How Diet Affects our Bladder
Fill in the blank: “When I drink ____ I am running to the bathroom.”
If something came to mind, it is possible that it could be a bladder irritant of yours!
What is a bladder irritant?
Simply put, a bladder irritant is any food or drink that will cause irritation to the bladder. Bladder irritants affect everyone differently, something that could cause one person sensitivity may not necessarily affect someone else. Therefore it is important to be mindful of your specific diet and how it can affect your bladder. Bladder diaries can be very helpful when trying to track your bladder habits.
Beverages that can lead to bladder irritation:
- Caffeine (coffee and tea)
- Acidic foods (tomatoes/citrus)
- Alcohol
- Carbonated drinks
- Juice
Foods that can also irritate your bladder include:
- Spicy foods
- Apples, bananas
- Sugar/artificial sweeteners
- Chocolate
- Soy sauce
- Vinegar
But most importantly….
Water! Your body needs water to stay hydrated, flush out toxins and maintain good bladder and bowel function. To determine how much water you should be drinking, divide your body weight in half and that is the amount of water you should be drinking in fluid ounces. (For example: If you are 200 pounds, you should aim to drink 100 ounces of water a day.)
As part of your physical therapy rehabilitation, your physical therapist will likely analyze how your diet may be affecting your pelvic floor dysfunction. At Body Harmony Physical Therapy we have up to one hour consultations. This gives us ample time to address many concerns and develop a comprehensive plan of care for your specific needs.
