Overactive bladder, or urge incontinence, results when the bladder muscles contract inappropriately. People often have a strong urge to urinate and experience urine leakage even when the bladder is not full. Medications can help address this condition, but self-care factors in heavily. Making certain changes to your diet may help reduce symptoms if you make a firm commitment to adhere to them. As with many conditions linked to diet, planning meals if you have overactive bladder is more about what to avoid than what to include.
Maintaining a Healthy Weight
If you are carrying around extra pounds, losing even a modest amount of weight may help with overactive bladder. Researchers at Miriam Hospital in Rhode Island tested the effects of weight loss on symptoms of overactive bladder in overweight and obese women. Their findings, published in the August 2010 issue of ‘’Obstetrics and Gynecology,’’ showed that losing as little as 5 to 10 percent of body weight reduced urinary leakage episodes by 70 percent. When it comes to weight loss through diet, what you need to do is no big mystery. Cut calories by focusing on low-fat foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean meats and plant proteins like beans and legumes.
Foods to Avoid
When it comes to foods and drinks to avoid, some common offenders tend to bother most people with overactive bladder, but to most effectively utilize diet as a tool in managing this condition, you must carefully track your diet and the severity of your symptoms to determine what affects you personally the most. This diet detective work can also help you determine if certain foods tend to make you feel better.
Generally, the items most likely to trigger symptoms include tomatoes and tomato-based products, caffeine, carbonated drinks, spicy foods, citrus fruits and juices, artificial sweeteners, corn syrup, coffee, tea and alcohol. MayoClinic.com recommends eliminating all suspected problem foods for a week and adding them back in one at a time every couple of days. Keep note of your symptoms to see if certain foods trigger them.
Fiber
A high-fiber diet is associated with many benefits and may contribute to reducing symptoms of an overactive bladder. Eating lots of fiber prevents constipation; the straining that results from the difficulty in passing a bowel movement puts pressure on your bladder, which can increase the need to urinate and the uncomfortable feeling that comes along with it. Foods rich in fiber include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds.
Considerations for Fluid Intake
If you feel you need to urinate often, you might be tempted to cut back on fluids to reduce urine production. This can actually backfire, though. More concentrated urine irritates the bladder and can still result in that uncomfortable feeling of urgency and increased need to urinate. According to the Cystitis and Overactive Bladder Foundation, you need about 2 to 2.5 liters of fluids daily and should not skimp on fluids to treat this condition. These experts recommend spacing out your drinks throughout the day rather than drinking large amounts at once -- and, if you find your condition worsens at night, cutting out liquids after 6 p.m.
References
- Cystitis and Overactive Bladder Foundation: OAB Diet
- ''Obstetrics and Gynecology''; Improving Urinary Incontinence in Overweight and Obese Women Through Modest Weight Loss; R.R. Wing et al.; August 2010
- PubMed Health: Urge Incontinence, Overactive Bladder
- MayoClinic.com: Bladder Control Problems in Women: Lifestyle Strategies for Relief
