
Foods That Can Irritate The Bladder
- Alcohol.
- Citrus Foods.
- Chocolate.
- Caffeinated Drinks.
- Energy Drinks.
- Spicy Foods.
- Sugar.
- Tomato Products.
- Carbonated Beverages.
- Processed Meats.
- Coffee, tea and carbonated drinks, even without caffeine.
- Alcohol.
- Certain acidic fruits — oranges, grapefruits, lemons and limes — and fruit juices.
- Spicy foods.
- Tomato-based products.
- Carbonated drinks.
- Chocolate.
Which foods are beneficial for a healthy bladder?
The best drinks and foods for bladder health, according to a urologist:
- Water. You knew this one was coming right? ...
- Fruits and vegetables with a high water content. Just like water is great for urinary health, Dr. ...
- Fiber-rich foods. What's good for your gut is also good for your bladder. ...
- Cranberries and cranberry juice. ...
Why do some foods hurt the bladder?
Foods or beverages that have diuretic effects can be irritating to the bladder. Caffeine can be a bladder irritant and can also cause bladder spasms. Caffeine is also a mild diuretic, which means it tends to increase the amount of urine you produce, and leads to a need to urinate more frequently.
Can certain foods soothe an irritated bladder?
Likewise, sharp cheeses such as Parmesan should be avoided. Cream cheeses, cottage cheese and ice cream without citrus or chocolate flavoring are also soothing foods for an irritated bladder. Some patients with bladder problems find milk to be soothing as it acts as an antacid.
What foods should you avoid with bladder inflammation?
You may find it beneficial to limit or avoid:
- carbonated beverages, such as sparkling water
- caffeinated beverages, such as coffee and tea
- chocolate
- alcoholic drinks
- sports drinks, such as Gatorade
- citrus fruit
- tomatoes and tomato-based products, including ketchup, tomato sauce, and chili
- spicy foods
- foods containing artificial flavorings and preservatives
- foods containing sugar or sugar substitutes

What foods soothe the bladder?
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.
How do you calm an irritated bladder?
6 Tricks to a Calm BladderDefeat Dehydration and Drink Water. It is common knowledge that drinks with a high amount of caffeine can irritate the bladder. ... Try Chamomile and Peppermint Teas. ... Choose Foods that Reduce Constipation. ... Eat Foods Rich in Magnesium.
Why does food irritate my bladder?
Super spicy foods have a tendency to irritate the bladder lining and can contribute to chronic bladder pain. Excessive amounts of spicy foods can also upset the bowel. Sugar and sweeteners – it is thought that sugar acts as a stimulant on the bladder leading to increased urgency and frequency.
What foods irritate painful bladder syndrome?
Coffee, soda, alcohol, tomatoes, hot and spicy foods, chocolate, caffeinated beverages, citrus juices and drinks, MSG, and high-acid foods can trigger IC symptoms or make them worse.
What vitamin helps with bladder control?
Conclusions: High-dose intakes of vitamin C and calcium were positively associated with urinary storage or incontinence, whereas vitamin C and β-cryptoxanthin from foods and beverages were inversely associated with voiding symptoms.
How can I clean my bladder naturally?
15 Tips To Keep Your Bladder HealthyUse the bathroom often and when needed. ... Be in a relaxed position while urinating. ... Take enough time to fully empty the bladder when urinating. ... Wipe from front to back after using the toilet. ... Urinate after sex. ... Do pelvic floor muscle exercises.More items...•
What does an irritated bladder feel like?
Bladder irritation causes physical symptoms related to urination: A strong urge to pee (urgency). The need to pee more often (frequency). Pain in the lower abdomen.
How long does it take for food to irritate bladder?
How quickly a food or beverage may cause a flare varies. Some individuals note that symptoms appear within a few minutes of eating. Others find that it takes 20 minutes to 4 hours before a food or beverage triggers a flare.
What causes bladder pain without infection?
As the bladder empties during urination, the muscles contract to squeeze the urine out through the urethra. Several different bladder problems can cause pain. The three most common causes of bladder pain are interstitial cystitis, urinary tract infection, and bladder cancer.
What feels like a UTI but isn't UTI?
Interstitial cystitis, or IC, is a mysterious, painful bladder condition with no known cause or cure. Patients typically experience symptoms resembling those of a urinary tract infection, minus the actual infection: the burning, the urgency, the constant need to pee, the overall pelvic pain and discomfort.
