Diet

Some foods and drinks are friendlier to the bladder, while others are especially irritating. With this guide, you can adjust your diet to make bladder control easier.*

Do Drink…

• Water – About 8 cups spread throughout the day dilutes urine and minimizes bacterial growth.
• Certain Juices – Apple, cherry, cranberry and grape
  (Cranberry juice or tablets and cherry juice also minimize urine odor.)

Reduce Intake Of…

• Liquor, beer and wine – They cause urgency
• Carbonated drinks
• Milk and milk products
• Citrus juices and fruits
• Highly spiced foods
• Tomatoes and tomato-based products
• Sugar, honey and corn syrup
• Artificial sweeteners
• Caffeine – Caffeine is a bladder irritant that causes frequent urination.
• Be on the alert for caffeine in these products:
  1. Soft drinks, coffee and tea (Even in decaf)
  2. Chocolate (Chocolate milk, hot chocolate, brownies, cakes, ice cream, puddings and candies)
  3. Headache and pain-relieving medications (Anacin®, Excedrin®, Vanquish®, Midol® and Darvon®)
  4. Cold and allergy remedies (Coryban-D®, Dristan® and Sinarest®)
  5. Stimulants (No Doz®, Vivarin® and Dexatrim®)

*Some suggestions may not apply to patients with Interstitial Cystitis.