5 Foods to Avoid If You Have an Overactive Bladder (OAB)

Leaks happen but did you know that some foods may be making matters worse. Some foods have been shown to trigger bladder leakage. While everybody’s different, try eliminating these five foods and see what works best for you.

We all need that morning pick-me-up, but caffeine also has a significant downside; bladder leakage. Caffeine is a diuretic, meaning it can cause you to produce more urine. It also causes the bladder to contract, contributing to stress leaks and urge leaks (overactive bladder).

Caffeine occurs naturally in coffee beans, tea leaves, and cocoa beans. But it's also found in soft drinks, energy drinks, and foods and candies that contain milk chocolate or cocoa.

Consider eliminating caffeine or sticking to no more than two cups per day.

There’s another leak-trigger that may be hiding in some of your favourite drinks. Carbon dioxide in fizzy drinks can irritate the bladder. Avoid all carbonated beverages including sparkling water, seltzer water and club soda.

If you’re looking to control leaks in the evening, you might consider avoiding these after work drinks. Beer, wine, and liquor are all diuretics. They cause the bladder to fill quickly and trigger an urgency to void.

Alcohol also impairs the signal between the bladder and the brain, interfering with bladder control and increasing the likelihood of accidents. Try limiting your alcohol intake or avoid it altogether.

And you also may also want to hold the OJ. Some fruits and juices have an acidic pH and can aggravate bladder leaks. This includes grapefruits, pineapples, oranges, lemons, and limes.

Technically speaking, tomatoes are also fruits, though we don't often think of them as being such. And you as you might have guessed, they are another acidic food that can irritate your symptoms, and not just in raw or juice forms. Tomato paste, spaghetti sauce, ketchup, and chili sauces can all cause leakage problems.

Although cranberry juice has a reputation for resolving bladder infections, don't rely on it as a remedy for bladder control. It too, is acidic and should be on the list of foods to avoid for many.

Finally, while a little hot sauce is a reliable way to fire-up a bland meal, it can also fire-up your bladder. Research indicates spicier foods can irritate the lining in the bladder and exacerbate bladder leaks. 

Along with avoiding or limiting the above foods, the right bladder leakage product can help manage bladder leaks to keep you dry and comfortable all day long.

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