Your diet can have a major impact on your overall health and well-being. There are foods that can provide a boost to your immune system, improve mental focus and reduce stress.
Trying to live better by changing what you eat is a great idea — even if you don’t see immediate results. But there are some foods that might not be so healthy for you. If you’re looking to improve your general health, here are the best and worst bladder health foods:
Best:
- Pistachios: Pistachios are a delicious snack that can provide many nutrients. They are high in fiber and protein, which is important for kidney health. The potassium found in this nut helps keep your blood pressure at normal levels, reducing the strain on your bladder.
- Cranberries: Cranberries contain antioxidants which help fight free radicals that cause damage to cells, leading to illness and disease. They also have anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce the signs of aging, making them one of the best foods for bladder health.
- Red peppers: Red peppers contain phytochemical called capsaicin that helps with pain relief. Cures such as Tylenol work by blocking the same pain receptors activated when eating these peppers.
Worst:
- Tobacco and Alcohol: Tobacco and alcohol are two of the worst bladder health foods, especially for people with overactive bladders. The chemicals in cigarettes and alcohol can irritate and weaken the urinary sphincter muscle, which controls urine flow. This may make urine leakage more likely.
- Salty Foods: Avoid salty foods to help prevent dehydration, a common cause of frequent urination. Dehydration makes urine more concentrated, so it can be harder to hold in your urine until you find a bathroom.
- Caffeine: Caffeine is another bladder health food that can actually worsen bladder symptoms. A study published in the February 2009 issue of “The Journal of Urology” found that caffeine may aggravate overactive bladder symptoms by increasing urine production and worsening urgency incontinence (the inability to hold in your urine).
