Urinary incontinence is the leakage of urine due to loss of control on the bladder. Mostly, women are affected by this condition. It is estimated that out of at least 25 million people suffering from urinary incontinence, 75 – 80% are women. The reason women are more prone to this condition is because they have a smaller urethra compared to that of men. Apart from this, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause affect the bladder muscles indirectly. Apart from seeking medical intervention, lifestyle changes such as diet changes play a major role in managing urinary incontinence in women. Here are some foods that should be avoided to better manage the symptoms of urinary incontinence or bladder leakage in women.
Caffeine
Caffeine is one of the most primary triggers
for women’s bladder leakage. Coffee, tea,
energy drinks, carbonated drinks, and even chocolates have a diuretic effect,
which means they promote urination. It also
affects the bladder by increasing the detrusor muscle excitability and
pressure, thereby adding to the urge to urinate. Detrusor muscles, present in the bladder, contribute to the bladder strength.
It has been observed that increasing caffeine intake per day increases urinary
incontinence, and the severity of bladder leakage increases with age.
Alcohol
Alcohol is yet another diuretic that can
worsen the symptoms of incontinence in women. Alcohol not only increases the
pressure in the detrusor muscles but also
reduces the control over the natural signals that indicate the brain to empty
the bladder. Alcohol, being a diuretic and a
laxative, worsens women’s bladder leakage. It
has the same effect as caffeine has on urinary
incontinence in women of different ages. This
means women who are older than 50 and consume
alcohol are more likely to experience
worsening of symptoms when compared to women
in their 30s. However, women having chronic conditions are recommended to curb alcohol completely irrespective of
their age, as it can lead to other
complications like urinary tract infection (UTI).
Spicy foods
Bladder leakage in women can also be significantly affected by spicy foods such as peppers, chili powder,
horseradish, and other pungent spices as these
can irritate the lining of the bladder. This can lead to bladder pain and
increase the urge to urinate. Spicy foods also
increase the tendency to drink more water, which can worsen the symptoms of urinary incontinence further.
Artificial sweeteners
Just like spicy
foods, artificial sweeteners can also worsen the symptoms of urination as they
make the bladder muscles hyperactive. Frequent
urination can also increase a woman’s risk of
suffering from urinary tract infection, which
can make urinary incontinence more difficult to control. Healthcare experts
suggest that these sugar substitutes also contribute to digestive problems like
diarrhea, bloating, and cramps, thereby aggravating bladder leakage. Hence it
is recommended to switch to natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, coconut
sugar, and molasses, among others for better management of urinary incontinence
Foods that contain artificial sweeteners include cakes, pastries, candies, and
aerated drinks.
Citrus fruits
Citrus fruits such as pineapple,
grapefruit, oranges, lemon, limes, and even tomatoes are acidic in nature and
can exacerbate women’s bladder leakage. However, this may only be seen in women
suffering from chronic urinary incontinence. Other foods that are acidic in
nature and irritate the bladder include dark chocolate, coffee, soy sauce,
vinegar, ketchup, and mayonnaise.
Dairy products
Dairy products as simple as milk can
aggravate urinary incontinence in women. This could be because of sensitivity
to lactose, which is present in most dairy
products. Apart from lactose, other milk compounds such as whey and casein also contribute to loose stools,
which can add to both bowel and urinary incontinence. Creamy and aged cheeses
can also overwhelm the bladder. So it is
recommended to curb or switch to imitation sour cream and non-aged cheese.
Cranberry juice
Cranberry juice is known to control
urinary tract infection (UTI) and other bladder complications. However, being
acidic in nature, it can aggravate the symptoms of urinary continence in women.
So, it is recommended to steer clear from cranberry juice and consider other
alternatives to control UTI and avoid complications due to urinary
incontinence.
Onions
Raw onions are as acidic as other spicy
foods and can tend to aggravate an overactive bladder, thereby increasing
urinary incontinence. Hence women with bladder leakage are recommended to cook
the onions properly before consuming them or switch to red onions to keep the
symptoms of urinary continence at bay.
Sleeping pills
Doctors might prescribe sleeping pills and
antidepressants to manage certain health complications. However, these sleeping
pills can cause nighttime incontinence. Many urologists recommend avoiding the consumption of sleeping pills if the
patient is already suffering from urinary incontinence, as it can make it more difficult to manage its symptoms.
Blood pressure
medications
Blood pressure medications aim to relax
our blood vessels to improve blood flow. However, they also force diuresis,
which can cause frequent urination. Hence it is recommended to discuss with a healthcare expert for a
solution to manage urinary incontinence while being on blood pressure
medications.
Prunes
Prunes are great for managing
constipation. However, they can also increase the load on the bladder, which
can be counterproductive in case of urinary incontinence. Hence it is
recommended to switch to other high-fiber alternatives to manage constipation.