidity can irritate the bladder, and although its diuretic action helps flush out the bladder and urethra, it will also make you go more frequently. It makes sense that if too much caffeine can make you jittery, it also can make your overactive bladder jumpy.
Eggs are another great source of protein that you can eat without fear of bladder irritation. They're actually considered some of the least bothersome foods for many bladder conditions and are an important part of a balanced diet.
The following foods are acidic and have been shown to be irritating to the bladder. These items should be avoided: All alcoholic beverages. Apples.