Having the strong and frequent urge to pee all throughout the day is probably one of the most inconvenient things you can experience. This is one of the characteristics of an Overactive Bladder or OAB.

You don’t need to worry too much because this is actually very common and can be prevented. Treatments can vary from changing habits and lifestyles to medications. In fact, it can be influenced by what we consume!

In this article, you will know why you need to monitor your diet if you have OAB.

How Diet Affects an Overactive Bladder

Every time we eat or drink, our body’s natural response is to filter and flush out anything in excess. As we know, bladders play a major role in this process. That said, certain foods and drinks can cause further irritation to the bladder, which is obviously not a good thing if you have an overactive one.

Also, it is important to incorporate sufficient amounts of water into your diet. Although it might seem ironic, dehydration is also a possible cause of an OAB. Lack of water makes your urine more concentrated, which requires more effort for your system to filter out wastes. This can again lead to bladder irritation and overactivity.

So, as you try to change your meal plans and avoid certain types of drinks, remember to stay hydrated by drinking enough water instead.

It is helpful to create a diet plan which can calm your bladder muscles. However, keep in mind that what works for other people might not work for you. Find the time to stay at home (particularly, close to the bathroom) and do some self-tests on which types of food are irritating for you. It requires effort but is really worth it in the end!

What to Watch Out For

To help you start in constructing an overactive bladder diet plan, here is a list of possible irritants:

• Tea
• Coffee
• Sports Drinks
• Soy sauce
• Vinegar
• Food and drinks with sugar and artificial sweeteners
• Sour cream
• Brewer’s Yeast or yeast-related beverages
• Honey
• Tomatoes ; Tomato-based products
• Saccharin
• Medicines with caffeine
• Strawberries
• Citrus fruits and juices
• Milk or Dairy products
• Onion
• Chili or Spicy foods
• Chocolate
• Corn Syrup
• Carbonated beverages
• Alcoholic beverages

One thing you can try is to not eat ALL of the items above for a while, and then reintroduce them into your diet one at a time to help you identify which irritates your bladder.

Which Food/Drinks are OAB Diet-Friendly?

Reading the list above does seem discouraging, it feels like you can’t eat or drink anything that you used to enjoy!

However, there are indeed things you can consume as a substitute that could make both your bladder and tastebuds happy, you just need some kitchen creativity in there. These include:

• Lean Proteins such as chicken breast, turkey, fish, low-fat pork or beef, and eggs
• Non-citrus Fruits such as bananas, grapes, apples, watermelons, and coconuts 
• Green Leafy Vegetables
• Oats, Almonds, Nuts
• Whole Grains

Takeaway

Living with an overactive bladder is difficult as it is and creating a diet plan for it is another story. Like any other diet plan, you need to be patient to see results. It is still important to talk to a professional regarding your plans of diet changing. Tough it out and you’ll be on your way to a calmer bladder.