Foods that make you urinate: 8 causes of overactive bladder issues

An overactive bladder can result in the sudden urge to urinate and lose control of the bladder muscles. Did you know that certain food and drink can actually increase irritation in the bladder or urinary tract?

If you have an overactive bladder, try eliminating the 8 foods and beverages outlined below to see if it makes a difference. It might require a little trial and error to figure out which foods affect your symptoms the most. Try cutting them out one at a time to see which foods to avoid with overactive bladder  problems. 

Please note, if you are experiencing urine leakage, this may be indicative of urge incontinence rather than overactive bladder. We advise you speak to your GP or doctor to get a proper diagnosis.

 

As well as making your eyes and lips burn, spicy foods can also irritate your bladder. You don’t have to completely cut out spice and chilli, just maybe be wary of spicy peppers and sauces when cooking or eating out. 

With all of our suggestions of foods to avoid with overactive bladder , it may take a little experimenting, so cut back on the spice little by little and see if that helps ease your overactive bladder symptoms.

 

 

Due to their acidity irritating your bladder, tomatoes are one of the main foods that cause urinary incontinence. If you find that you’re particularly sensitive to tomatoes, you may want to cut out tomato products such as pasta and pizza sauces, ketchup and salsa.

 

 

Unfortunately coffee contains a small amount of caffeine, and incontinence  issues may be worsened because of this, making it a food to avoid with an overactive bladder.  White chocolate contains no caffeine, whilst dark chocolate contains more cocoa than milk chocolate, so try one of these flavours to satisfy your cravings instead.

 

 

Anything processed contains a lot of artificial ingredients, flavours and preservatives which in turn makes them foods to avoid with an overactive bladder .

A healthy, balanced diet should include lots of natural and fresh foods such as vegetables and whole grains, especially if you have incontinence symptoms. Salty, processed foods can be swapped out for low or no-salt options. Not only do these have fewer calories, but they will help you to manage your urge incontinence.

 

If you find that you’re experiencing any pain alongside your overactive bladder symptoms, it may be indicative of a urinary tract infection, so we advise consulting your GP as soon as possible.

 

Caffeine and incontinence  are unfortunately not the best combination, making coffee one of the key diuretic drinks to avoid. Coffee can increase bladder activity and result in symptoms such as higher urgency and frequency of urination.

 

If you can’t imagine starting the day without a cup of coffee, then think about lowering the amount of caffeine you drink. Try brewing a cup that is half decaf and half regular coffee, but remember to wean yourself off gradually to avoid caffeine withdrawal headaches. 

 

 

When it comes to alcohol and incontinence , drinks such as beer, wine and spirits can all irritate the bladder and disrupt the signals to your brain that alert you of bladder overflow. The worst culprits are in fact champagne and prosecco, which contain both bladder-stimulating alcohol and carbonation. Try cutting down on drinking so that you don’t feel alcohol incontinence  induced symptoms. 

 

 

Like tomatoes, fruit juices which contain lemon, lime, orange and grapefruit all contain high amounts of citric acid, which can result in the frequent urge to urinate. 

 

You should still eat lots of fruit as part of a healthy diet, but try eating more fruits that are less acidic, such as pears or blueberries. These fruits are also high in disease-fighting antioxidants, so they are still really good for you, and filling up on these could help you avoid foods that make you urinate.

 

 

The fizz in carbonated beverages can aggravate overactive bladder symptoms so be wary of soft drinks, soda water and energy drinks as these are all diuretic drinks to avoid . Some of the worst drinks are those that contain both caffeine and carbonation, so try and avoid these as much as possible so you avoid caffeine overactive bladder  issues. 

 

Remember to keep track of how your body reacts when you cut down on some of these foods that make you urinate . That way you’ll be able to identify any patterns! You can learn more about how the bladder functions  on our website, plus, don’t forget to take a look at our incontinence products online. We have products available for both men and women for those moments when you need a little extra protection.