If you’ve ever experienced urinary issues such as urinary frequency, urgency, or even incontinence, you likely haven’t thought of one of the things that can cause the issue to worsen—what you’re eating and drinking.
Just like any other organ, the bladder can become irritated causing worsening symptoms or bladder discomfort. In this article, we will show you some of the most common foods and drinks that irritate the bladder and give you some alternative choices to soothe it instead.
What Is the Bladder and What Does It Do?
The bladder is a balloon-like organ that sits in your lower abdomen. Along with the kidneys, ureters, and nerves, the bladder plays an essential role as part of the urinary system.
The urinary system is responsible for filtering the blood and storing and eliminating the waste it has filtered. When kidneys have done their job filtering, the liquid waste travels to the bladder where it is stored as urine. Since the bladder is a muscle, it can store urine for long periods of time to avoid frequent urination.
It’s normal for a healthy person to urinate (or release the liquid waste stored in the bladder) about six to eight times a day. People who drink a lot during the day may find they go as many as ten times or more. Certain medications may also affect the number of times you urinate in a day.
When your bladder is irritated, you will likely notice a change in your urinary habits. You may experience a strong urge to urinate, more frequent urination than normal, or even pain in your lower abdomen where the bladder is located.
5 Foods That May Irritate the Bladder
While there are many reasons your bladder may be irritated, one of the most common reasons (and the easiest to treat) is the food and drink you consume during the day.
These foods and drinks could be causing your bladder irritation:
1) Coffee and Tea
Coffee and tea can cause bladder irritation for two reasons: First, the caffeine. Caffeine may act as a stimulant to stay alert, but it also acts as a diuretic, making urination frequency and urgency worse. If you think switching to decaf might help, think again. In addition to the caffeine, the acidic composition of coffee and tea are also irritating to the bladder. Therefore, it’s best to avoid them altogether.
2) Chocolate
Chocolate can irritate your bladder for the same exact reason: caffeine. While it has less caffeine than coffee and tea, it is still enough to exacerbate bladder symptoms. If you just absolutely need a sweet fix, though, stick with white chocolate for less caffeine.
3) Citrus Fruits
Fruits such as oranges, lemons, and limes obviously have a high citric acid content. This citric acid is what can irritate the bladder. Whether you’re consuming it raw or in juice form, these citrus fruits can make symptoms worse. Feeling conflicted about how to get an adequate amount of fruit in your diet? Stick with fruits lower in acid such as apples, pears, or bananas.
4) Alcohol
Beer, wine, and spirits can affect your bladder symptoms in two different ways: One, alcohol itself is irritating to the bladder and can increase urgency, frequency, or discomfort. Further, consuming too much alcohol disrupts the signals to your brain that it’s time to empty the bladder, which can cause incontinence.
5) Carbonated Drinks
Whether it’s soft drinks, seltzer water, or champagne, the carbonation that gives these drinks their signature fizz can also worsen your symptoms. Be especially careful when it comes to many soft drinks as you get hit twice - once with carbonation, again with caffeine.
If you have been experiencing changes in your urinary habits or you’ve been feeling bladder discomfort, be extra mindful of the food and drink you’re consuming during the day. Keeping a diary of what you eat and drink along with how you’re feeling can help you identify foods that may be making you feel worse. For help with your symptoms, the team at Normal Urology can help you identify the problem and help you feel better soon. Contact our office today to make an appointment with one of our doctors.