There is no perfect diet for urinary heath, but often what you eat can make a big impact on your urinary health and incontinence symptoms. At Comprehensive Urology, we realize that a healthy urological system is dependent on good food and a smart intake of drinks. To learn more about good nutrition for urinary health, or to schedule a consultation with one of our expert doctors, please call (310) 499-2756 today!
Let’s start with what you drink:
What to Drink for a Healthy Urinary Tract
Sticking with water is best in the case of many urinary conditions. The added ingredients in soda and energy drinks, as well as the caffeine in coffee, may exasperate the symptoms of an overactive bladder or incontinence. Spreading out fluid intake throughout the day and drinking water when you’re thirsty can help maintain a better bathroom break time schedule. Use smaller cups and bottles to carry fluid with you, and try to fill your cup only halfway instead of all the way to decrease bladder urges.
Also remember that fruits, vegetables and soups add to your fluid intake, and how much you eat of these foods should be monitored for your bladder comfort. Drinking too little water can actually make your urine more acidic and cause bladder irritation as well, so be mindful that water intake requires balance.
What to Avoid
Foods and drinks to avoid:
- Caffeinated beverages like coffee, cola, tea, and energy drinks
- Orange, grapefruit, and tomato juices which contain a lot of acid
- Alcoholic beverages, as these beverages can irritate the bladder and play with the signals to the brain that indicate a full bladder
- Carbonated waters and other “sparkling” beverages, as the fizz can aggravate the bladder
- Drinks containing the artificial sweeteners “aspartame” and “saccharin” may also irritate the bladder.
- Processed foods with artificial flavors and preservatives
- Onions have the potential to increase the urge to urinate
Certain foods containing a lot of acid like tomatoes, lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruits can also make your condition worse and aggravate symptoms of your “urge to go.” Cranberries are often said to have the property of relieving urinary symptoms, but this fruit actually falls into the acidic fruit category, so it’s best to avoid cranberries if you have an overactive bladder.
Sugars, even natural sugars, can worsen your symptoms, so ensure that you watch the foods you eat containing high amounts of sugar. Chocolate contains some caffeine and can also add to your problem. Try white chocolate in place of regular chocolate because it contains no caffeine. Small amounts of very dark chocolate can also be used to curb your craving with little effect on your bladder.
In addition, monitoring which foods and beverages make you feel worse and avoiding these foods can greatly help your condition. Certain foods can affect your condition more than others, so monitoring your symptoms and diet can help you to modify your lifestyle slightly to help your urological symptoms. Keeping a food diary is one of the best ways to understand what reaction the foods you eat have on your body.
Contact an Expert Urologist in Los Angeles!
If you are having urinary symptoms such as incontinence or frequent urination and adjustments in diet do not seem to be helping, see your urologist in Los Angeles today. The team at Comprehensive Urology can help you with your urinary incontinence issues.
At our facility, our doctors are specialists in dealing with these sensitive yet important issues every day. Contact Comprehensive Urology in Los Angeles today at (310) 499-2756 or make an appointment online. Your incontinence cannot wait another day!
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