Does cheese irritate bladder?
Dairy products are known as bladder irritants. Those that can be especially bad are aged dairy products like aged cheese and sour cream. If you like dairy products, then you could try alternatives made from soy or almond milk.
What does an irritated bladder feel like?
Bladder irritation causes physical symptoms related to urination: A strong urge to pee (urgency). The need to pee more often (frequency). Pain in the lower abdomen.
How long does an irritated bladder take to heal?
It usually takes at least 10 days for the bladder to heal.
What are the symptoms of irritable bladder?
SymptomsFeel a sudden urge to urinate that's difficult to control.Experience unintentional loss of urine immediately after an urgent need to urinate (urgency incontinence)Urinate frequently, usually eight or more times in 24 hours.Wake up more than two times in the night to urinate (nocturia)
Why is my bladder inflamed?
Cystitis (sis-TIE-tis) is the medical term for inflammation of the bladder. Inflammation is when a part of your body is swollen and hot. It can also be painful. Most of the time, cystitis happens when there's an infection caused by bacteria.
What foods can irritate the bladder?
Foods That Irritate the Bladder. 1. Coffee. While your morning coffee could be so dear to you, it can be irritating to your urinary tract. The caffeine in your coffee is known to aggravate bladder and urinary tract symptoms.
What to do for overactive bladder?
6. Take Medications. Although not everyone requires medication for treatment of overactive bladder (OAB), your doctor can recommend anticholinergics. These are drugs that help in the control of muscular spasms that lead to OAB. The following are some of the most common anticholinergics: dicyclomine. fesoterodine.
How to train your bladder to urinate?
You can train or retrain your bladder by changing some of your habits. By going to the toilet at the same time, and steadily increasing the time between urination, you will allow your bladder to fill up more. Over time, this will help you gain control of your urge to urinate. You can follow the basic bladder-training steps below: 1 Know your urination pattern by keeping a diary and noting every time you urinate. 2 Increase the time between urination by extending the intervals by 10 to 15 minutes. 3 Stick to your urination schedule. If you feel like you might have an accident, go to the toilet. However, get back to your schedule thereafter. 4 Practice relaxation anytime you feel the urge to urinate ahead of your schedule by standing or sitting still. In this position, take several deep breaths. At the same time, contract your pelvic muscles while imagining your urge going away. If after this, you still have the urge, make your way to the toilet. 5 Gradually increase the time between urination to two to three hours. It is important to do this slowly.
How to reduce the risk of UTIs?
In addition to avoiding the foods that irritate the bladder, emptying the bladder before and after intercourse can reduce the risk of UTIs. Drinking moderate quantities of cranberry juice when symptoms first appear may reduce bacterial growth in the urinary tract. 5. Work on Bladder Training.
What to drink if you have an OAB?
If you are recovering from a UTI or have OAB, drink cranberry juice or plain water instead. 4. Acidic Fruits. You obviously know that fruits are part of a healthy diet. However, highly acidic fruits are among the foods that irritate the bladder and aggravate UTI symptoms. So, if you have a challenge in these two areas, stay away from oranges, ...
How to help a UTI?
Opt for less spicy and bladder-friendly choices that can help with UTI recovery. If you are fond of eating your food with a strong flavor, use herbs in place of spices. 6. Artificial Sweeteners. If you want to reduce calorie intake, you may opt to replace sugar with artificial sweeteners.
How many people have urinary incontinence?
Around 3 in 10 people aged between 30 and 70 suffer from urinary incontinence. Apart from limiting foods that irritate the bladder, you can take the following steps to minimize trouble and keep your bladder healthy:
What foods cause bladder irritation?
For instance, oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, and mandarins can cause irritation. Other citrus foods such as tomatoes and tomato-based sauces may cause irritation. 4. Other Fruits.
What sauces can irritate bladder?
There are many sauces that can irritate your bladder. For instance, any citrus or vinegar-based sauce can be an irritant, such as soy sauce, vinegar-based salad dressings, tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce, or lemon sauces.
What is the cause of overactive bladder?
Overactive Bladder. Overactive bladder happens when these signals message your detrusor muscle to release or contract when your bladder may not actually be full. The detrusor muscle is responsible for contracting your pelvic floor muscles and releasing your bladder of urine.
