Urinary Incontinence (UI) affects men and women of all ages, but is particularly common among the elderly. Since UI is accompanied by the urge for frequent toileting, it increases risk of falls by as much as 25% and bone fracture by as much as 35% amongst the elderly.
While medical treatments for UI are popular and effective, age-related UI can be better controlled with simple diet changes. Certain foods worsen incontinence symptoms. Today we list down few common culprits that may trigger Urinary Incontinence for most people.
• Spicy foods – Spicy foods can irritate the lining of the bladder. Avoiding Mexican or Chinese cuisine is a smart strategy when it comes to managing urinary incontinence symptoms. Strike curry, chili pepper, cayenne pepper, and horse radish from dishes. Raw onions have also been shown to irritate the bladder.
• Acidic foods – Highly acidic citrus fruits, including tomatoes, grapefruit, limes, lemons, and oranges can affect UI symptoms. Vinegar can also irritate the bladder and cause incontinence to worsen. Start by consuming fruits with lower acidity such as pears or blueberries.
• Coffee and tea – Caffeine brings a double-whammy: it stimulates the bladder, while also acting as a diuretic. Urologists suggest completely eliminating caffeine from your diet.
• Carbonated beverages– The carbon dioxide in fizzy drinks, including soda and seltzer, aggravates the bladder. With Urinary Incontinence, it’s best to avoid foods with artificial colourings and chemicals.
• Sugar and sweeteners – Evidence suggests foods that contain high amounts of sugar exacerbate UI symptoms. Stay away from fare with added honey or those that contain corn syrup or fructose. Artificial sweeteners, often thought as an antidote for weight loss, are no better.
• Salty foods – Foods with high sodium content cause the body to retain water, which is eventually released to the bladder. Salty snacks like potato chips and salted nuts as well as sodium-packed foods like canned soups will also make you thirstier, causing you to consume more liquids.
• Alcohol – Alcohol directly reduces bladder control and interferes with neurological messages sent to the brain regarding when to hold or release urine, making accidents more likely. It is also a diuretic, causing you to produce more urine so the urge to go happens more often.
By modifying what your loved one eats and drinks you can help naturally treat and control Urinary Incontinence symptoms to avoid accidents and other uncomfortable situations. Facilities that offer assisted living for the elderly should ensure that above-named food items and drinks should be a part of residents’ regular diet. Since not everyone is affected by the same foods or drink, test by trial and error process: identify a possible “problem” item and reintroduce foods gradually.. Such and many other valuable elderly home care tips can be found on this blog.
