Your Diet Could Be Causing Your Urinary Incontinence

People with urinary incontinence lose control of their bladder. If you have the condition, it can — and often does — cause an incident at the most inconvenient moments, which can make you have to plan your life around it. 

Always staying near the bathroom, avoiding going out for long periods, and frequently dealing with the aftermath of urine leakage can really disrupt your life. That’s why it’s important to delve into the causes of your condition and find the right solutions. 

At Urology Specialists of Cypress, our dedicated board-certified urologist Dr. James Stocks and empathetic team of specialists in Cypress, Texas, often tell patients that the causes and solutions might be closer at hand than you think. In many cases, urinary incontinence improves dramatically through dietary changes. 

Foods and drinks that can cause urinary incontinence

Certain substances can cause bladder irritation or excessive fluid intake, which may in turn contribute to urinary incontinence. Some foods and drinks we often discuss with our patients include:

Citric acid 

Citrus fruits, like grapefruit, orange, and lemon, have high citric acid levels, which can irritate your bladder and lead to bladder control issues. While tomatoes (and tomato-based sauces) aren’t in the citrus category, they have high citric acid levels and can cause urinary incontinence, too.

Caffeine

Caffeine, whether in coffee, tea, cola, or some other form, can significantly contribute to urinary incontinence. It can irritate the bladder and also have a diuretic effect, causing you to lose fluid more frequently. Studies show that women who ingest more than an average of 204 mg of caffeine per day (about one 8-ounce cup of coffee) have an increased prevalence of urinary incontinence. 

Alcohol

Just like caffeine, alcohol is a diuretic. It also stimulates your bladder, triggering the “gotta-go” feeling and increasing your risk of increased urinary frequency and accidental leaks.

High water content 

Foods with lots of water can cause you to take in far more fluids than you realize. This fills your bladder faster and can quickly cause discomfort and an urgent need to urinate frequently. A few common examples of foods like this include watermelon and cucumbers. 

Artificial sweeteners

Consuming a lot of artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, may lead to bladder irritation and contribute to urinary incontinence, according to some studies. Natural sweeteners appear less likely to do so, but may still cause bladder irritation for some. 

Changing your diet to avoid urinary incontinence 

We may ask you to keep a bladder diary. This helps us pinpoint the foods and drinks that contribute to your symptoms and tells us what you need to avoid. 

Of course, other factors are often at play with urinary incontinence as well. Our team evaluates your health history and symptoms in depth to uncover those factors and better plan your treatment. 

Alongside changing your diet, we may prescribe medication, lifestyle changes like bladder training, or, in rare cases, surgery. 

Many of our patients with urinary incontinence are amazed how dietary changes can make a difference. Our Urology Specialists of Cypress team is here to help you get back to life without incontinence, so call us at 281-304-2521 or reach out online now.