Eat more cranberry juice and less orange juice, and you may feel better in the bathroom.
Are you troubled by recurring bladder infections? Do you get up several times a night for a trip to the loo? You may be able to cut down on problems by fine-tuning your diet. “There are foods and beverages that can irritate the bladder, and there are also ones that can support bladder health,” says Lois Ferguson, RD, a nutrition consultant in Toronto, who developed recipes for Tena, which makes pads, pantiliners and underwear for people with bladder weaknesses. Ferguson suggests experimenting to see if adding or removing foods from your repertoire affects how you feel.
Bladder Irritants
While Ferguson stresses that every person is different, some foods are known to stress many people’s bladders:
Tomato-based foods, such as spaghetti sauce.
Spicy (hot) foods, such as hot peppers. “If you feel something burning your mouth, it’s not going to make your bladder feel very good either,” says Ferguson.
Caffeine. An irritant and also a diuretic that makes you urinate.
Alcohol. Another irritant and diuretic.
Citrus products, especially juices. They’re acidic. But the zests of the fruits are much easier on your system.
Vinegar, which is also harsh. This raises the question: How can you make a salad dressing without vinegar? Ferguson suggests mixing a flavorful oil, like olive oil, with some zest from an orange, lemon or lime, plus a bunch of fresh herbs. You can also concoct a creamy dressing with a yogurt base. “Yogurt provides an acidic note, though it really isn’t acidic.”
Ferguson emphasizes that you might not need to completely eliminate these foods from your meals. “Moderation is the key,” she says. For instance, her recipe for lentil soup includes an optional small slice of smoked sausage—“enough to add flavor without being too aggravated.”
Bladder-soothers
Cranberries. Cranberries contain a kind of tannin that prevents UTI-causing bacteria from sticking to bladder walls, and thus helps protect against infections.
Blueberries. They contain lesser amounts of the same tannin as cranberries.
Plums and prunes. For unknown reasons, they seem to be soothing to bladders.
Parsley. This is a traditional herbal remedy for UTIs, and may help thwart fungal infections.
Fiber: A diet in high in fiber helps prevent constipation, which puts extra pressure on the bladder area.
Your Liquid Strategy
Keep your fluids in balance by drinking about one cup of liquid every two hours. “If you drink more, it stresses the bladder,” says Ferguson. (Slip in a few Kegels, which will help build up your pelvic muscle tone, with each two-hour break.) To avoid nocturnal trips to the WC, don’t drink anything two hours before bedtime.
A Favorite Recipe
This is a fabulous bladder-friendly drink to celebrate with if you want to avoid the irritating effects of alcohol. The strawberries add fiber and the cranberry juice helps protect against urinary tract infections.
Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri
2/3 cup Sugar
1/3 cup Water
Cranberry juice, a few splashes
1 cup Cold water
3 cups Ice cubes
15 Fresh strawberries, hulled and cut in half
Fresh mint
• In a small saucepan, combine sugar and water.
• Boil 5 minutes to make a syrup, chill.
• In a blender container, pour in chilled sugar syrup, a few splashes of cranberry juice, cold water, half of the ice cubes and strawberries.
• Blend at highest speed until smooth.
• Add remaining ice and blend again.
• Serve in cocktail glasses and garnish each glass with a fresh strawberry and mint.
• Makes 6 servings.
Go here for more bladder-friendly main courses and dessert recipes.