Urinary Incontinence Pictures Slideshow: Foods and Drinks That Make You Gotta Go

Too Much Fluid

Sure, you need to stay hydrated to keep your body healthy. But drinking too much water -- or any other fluid -- could mean more trips to the bathroom if you've got urinary urge incontinence, also called overactive bladder (OAB). Drink no more than 2 liters (about two quarts) of water or other fluids daily. And drink most of those fluids during the daytime; limit your fluid intake in the evening so you don't have to get up at night to go to the bathroom.

Too Little Fluid

Skimping on fluids might seem like it would help curb urinary urge incontinence, but this strategy can backfire by irritating the bladder and promoting infection. And while recent research suggests that people don't need to drink eight glasses of water per day, you still need to drink. How much? Experts recommend drinking at least one liter (about one quart, or four cups) of fluid per day. You also get about 20% of your total water intake from food.

Alcoholic Beverages

Beer, wine, or liquor -- in any form, alcohol is dehydrating. But it dehydrates by increasing the amount of urine -- which means more bathroom visits when you drink alcoholic beverages. Alcohol also interferes with brain signals to the bladder about when to release urine. So if you have urinary "urge incontinence," also called overactive bladder (OAB), you may want to cut down on or eliminate alcohol.

Caffeine Sources

Caffeine stimulates the bladder and acts as a diuretic, producing more urine. Reducing or eliminating caffeine could help control an overactive bladder. But you might not have to totally quit coffee, tea, or colas -- try switching to decaffeinated versions. Chocolate is another caffeine source -- and there's no decaf chocolate. Can't give up chocolate? Don't like decaf? Try cutting back on the real thing, and avoid caffeine sources in the evening.

Carbonated Drinks

Fizzy drinks may irritate sensitive bladders. So if you've got an overactive bladder, you may want to try drinking carbonated beverages sparingly or skipping them completely. Fizzy drinks include soft drinks, club soda, seltzer water, and other "sparkling" waters. And if your taste runs to Champagne or other sparkling wines, keep in mind that besides their fizz, the alcohol in those beverages could also be a trigger for people with overactive bladders.

Spicy Foods

Four-alarm chili. Fiery salsa. Wasabi. Spicy foods like these may do more than tingle your taste buds or make your eyes water. They can also be irritating for the bladder. Dialing down the spiciness may help keep you out of the bathroom. But that doesn't necessarily mean you're headed for a bland diet. Tinker with how much heat you can take without affecting your bathroom habits -- everyone is different, so finding your spice tolerance may be a matter of trial and error.

Sweeteners

Sugar, honey, and artificial sweeteners can irritate the bladder, so limit your use of these items if you're concerned about how often you go to the bathroom. As with many of the other foods and drinks that can affect the bladder, you may need to do some experimenting to learn whether sugar, honey, or artificial sweeteners make a difference to you. You could take a break from sugar, honey, and artificial sweeteners and see how your bladder responds.

Balanced Approach

Let's say you have coffee and an orange with breakfast, a soda with lunch, a chocolate bar as a mid-afternoon snack, and spicy Thai food and a nice glass of wine for dinner. That may sound yummy, but all of those items may affect your bladder. What are you supposed to do -- give them all up at once? Not necessarily. You might take one step at a time, notice if it helps, and take it from there. Your doctor can help with diet and bladder problems, so don't hesitate to ask.

Medications Matter

Drugs aren't foods or drinks -- but some may worsen urinary incontinence. For instance, some blood pressure drugs, such as diuretics or calcium channel blockers, relax the bladder and boost urine output. Some antidepressants make it harder for the bladder to contract. Muscle relaxants relax bladder muscles, and sleeping pills curb your awareness that the bladder is full. So if you've got a bladder problem, ask your doctor if it could be a side effect of your drugs.

More Reading on Incontinence

• Urinary Incontinence in Men
• Urinary Incontinence in Women
• Urinary Incontinence in Children
• Overactive Bladder