Urinary symptoms, like slow flow, are a classic complaint among men older than 50.
In fact, lower urinary tract symptoms affect roughly 50% of men over 50. The rates increase among older patients.
Even if you can’t avoid urinary obstruction altogether, there is something you can do to turn the tide.
The foods you eat and the drinks you consume can fundamentally impact urine flow.
Some foods that make you urinate can help flush out the excess water and waste so that the organs can function in tip-top shape.
There are some noteworthy bladder calming foods that would make an excellent addition to your bladder diet. Others, not so much.
If you are on the lookout for foods for healthy bladder and kidneys, then you are in the right place.
We selected a food list teeming with nutrients.
When paired with physical activity and managing the waistline, you can give your urinary tract a healthy boost. Here is how.
What Is Urine Flow?
Urine flow is the volumetric flow rate when a person urinates. It helps assess the quantity of urine that leaves the system in a set period. Whether that is per minute or per second.
A classic flow measurement tool is the uroflowmetry. The doctor can measure both top flow and average flow rates.
Average results are according to your gender and age. Most of the time, urine flow runs from 10 – 21 ml/second.
If the urine flow is slow, it could mean something is hindering the urethra or bladder neck from releasing a normal flow of urine. It could also result from a weak bladder or enlarged prostate (BPH).
If the urine flow rate is too high or fast, it could mean that the muscles that encompass the urethra are getting weak. Or it could mean the patient is dealing with some urinary incontinence complications.
Food won’t cure the symptoms. But, it can provide the body with a solid foundation for healthy organ function.
To find out more about the foods to increase urine flow, check out the list below. First, let’s take a closer look at what is causing the slow urine flow.
What Causes a Weak Flow of Urine?
Before you can include good food for bladder function, it’s important to figure out what’s causing the problem. Many medical conditions could get in the way of normal urine flow. The most typical causes are:
- BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia)
- Bladder or prostate cancer
- UTI (frequent urinary tract infection)
- Neurogenic bladder dysfunction
- Urinary tract blockage
Talk to a urologist if you have a slow urine stream paired with abdominal pain and discomfort. Some men can have trouble emptying their bladder completely. So, it’s important to get a medical check-up first to solve any urinary problem.
With that in mind, having the right bladder health foods can make a world of difference. Especially if you want to get your urine flow back on track.
Foods to cleanse the bladder are easy to incorporate into any meal plan and can supply the system with plenty of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
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What Foods and Drinks Can Increase Your Urine Flow?
According to experts, urine production can be affected by many factors. Including moisture, electrolytes, macronutrients, alcohol and caffeine.
To know what foods increase urine flow, add a variety of veggies to your diet. All of these can help you keep a stable body weight and urination.
To get a better urine flow, you should also drink more fluids throughout the day. These fluids come from food as well, like soup or cucumber.
2016 reports also show that fruits and veggies have high antioxidant levels. Plus, they contain enough fibers, minerals, vitamins, and polyphenols.
Many of them make for a key component of a healthy urinary tract system. Fruits and veggies are the right foods good for bladder function since they can beneficially influence disorders underlying BPH. (2)
They can have a therapeutic impact in delaying the onset of the disease, preventing its progression, and curbing the severity of LUTS (lower urinary tract symptoms).
What Foods Are Good For Your Bladder Health?
For a healthy bladder diet, you need bladder cleansing foods. Foods for bladder health are:
- Coconut water
- Pears
- Lean protein (e.g., plain Greek yogurt, green beans, turkey, chicken, etc.)
- Whole-grain breads (they are rich in zinc, iron, magnesium, etc)
- Home-made smoothie (e.g., with blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries)
- Sweet potatoes and classic russet potatoes
- Cruciferous vegetables (such as bok choy, broccoli, arugula, cabbage, etc)
- Fish
- Peanuts, almonds, and cashews
- Radish juice
- Brown rice
- Salads (like strawberry and cucumber salad with olive oil, Caesar salad with chicken breasts, etc)
- Low-fat beef and pork
A sensitive bladder deserves more care and attention. That means figuring out which bladder healthy foods can work in your favor.
When you know what foods are good for the urinary system, you can better manage your bladder health.
Foods that calm the bladder are products with enough vitamins. Mainly the non-acidic veggies and fruits.
When purchasing the best foods for urine infection, make smarter drink choices and go for the unsweetened varieties.
Fruits are foods that help a UTI. Opt for bladder-friendly drinks as well. Such as fruit juice, plain water, and herbal teas like mint and chamomile tea.
Bladder health tea and the other options here are solid bladder-friendly foods that can be useful in the long run.
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Foods to Avoid
Not all foods would make a worthy addition to your daily schedule. There are some powerful dietary bladder irritants that you should steer clear of. Mainly while you need time to heal a particular bladder problem.
Foods that irritate the bladder and urethra can be:
- Citrus fruits
- Spicy food
- Alcohol
- Coffee and carbonated beverages (even the caffeine-free alternatives)
- Chocolate
- Tomato-based products
- Juice from cranberries
- Salted nuts (although they can be a healthy snack, some can irritate the bladder)
If you are wondering what foods can make you urinate more, then avoid limes, lemons, oranges, and grapefruits.
These are the foods that make you pee due to their acidic properties. The more you eat them before bed, the harder it is to manage the urge to urinate. If you want comfort food for the bladder, choose bananas or pears instead.
Bananas can be a great high-fiber option for boosting normal bowel movement and curbing the pressure on urine flow. In contrast, foods that irritate the bladder can lead to more frequent bathroom trips than usual.
So, which foods cause frequent urination that you should stay away from? Acidic foods, spicy products, and onions can all get in the way of normal urination. That’s because they can lead to urgency and irritation.
Conclusion
Wondering how to cleanse your bladder naturally? If you have chosen to eat unhealthy foods in the past couple of years, then your diet may need a complete overhaul. Now that you know the foods and drinks to include in your diet, you can stay on the right track.
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