Avoiding the Go: Food and Drink to avoid with an Overactive Bladder
Aging comes with many different experiences, including some embarrassing experiences. Typically an overactive bladder (OAB) points to a more serious condition. However no matter the root cause of OAB, incontinence can strike at any moment leaving many with embarrassing and messy situations.
Food and Drink to Avoid with an Overactive Bladder
An overactive bladder can be provoked by an array of triggers; therefore, knowing the food and drinks to avoid will lessen the risk of sudden incontinence and other associated symptoms of OAB.
Common Types of Drinks to Avoid
Many believe OAB is influenced mainly by the amount of fluid consumed. On the surface, it may seem like a logical connection. However, because OAB is caused by a sudden muscle contraction in the bladder, decreasing the amount of fluid intake does not have a large impact on the frequency of OAB. The opposite outcome will be achieved because the low amounts of liquid being taken in and stored will increase the concentration of the urine resulting in a higher risk for bladder infections and will increase the risk of dehydration. On the other hand, too much fluid intake will result in frequent urges just the same as any other human. In the same sense, those suffering from OAB must also be aware specific drinks will trigger OAB and should not be in the diet at all. Water should be the preferred drink because it does not contain chemicals, additives or other ingredients, which would provoke incontinence. Maintaining a balance in the overall diet is key. To keep the balance, avoid these types of drinks:
Caffeinated Drinks - Caffeine is a major component for OAB. Unfortunately, caffeine is one of America’s favorite drug of choice. Caffeine can be found in close to all of the most popular drinks in the United States such as coffee, soda, energy drinks and tea. Recent studies have concluded the reduction of 100 milligrams of caffeine a day will reduce symptoms of incontinence noticeably.
Acidic Fruit Juices - Juices high in acidity are known to irritate the bladder. Those living with OAB have reported consistent irritation from citric fruit juices such as orange juice, grapefruit juice, and tomato juice. To reduce irritation and avoid incontinence symptoms, begin consuming less acidic fruit and vegetable juices such as pear juice and apple juice.
Alcoholic Drinks - Like caffeine, alcohol is a staple in the American diet and does just as much damage for OAB sufferers. Alcohol not only irritates the bladder and causes dehydration, it also is a diuretic, which increases the urge to go frequently. Because alcohol is a trifecta of unwanted incontinence causing triggers, it is recommended that alcohol is completely eliminated from the diet.
Common Types of Food to Avoid
Often times, those with OAB find food and beverage combinations worsen symptoms. Typically, foods that are more similar to drinks containing incontinence triggers are more likely to cause the same result. To maintain balance in the diet with food types and drink types, eliminate or reduce consumption of the following food types:
Acidic Foods - The same as acidic juices, acidic foods such as citrus fruit including oranges, grapefruit, lemons and limes can cause bladder irritation from consumption. Like tomato juices, tomatoes and tomato-based foods should be avoided due to high acidity. Instead, begin adding more fruit and vegetables with low acidities such as blueberries and peaches.
Spicy Foods - Spicy food can affect anyone’s body negatively. However, it is exceedingly more distressful for those with incontinence symptoms. Spices found in traditionally hot food can irritate the lining of the bladder resulting in pain and increased OAB symptoms. Although spices should not be completely shunned from the kitchen, using alternate spices such as garlic and herbs can keep the flavor without the risk!
Sugar and Sweeteners - According to urologists, sugars, and artificial sweeteners are among the culprits, which cause irritated bladders. In recent studies, OAB sufferers reported high amounts of sugar increasing OAB symptoms. Chocolate may be loved by the heart but not by the bladder. Because chocolate is high in sugar and contains caffeine, doctors recommend cutting back on chocolate consumption and overall sugar consumption.
If you are still trying to find the right dietary balance for you, a diet diary can be very helpful to track your symptom changes as your diet changes. A diet diary is designed for a person to track food and drink intake regularly then record the appearance and severity of OAB symptoms and urination patterns. If you are aware of a certain type of food or drink that can be volatile with your condition, try eliminating the one type of food or drink completely. Many use the method of total elimination to clearly identify foods and drinks that should be avoided.
Finding the right balance diet for OAB is important. Unmanaged symptoms of OAB can disrupt one’s quality of life by limiting one’s independence and ability to perform daily activities of living. Although it may take time, keep trying different diets and different types of symptom management to relieve incontinence symptoms as much as possible.
