Eating Well to Beat Bladder Weakness
What we eat plays an important role in our overall health and well-being. Being over weight or obese can be a significant factor which can cause bladder weakness. So, it is important then to ensure that you eat the right foods daily and factor in exercise to ensure that your bladder weakness problem is effectively managed.
Below are some nutritional tips that will help you manage your bladder weakness:
Drink Plenty of Water
Drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water a day is essential (unless advised by your doctor) as it will speed up the movement of nutrients throughout your body. Some women believe that limiting the intake on fluids helps in their conquest of bladder weakness, but in reality it can worsen your condition and can be detrimental to your health.
Enjoy Eating a Wide Variety of Nutritious Foods
People who eat a variety of food are generally healthier, live longer and have a reduced risk of developing illnesses such as diabetes (a major cause in bladder weakness).
- Eat plenty of cereals (including breads, rice, pasta and noodles) preferably wholegrain as these foods contain protein for rebuilding your pelvic floor muscles and dietary fibre which is important for a healthy bowel.
- Eat plenty of fruit, vegetables and legumes. The dietary fibre in these will help lower your blood cholesterol.
- Include lean meat, fish, poultry and/or alternatives as these foods are rich in protein and used to rebuild and strengthen weak muscles.
- Moderately eat milks, yoghurts, cheese and/or alternatives. Reduced-fat varieties should be chosen where possible.
- Limit saturated fat and choose foods low in salt as excess fats and salts increase fluid retention and may raise blood pressure.
- Consume only moderate amounts of sugar and foods containing added sugars as too much sugar can lead to weight gain and obesity which then has the potential to cause bladder weakness.
- Avoid coffee, tea, cola and chocolate type drinks. These drinks contain caffeine which dehydrates the body and irritates the bladder. If these drinks can not be avoided, try drinking a glass or a few sips of water before and after consuming these drinks. This will dilute the caffeine within these drinks causing less irritation to your bladder.
Source of information: Nutrition Australia & Department of Health & Ageing.