These foods have a diuretic effect

• Alcohol
• Sugars and sweeteners
• Acidic fruits such as citrus fruits (lemons, oranges, grapefruit or pineapples)
• Hot spices such as chili, some curries, pepper, ginger or wasabi
• Diuretic vegetables such as savoy cabbage, fennel, red cabbage, tomatoes, celery, parsnips or radish
• Foods rich in potassium such as asparagus, bananas or potatoes
• Watermelons and cucumbers
• Vinegar
• Carbonated drinks
• Caffeinated beverages such as black tea, green tea, or coffee
• Cabbage varieties, as they often have a flatulent effect

Alcohol and acidic foods – including many fruit juices, by the way  – are suspected of having a particularly diuretic effect. Apple juice, for example, is perceived by many sufferers as a real burden on the bladder. This is due to the acidity on the one hand, but also to the high sugar content on the other. If apple juice in the form of an apple spritzer is stretched with carbonated water, this acid can also irritate the bladder additionally. Unfortunately, the popular drink is one of the foods that you should avoid.

Do you have to change your diet completely now?

As a rule, this is not necessary, because a balanced and, above all, varied diet is the basis for your health. Therefore, you should not simply remove the vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables mentioned from your diet without further ado.

Our tip: Listen to your body. If you are not sure which foods increase your urge to urinate, keep a diary over a period of about two to three weeks  and write down in detail what you have eaten. Also make notes about how you felt after eating it  and whether you noticed an increased urge to urinate. In this way, you will get to know your body and especially your bladder better over time.

The advantage is that you can now only avoid those foods that have a diuretic effect on you personally. The restrictions are much smaller than if you cross off the entire list.

But: This is especially true for fruit and vegetables. Alcohol, caffeine and carbon dioxide have a diuretic effect on most people and should therefore be avoided in case of incontinence. Dehydrating tea, which mainly includes fruit teas, black or green varieties, is also not recommended. If you don't want to completely avoid these foods, it is a good idea to reduce your consumption to 2/3 of the amount you drink, at least before going to bed. In this way, you can reduce the particularly annoying nocturnal urge to urinate, also known as nocturia.

Bladder-friendly foods

• Pumpkin contains a lot of antioxidant beta-carotene, vitamin E and trace elements. Ingredients that can have a soothing effect on incontinence and diseases of the prostate. The vegetable is great in an invigorating soup, in pasta dishes or as oven vegetables. Pumpkin seeds and pumpkin seed oil can also be beneficial.
• Season food generously with fresh or dried herbs instead of hot spice mixtures. Many herbs are also suitable as tea infusions. Dry fresh herbs after the summer, then you can fall back on them in winter.
• Cranberry juice can relieve the symptoms of a bladder infection. The proanthocyanidins contained in currants and cranberries can smooth the bladder wall and have an anti-inflammatory effect. Raspberries, blueberries and blackberries also strengthen the kidneys and can help keep the bladder healthy.²

What is easy on the intestines is also good for the bladder

Certain foods that have a flatulent or constipating effect also put a strain on the bladder. This is because constipation is associated with stronger straining during bowel movements, which in turn strains the muscles in the pelvic floor. This weakens this important muscle group in the long run, which can cause it to lose some of its closure power for the bladder.

Therefore, pay attention to a diet rich in fiber and avoid foods that you do not tolerate well.³ 

 

Drink enough!

The less fluid you absorb through drinks and food, the more concentrated the urine is. This irritates the bladder. Consciously drinking less to reduce the urge to urinate can therefore have exactly the opposite effect. Reach for still mineral water or gentle teas, such as rooibos. Diluted cranberry juice is also known for its positive effect on the bladder.⁴

Adults should consume about 30 milliliters of fluid per kilogram of body weight daily. For a woman who weighs 70 kilograms, around 2 liters of water is a good guideline. A supply of sufficient fluids is not only enormously important for the bladder, but for pretty much all functions in the human body.

If you have heart and kidney disease, please talk to your doctor about a possible restriction on how much you drink.

 

Obesity as a risk factor

Simply explained: More fat in the abdomen puts more pressure on the bladder and pelvic floor. Therefore, losing a few extra kilos through a gentle diet can also alleviate the symptoms of your bladder weakness. Your family doctor will be happy to advise you on the right diet. You can find more information about the connection between obesity and incontinence here.

 

Recipe idea: Bubble-friendly pumpkin soup

Ingredients:

• 400 g pumpkin
• 200 g carrots
• 1 leek
• 1 clove garlic
• 3 apples
• 2 EL Butter
• 800 ml vegetable broth
• 3 Stalk Petersilie
• 1 handful pumpkin seeds
• 150 g whipped cream
• Salt
• Pepper
• Nutmeg

Preparation steps:

1. Halve the pumpkin, remove the seeds (many pumpkin varieties, e.g. Hokkaido, can be eaten with the skin on). Peel the carrots, wash the leeks, peel the garlic and cut everything into coarse pieces.
2. Peel, quarter, core and dice two apples.
3. Sauté the leek and garlic in butter over medium heat for 2 minutes. Add the pumpkin, carrots and apple cubes, sauté for 1–2 minutes, then pour in the broth. Bring everything to the boil and simmer over medium heat for about 25 minutes.
4. Quarter the remaining apple, peel, core and grate. Wash the parsley, shake dry and pluck off the leaves. Roast the pumpkin seeds briefly without oil. Set everything aside.
5. Finely puree the soup with a blender, stir in 100 g cream and add some more broth if necessary. Bring to the boil again and season with salt, pepper and a pinch of nutmeg.
6. Beat the remaining cream not quite stiff, but creamy. Pour the soup into small bowls, garnish with 1 tbsp cream, some apple flakes, pumpkin seeds and parsley leaves and serve hot.

Sources:

¹ https://www.kontinenzzentrum.ch/de/blog/detail/die-richtige-ernaehrung-bei-blasenschwaeche-und-inkontinenz.html
² https://www.gesundheitstrends.com/a/ernahrung/8-lebensmittel-die-bei-blasenproblemen-helfen-5731
³ https://www.for-me-online.de/gesundheit-und-wellness/frauen-und-gesundheit/ernaehrung-bei-inkontinenz
⁴ https://www.gesundheitsgmbh.de/news/richtig-essen-und-trinken-bei-harninkontinenz/