Why is the bladder important?
It plays an important role in our renal system and helps get rid of waste! Your bladder is a balloon-shaped muscle located behind the pelvic bone. It can become irritated for a variety of reasons, and this irritation can lead to overactive bladder or even incontinence. One cause of this irritation is our diet.
How to stop bladder irritation?
Try eating less acidic fruits like bananas to get nutrients while avoiding bladder irritation! You might also try a multivitamin during this time to help provide the vitamins and minerals your body needs while you experiment with cutting certain foods out of your diet!
How to calm your bladder?
Thankfully, changing your diet can be a simple way to calm your bladder. Let’s talk about which foods to avoid that may irritate the bladder!
Why does my urine get sore after drinking?
One cause of this irritation is our diet. When we eat and drink, our bodies filter out the leftovers through our renal system. Made up of our kidneys, bladder, and urinary tract , this system is responsible for the formation and filtration of solute through our urine.
What vegetables are bladder friendly?
According to the Interstitial Cystitis Association, likely potential offenders include hot peppers, raw onions, horseradish, pickles, edamame, roasted soy beans and sauerkraut.
Why does carbonated water irritate the bladder?
It isn't clear why carbonated drinks might irritate your bladder but researchers speculate that sugar, caffeine, and artifical sweeteners, colorants or preservatives in these beverages might be possible culprits , as noted in a June 2013 American Journal of Epidemiology article.
Why does my bladder hurt?
Bladder irritation can occur for a variety of reasons, including conditions such as overactive bladder, interstitial cystitis and bladder stones.
Is caffeine a bladder irritant?
Caffeine is a common bladder irritant. Coffee, tea, soda and energy drinks are among the top dietary sources of caffeine. Some over-the-counter pain relievers — especially those marketed for headache relief — also frequently contain significant amounts of caffeine.
Can cranberry juice cause bladder irritation?
Cranberries and cranberry juice can potentially irritate your bladder, possibly by making your urine more acidic. Citrus fruits and their juices have also been reported to trigger bladder irritation symptoms in some people.
Can food cause bladder irritation?
Certain foods and chemicals can potentially aggravate bladder irritation, provoking symptoms such as the need to urinate more frequently, difficulty holding your urine and/or pain when you empty your bladder.
Does drinking alcohol cause bladder problems?
While drinking small amounts of alcohol might not cause problems for you, an analysis of studies evaluating the effect of drinking on bladder-related symptoms found that heavy drinking increased the risk for these symptoms, as reported in a November 2017 Journal of Urology article.
What is the least bothersome food for bladder?
Eggs. Also rich in protein, eggs are on several lists as one of the "least bothersome" foods for bladder conditions.
What to eat when bladder is cold?
Potatoes. Need a bladder-friendly comfort food when the weather cools down? Try white potatoes or sweet potatoes (yams).
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What foods can cause OAB?
You may find it beneficial to limit or avoid: carbonated beverages, such as sparkling water. caffeinated beverages, such as coffee and tea. chocolate. alcoholic drinks.
Why is fiber important for bladder?
Foods high in fiber are also important. They can help prevent constipation, which can put additional pressure on your bladder.
Why do people with OAB avoid drinking?
Many people with OAB avoid drinking before bed to reduce nighttime trips to the bathroom.
What foods can help with constipation?
You may be able to combat this by eating fiber-rich foods, which are known for reducing constipation. Nuts are a great option, including: almonds. pistachios.
What is the best medicine for urination?
Also called Kegels, these can help give you better control over the stop and start of urination. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Some medicines can help relax your bladder muscles, providing you with more control between bathroom breaks. Your diet also plays a key role in your symptoms.
Does diet affect bladder?
Your diet also plays a key role in your symptoms. In some cases, what you eat may actually add more stress to your bladder and increase irritation. Certain OTC medications for bladder control have side effects that can impact your food and fluid intake. Keep reading to learn more about how your diet affects OAB, ...
Can OAB cause urinary incontinence?
If you have OAB, certain foods and drinks can further irritate your bladder or urinary tract. This can cause an uptick in the following symptoms: frequent urge to urinate. frequent urination. bladder spasms. urinary incontinence. Keep in mind that foods that negatively affect one person may not have an effect on you.
