You might not think of food when it comes to bladder health or managing a sensitive bladder. If not, that’s completely understandable. But you might want to start.
Thinking about how food may impact your bladder may help tame a sensitive bladder and allow you to regain some control. An irritated or overactive bladder, after all, can be extremely frustrating and be a major hit to your quality of life.
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Some foods can irritate your bladder, while others can help soothe it. Exactly what foods do what, however, will be dependent on your individual case.
Finding out if a particular food or substance irritates your bladder is really a process of elimination and something that you and your healthcare provider can work on. To test how your bladder responds to eliminating foods, you can:
- Keep a food diary to track which foods irritate your bladder and which do not
- Removing the irritating foods for a few days
- Adding foods back in once symptoms have subsided to see if they lead to irritation
Some foods commonly cause bladder irritation. Alcohol, coffee, citrus fruits, tomato-based foods, artificial sweeteners, and spicy foods fall into this category. That isn’t the complete list, but those ones certainly can bother a sensitive bladder.
Foods that may help soothe your bladder, or at least be bladder friends, are extensive as well. Some include:
- Pears
- Bananas
- Green beans
- Winter squash
- Potatoes
- Lean proteins, particularly when baked or broiled
- Whole grains
- Eggs
- Nuts
Once again, individual foods will vary between people.
How do you even know if you have a sensitive bladder? Well, if you don’t drink a lot of water and find yourself having to go regularly, that is a sign. It may also present itself with strong urges to pee, needing to go frequently, and pain in the lower abdomen.
About eight years ago, Mat Lecompte had an epiphany. He’d been ignoring his health and suddenly realized he needed to do something about it. Since then, through hard work, determination and plenty of education, he has transformed his life. He’s changed his body composition by learning the ins and outs of nutrition, exercise, and fitness and wants to share his knowledge with you. Starting as a journalist over 10 years ago, Mat has not only honed his belief system and approach with practical experience, but he has also worked closely with nutritionists, dieticians, athletes, and fitness professionals. He embraces natural healing methods and believes that diet, exercise and willpower are the foundation of a healthy, happy, and drug-free existence.
