Foods that Irritate Your Bladder

Not everyone suffers from Overactive bladder (a condition in which the bladder goes into spasms and triggers the painful urge to urinate, causes frequent urination, or even causes bladder leakage), but nobody wants to make their bladder irritated. Some foods, however, actually irritate the bladder and cause it to go into those nasty spasms that make you have to urinate- now! Learn the foods that put your bladder into overdrive, so you can eliminate or at least cut back on them, and give your bladder a break.

Acidic fruits irritate the bladder, and while staying hydrated is super healthy for the bladder (the urine doesn't get concentrated when you drink a lot of water) don't do it in excess in the form of acidic juices or fruits, like orange or pineapple. Instead, stick to the more bladder-friendly fruits, like apples, pears, or bananas. Don't forget- tomatoes are acidic as well, so keep your tomato intake low or balance out with water.

Caffeine-rich foods act as a diuretic and irritate the bladder, which makes cocoa beans and milk chocolate a bit of a no-no. However, if you go with dark chocolate or decaf coffee then you are irritating your bladder a lot less. If you drink a ton of hot cocoa, you may want to switch to a darker variety. White chocolate is a great option as well, and super tasty, but watch out for the fat and sugar content.

If you love spicy foods, then your poor bladder is taking a beating. Hot peppers and spices (that burn your hands and eyes when you touch them) irritate your bladder lining, so if you like these hot foods, at least drink some water to help balance out that heat. Or cut back on that Tobasco sauce. Try spices that have a hot taste to them, like garlic, but won't wreak havoc on your poor bladder.

Uh-oh, sugar actually provides stimulation for the bladder, which means that yummy pastry you just ate will give you the urge to go. Plus, sugar is dehydrating and not healthy for the body in large doses. The good news is that you can use Stevia or honey as a replacement for regular sugar, but steer clear of artificial sweeteners to replace your sugar fix. Artificial sweeteners can irritate your bladder as well.

Every person is lactose-intolerant to a point, so it's not surprising that dairy products can be an irritant to the bladder. If you get bloated after drinking milk, or get queazy after a bite or 2 of ice cream, then pay heed- your bladder is suffering as well. Stick to soy versions or skim milks and cheeses- you will feel much better and not feel deprived.

Carbonated beverages are a no-no for the bladder, mainly because of what they contain- usually caffeine and sugar, or one or the other. Alcohol is off-limits as well, as alcohol is dehyrating and makes you urinate far more frequently. Can't get rid of the carbination? Then at least drink some water as well to balance out all that fizzy stuff to give your bladder a break.

Source:

http://www.caring.com/articles/10-foods-for-overactive-bladder