Overactive bladder (OAB) is a common problem mostly affecting the elderly people but can also develop at any age. With an overactive bladder (OAB), you may often feel a frequent, intense urge to urinate, since bladder muscles are contracting even if your bladder isn’t full. Also, the bladder may contract suddenly, without any feelings or warning, which causes an urgent need to urinate.
Overactive Bladder

There are several conservative treatment options which can help a person ease the symptoms including:

Bladder Training: Timing your trips to the restroom can help you to adjust your bladder to hold your urine for longer durations.

Pelvic Floor Exercises: Kegels or pelvic floor exercises can aid you in good control over the stop and start of urination.

Over-The-Counter Medications (OTC): Some medicines are known to relax bladder muscles, offering you to regulate intervals between restroom visits.

Well, your diet also plays a crucial role in your symptoms. In some cases, what one eats may exert more stress on the bladder and increase irritation. Also, a few OTC medications for bladder control have side effects that can affect your food and fluid intake.

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Read this article to know more about how diet impacts OAB, foods you should eat to get respite, and what foods to avoid easing symptoms.

How Does Diet Impact With Overactive Bladder?

In a person suffering from OAB, certain foods and drinks are known to further irritate the bladder or urinary tract, which can aggravate the symptoms including:

Remember foods that negatively affect a person may not have the same impact on others. Experimenting with a wide variety of foods and beverages can help one identify dietary triggers. Also maintaining a food diary can help remarkably.

Also Read: Low-Oxalate Diet: Here’s Is What You Should Eat And Avoid To Prevent Kidney Stones

Drinking plenty of fluids is essential for overall well-being. But, in a person with OAB, consuming more fluid usually increases visits to the bathroom. And if those drinks are carbonated, they may further worsen your symptoms. It is important to talk with your physician about your fluid intake and they can help you determine how much fluid to drink daily and at what intervals.

People with OAB often avoid having water before bed to lessen night-time trips to the bathroom. However, remember that too little fluid intake is not ideal, and this makes your urine more concentrated and acidic, increasing bowel irritation. In people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity eating foods containing gluten may further contribute to OAB. Gluten found in wheat, rye, and barley products is not beneficial.
Caffeine, carbonated drink, bladder

Foods To Avoid

Some of the foods and beverages contain irritants, which can intensify your OAB symptoms. Thus, avoiding or limiting those foods may help one to manage symptoms, which include:

  • Carbonated beverages
  • Caffeinated beverages like coffee and tea
  • Chocolate
  • Alcoholic drinks
  • Sports drinks
  • Citrus fruits
  • Tomatoes and tomato-based products
  • Spicy foods
  • Artificial flavourings
  • Preservatives
  • Sugar-laden foods
  • Honey
  • Raw onion

It is not essential to eliminate all irritating foods. You may find that you can tolerate small amounts of a few foods or have them occasionally. If you completely avoid certain food, then you may be able to reintroduce them into your diet slowly.

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Foods To Add

Choose foods that are packed with vitamins, minerals, and other vital nutrients like nonacidic fruits and vegetables.

Fruits for good bladder health include:

  • Bananas
  • Apples
  • Grapes
  • Coconut
  • Watermelon
  • Blackberries

Vegetables beneficial for bladder health include:

  • Asparagus
  • Broccoli
  • Cucumbers
  • Kale
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Lettuce
  • Peppers

Fiber-rich foods are also essential as they can avert constipation which can exert additional pressure on your bladder.

Fiber-loaded foods include:

  • Lentils
  • Beans
  • Green leafy vegetables
  • Barley
  • Bran
  • Oats
  • Almonds

An ample amount of protein is vital for growth, repair, and overall well-being. Good sources of protein include:

  • Fish
  • Chicken
  • Tofu
  • Eggs

Try to experiment with a variety of seasonings to add a new twist to regular recipes, this can help keep your regular meal interesting, while also helping you eliminate potential irritants.

Supplements

Planning a diet free of irritants can take some time and error, thus it’s vital to get a daily dose of recommended nutrients to carry bodily functions. Discuss with your healthcare provider about your individual needs, which can help determine the right supplements for you.

You may find it valuable to complement your diet with dose of multivitamins or nutritional drinks. Remember to check with your healthcare provider before including any supplement or nutritional drink in your regimen. As a few ingredients may interfere with your medications or negatively impact your overall health.

Conclusion:

Well, there is no complete cure for OAB, most people can lessen or ease their symptoms by modifying their lifestyle habits, medications, or both. Identifying food triggers by maintaining a food diary can help one immensely in reducing symptoms and enhancing the overall quality of life. Also, you may find it useful to check your fluid intake and avoid drinking fluids at certain times.