In general, acidic foods, caffeinated beverages, and alcohol tend to cause bladder irritation, says Mehran Movassaghi MD, urologist, and director of Men’s Health at Providence Saint John’s Health Center Assistant Professor of Urology at Saint John’s Cancer Institute. "This may include urgency, urinary frequency, and a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying." A few more foods that Dr. Ramen says often cause urinary irritation are coffee, black tea, spicy foods, fried foods, and processed foods, especially those that contain a high amount of sugar, salt, and/or preservatives. For example, packaged pastries or frozen meals that contain saturated fat can cause inflammation.
Conversely, foods that promote bladder health tend to have a high water content, be more alkaline than acidic, and are high in antioxidants to lower inflammation in the body—fruits and vegetables are a great example. A good rule of thumb, according to Dr. Movassaghi, is to pack leafy greens or fresh fruit into as many meals and snacks as you can and load up your plate you’re eating several servings a day. Garlic, eggs, fish, nuts, and potatoes are a few other bladder health foods to stock up on, says Dr. Movassaghi.
And most importantly, your body needs water to stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water (and eating foods with high water content) is also key for urinary health. “Drinking one to two liters of water a day can help dilute whatever irritants in the food or drinks that are consumed. This is especially important for those who have a sensitive bladder,” explains Dr. Movassaghi. He adds that these numbers may change if you have an active lifestyle and sweat frequently. “Water intake prevents constipation, and hard stools and full bowels can lead to obstruction in the pelvis, which puts pressure on the bladder,” says Dr. Movassaghi. This means that high-fiber foods that contain a lot of water (like fresh fruits and veggies) help prevent both constipation and bladder irritation.
And most importantly, your body needs water to stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water (and eating foods with high water content) is also key for urinary health. “Drinking one to two liters of water a day can help dilute whatever irritants in the food or drinks that are consumed. This is especially important for those who have a sensitive bladder,” explains Dr. Movassaghi. He adds that these numbers may change if you have an active lifestyle and sweat frequently. “Water intake prevents constipation, and hard stools and full bowels can lead to obstruction in the pelvis, which puts pressure on the bladder,” says Dr. Movassaghi. This means that high-fiber foods that contain a lot of water (like fresh fruits and veggies) help prevent both constipation and bladder irritation.
Both urologists maintain a diet that’s packed with fruits and vegetables, healthy fats like nuts and olive oil, whole grains, lean protein, and fatty fish. And they go with fresh over-processed, You can also use nuts, seeds, and berries as salad ingredients, all of which offer bladder-supporting properties, especially cranberries. Almonds, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, and cashews are all good sources of unsaturated fats and/or omega-3 fatty acids.
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