Everyone could benefit from making some simple changes to their diet to improve their health. Your urological health is especially sensitive to the foods you eat. This means diet changes improve an already healthy system, as well as ease common urological disorder symptoms, very quickly! When looking at simple changes you can make, there are a few “rules of thumb,” to keep in mind.
1. Avoid Acidity
Most people with disorders of the bladder will already know acidic foods like tomatoes and citrus can be irritating to the bladder lining. What you probably didn’t know is that everyone is affected by this acidity to some degree. Avoid loading up on lots of acidic foods in one sitting, especially when you aren’t drinking enough water, to avoid concentrating this acidity in the urinary system for prolonged amounts of time.
2. Be Wary of Spice
Spicy foods can react very similarly to acidic foods in the body. You will have to determine for yourself just how spicy you can go before you notice irritation, but a good guideline is to keep especially spicy meals limited to once per day or even once per week. You might consider limiting spice all together if you experience episodes of irritation consistently.
3. Prioritize Hydration
The best way to protect your entire urological system is to keep your body as hydrated as possible. Determine how much water you really need by taking your body weight in pounds, dividing that number by two, and then divide that number by 8. This will be the number of cups of water your body requires to stay optimally hydrated. If you are active, you should add an extra glass of water for every 30 minutes of exercise.
4.Monitor Caffeine
Caffeine intake should also be included in the discussion of hydration because caffeine is a natural diuretic. This means that caffeine causes your body to naturally flush itself of water, and can be irritating to the bladder if consumed in large quantities without replenishing your water supply. Remember to supplement your water intake by one additional glass for every cup of coffee consumed.
These are the basics of dietary concerns for those with urological conditions, and they are also excellent starting points for improving your diet with urological health in mind. Take a few moments to consider this list and “spring clean,” your dietary choices next time you order out, grocery shop, or meal plan and see what a difference it makes on your overall health! To ask questions about your personal dietary concerns, or to schedule an appointment with a provider, contact us online or give us a call at 877-321-8452 for more information.