Eating to Combat Overactive Bladder

For people with overactive bladder (OAB), what they eat can be directly tied to how many trips to the bathroom they make.

The following foods and drinks can irritate the bladder, contributing to urine leaks (please note that not all people will be sensitive to all items):

• Alcoholic beverages
• Carbonated beverages
• Caffeinated drinks (such as soda and hot cocoa)
• Drinks containing artificial sweeteners
• Coffee (both regular and decaffeinated)
• Tomatoes and tomato-containing products (such as marinara sauce)
• Citrus fruits and juices
• Highly spiced foods
• Corn syrup
• Honey
• Chocolate

Other tips for managing the symptoms of OAB:

• Maintaining a healthy body weight
• Including fiber, such as fruits, veggies and whole grains (this helps prevent constipation, which can worsen OAB)
• Drinking just the right amount of fluids - not too much, and not too little (around six glasses a day) - water is ideal, but cranberry, grape, cherry and apple juices are also gentle on the bladder

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