Bladder Irritants

Certain foods can contribute to urinary frequency, urgency and discomfort. If bladder symptoms are related to dietary factors, a diet that specifically eliminates the foods that cause problems should bring noticeable relief within 10 days. Once you are feeling better, you can begin to add moderate amounts of problem foods back into your diet one at a time. Then, if symptoms reoccur, you will be able to determine the irritant. It is very important to drink lots of water as you add the foods back into your diet. The following foods are acidic and have been shown to be irritating to the bladder. These items should be avoided:

• All alcoholic beverages
• Apples
• Apple Juice
• Cantaloupe
• Carbonation
• Chilies/spicy foods
• Citrus Fruits
• Coffee (including Decaf)
• Strawberries
• Vinegar

• Cranberries
• Grapes
• Guava
• Peaches
• Pineapple
• Plums
• Tea
• Tomatoes
• Chocolate
• Vitamin B Complex

Substitutions

Low Acid Fruits: pears, apricots, papaya, watermelon
For Coffee Drinkers: KAVA (low acid instant), cold brew from Starbucks, Pero, Postum
For Tea Drinkers: non-citrus herbal, sun-brewed tea
Vitamin C Substitute: calcium carbonate co-buffered with calcium asorbate

Dietary Irritants

Spicy foods: Mexican, Thai, Indian, and Cajun
Milk products: milk, cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, and ice cream
Sugar: corn sweeteners, honey, fructose, sucrose, lactose
Artificial sweeteners: Equal, NutraSweet, etc.

Not every item listed will bother every person. If you drink or eat a lot of one particular thing and feel that it may make your symptoms worse, leave it out of your diet for a week to see if it makes a difference.