Over the last few weeks, we have been uncovering some of the best diet tips to keep the kidneys healthy, as well as great diet tips to help treat an enlarged prostate. This week our focus is on the bladder.
Check out some of the best bladder health superfoods that you should incorporate into your diet as well as other ways you can care for your bladder.
What is the bladder?
The bladder is located between the pelvic bones and is a hollow, muscular organ which expands like a balloon as it fills with urine. While you cannot control your bladder function, there are lots of things you can do to maintain its health, to avoid a number of urological conditions such as urinary incontinence, overactive bladder and cystitis.
10 bladder friendly superfoods
If you have a sensitive bladder, you should consume foods work to soothe the important organ, rather than irritate it. The following foods would be a great incorporation to your diet.
- Pears
- Green Beans
- Squash
- Bananas
- Eggs
- Lean Proteins such as low-fat beef, pork, turkey and chicken.
- Potatoes
- Breads
- Nuts
- Whole grains
Foods which may irritate the bladder
While you don’t have to cut the foods you love from your diet completely, the following foods can irritate the bladder. If you have a sensitive bladder try to cut back on the following foods and consume them in moderation.
- Carbonated drinks
- Coffee
- High-caffeine tea
- Citrus fruits including oranges grapefruits, lemons and limes
- Fruit Juice
- Chocolate
- Alcohol
- Tomato-based products
- Garlic
Other ways to maintain bladder health
Besides diet, there are a number of easy ways you can look after your bladder. Some of these things are very simple lifestyle changes. If you have a sensitive bladder, consider the following:
- Manage medications which can irritate the bladder. This includes high blood pressure drugs, sedatives, heart medication, antihistamines, muscle relaxants and diuretics.
- Quit smoking
- Increase regular physical activity to improve bladder control
- Minimise constipation through regular fluid intake, high-fibre foods and physical activity
- Maintain a healthy weight to reduce pressure on the abdomen and bladder
- Manage chronic coughs and colds which make bladder irritation worse
Interested in learning more about bladder health? Check out some of other blog posts:
Effective treatments for stress incontinence
Treatment options for overactive bladder
What the colour of your urine could mean
While a healthy diet benefits you in more ways than one, it can help you to protect your bladder from damage and irritation. It is always important to talk to a trusted professional when it comes to your health. If you have any questions about the bladder and urological health, or if you would like to book an appointment, please feel free tocontact or callDr Arianayagam’s office on 1300 307 990, and his staff will be happy to assist.
FAQs
Cauliflower not only provides plenty of vitamin C and K, folate, and fiber, but it's also an excellent source of anti-inflammatory compounds like indoles, which can help control inflammation throughout your body and your urinary tract.
What is the superfood for the bladder? ›
Cauliflower not only provides plenty of vitamin C and K, folate, and fiber, but it's also an excellent source of anti-inflammatory compounds like indoles, which can help control inflammation throughout your body and your urinary tract.
What can I drink to improve my bladder health? ›
Drink enough fluids, especially water.
In general, drink enough fluids so that you need to urinate every few hours. Some people need to drink less water because of certain conditions, such as kidney failure or heart disease. Ask your health care provider how much fluid is healthy for you.
Can bananas stop frequent urination? ›
Bananas, apples, grapes, coconut, and watermelon are good options for those with overactive bladder. Vegetables – Leafy greens, like kale, lettuce, cucumber, squash, potatoes, broccoli, carrots, celery and bell peppers. Whole grains, like oats, barley, farro, and quinoa (also a great protein).
What vitamin repairs bladder? ›
Further, we also report for the first time that prophylactic vitamin E administration stimulates bladder recovery, inhibited H-reflex depression, supraspinal serotonin levels and preserved oligodendrocytes survival.
Does lemon water cleanse the bladder? ›
Water helps eliminate waste from the body through urine and healthy bowel movements. However, there is no evidence suggesting that lemon water is better than plain water for this. In fact, most claims that foods or beverages can cleanse or detoxify the organs are not grounded in scientific fact.
What food kills bacteria in bladder? ›
Foods Rich in Vitamin C: If you have a UTI, your urine tends to have higher pH than usual, making it more acidic. Eating fruits with high vitamin C with your meals like oranges, strawberries, kiwifruit, tomatoes, and leafy green vegetables, can lower the pH level in the urine to kill the E-coli bacteria effectively.
How to detox your bladder? ›
7 Tips for Better Bladder Health
- Drink water. Staying hydrated is vital. ...
- Add lemon and lime. ...
- Choose healthy fats. ...
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) every day. ...
- 5. Fruits and vegetables are a must. ...
- Add cruciferous vegetables to your diet. ...
- Avoid bladder irritants.
Your surgeon usually makes a new bladder (neobladder) from a piece of your bowel. They connect the new bladder to: the tubes that drain urine out of your kidneys (ureters) the tube that takes urine out of your body (urethra)
What is the best natural supplement for bladder control? ›
Supplements and herbs
- Magnesium hydroxide. Some research shows that magnesium hydroxide can reduce spontaneous muscle contractions that cause incontinence. ...
- L-arginine. This amino acid helps create nitric oxide. ...
- Pumpkin seeds.
- Cleavers. ...
- Other herbs and supplements.
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.
What foods make you pee more? ›
Certain foods can cause urinary frequency and urgency:
- Caffeinated beverages and foods.
- Alcohol.
- Spicy foods.
- Citrus fruits and juices.
- Carbonated beverages.
- Milk and milk products.
- Sugar or honey.
- Artificial sweeteners.
Check out some of the best bladder health superfoods that you should incorporate into your diet as well as other ways you can care for your bladder.
- Pears.
- Green Beans.
- Squash.
- Bananas.
- Eggs.
- Lean Proteins such as low-fat beef, pork, turkey and chicken.
- Potatoes.
- Breads.
Foods that help overactive bladder
Best fruits: apples, bananas, blackberries, coconut, grapes, strawberries and watermelon. Best vegetables: asparagus, broccoli, carrots, celery, cucumbers, kale, lettuce and peppers. Best fibre-rich foods: almonds, artichoke, barley, beans, bran, lentils, oats and raspberries.
Are blueberries good for an overactive bladder? ›
While cranberries are the most commonly used type of berry for bladder health, other types of berries have similar effects. Strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries have high levels of vitamin C, which can help your bladder stave off bad bacteria.
How can I make my bladder stronger again? ›
To strengthen pelvic floor muscles: Practice pelvic floor exercises, also known as Kegel exercises. Squeeze the pelvic floor muscles as though trying to stop the flow of urine for three seconds. Relax for a count of three and repeat several times.
