Urinary incontinence affects a surprising number of men and women each year. People of all ages experience various types of incontinence, but it tends to be much more common in older individuals. Besides frequent trips to the restroom, incontinence can cause various secondary issues in older individuals, such as an increased likelihood of falls (because of the increased mobility of those frequent bathroom trips) or skin irritation. Regardless of the cause of incontinence, there are certain treatments one can try that often improve or alleviate symptoms. One such treatment is making changes to the diet.
Food that May Trigger Incontinence Symptoms
Some foods may cause or exacerbate urinary incontinence. These include:
- Spicy foods. Spicy foods can be irritating to not only the mouth and digestive tract but also the bladder. The bladder’s lining is sensitive to spicy foods and may respond with increased urinary urgency. Limit foods such as chilli powder, curry, jalapenos, and horseradish and you may see a reduction in your symptoms.
- Acidic foods. Citrus fruits, vinegar, and other acidic foods can irritate your bladder and increase urinary incontinence. Try trading citrus fruits for other types of fruits instead.
- Coffee, tea, and carbonated drinks – particularly those containing caffeine – are among the usual suspects when it comes to incontinence. However, it’s important to note that even caffeine-free soft drinks can irritate the bladder thanks to their fizzy carbonation.
- Sugar and other sweeteners. Sugary foods and drinks, as well as those containing corn syrup, honey, or artificial sweeteners, can aggravate incontinence.
- Salty foods. Salt causes your body to retain water. As this happens, you may notice that your incontinence seems to improve – at first. But at some point, as the salt is released from your cells and tissues, you will notice that your symptoms have become worse and that you are running to the bathroom more often.
- Alcohol. Much like coffee and tea, alcohol is a known diuretic. It can both reduce bladder control and send signals to your brain that you need to go to the bathroom, and this combination can make you more prone to accidents. Avoiding alcohol or limiting it to one drink per day will help you control your incontinence.
Everyone is different, so some people will respond better than others to avoiding the above foods and drinks. But altering your diet is an easy trick and one that often brings about a significant improvement in symptoms.
Where to Find Incontinence Products for Men and Women
Holistic Incontinence is an online supplier of high-quality incontinence products for women and men that are manufactured in the same warehouses as the leading brands, so you know you’re getting products you can trust. Our range of incontinence products for men and women includes the Allusive Slip Brief, a medical grade all-in-one diaper designed for maximum protection during the day or night. We also sell pads, underpads, and skin care products to help you manage your incontinence and live your life enjoying freedom from fretting about accidents. You may also order trial packs of our incontinence products for women and men so that you can find the perfect product for you before you commit to a larger order.