Medically Reviewed

Is Your Diet Triggering Overactive Bladder?

sipping Champagne
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If you have overactive bladder (OAB)—the need to urinate more frequently and urgently—you're looking for every way possible to make your life easier and symptoms less severe. And as it turns out, part of that strategy may involve keeping an eye on certain foods and drinks that can aggravate your OAB and have you running to the bathroom even more often than you already are. You can’t always tell from a package if a food may trigger your OAB. In fact, some top culprits may surprise you. Different foods can affect people in different ways, and figuring out how your diet plays a role in OAB can help control your symptoms. We talked to top doctors to get the lowdown on which foods and drinks to avoid to help you feel better.


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Caffeine

We’re not just targeting coffee, although its acidity can irritate the bladder. Tea, soda, and even energy drinks also can pack caffeine—a diuretic that causes your kidneys to produce more urine, which doesn’t play well with OAB, because you’re already getting signals that you need to go to the bathroom even when your bladder is empty. Additional reasons to pee only exacerbate the problem, says Jennifer Linehan, M.D., urologist and associate professor of urologic oncology at the Saint John’s Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. Consider switching to decaf, herbal tea, or water.


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Alcohol

Your evening glass of chardonnay or bourbon not only stimulates the bladder, causing the same complications that caffeine does, but alcohol also dehydrates your body. Dehydration can irritate your bladder, which isn’t fun when it’s already in turmoil. If you’re not quite ready to give up your wine-o-clock habit entirely, start by cutting back as much as you can. The idea is to test how each of these drinks and foods affects you. “In some people it makes overactive bladder a lot worse, and in others diet has nothing to do with it,” Dr. Linehan says.


Glass of fresh orange juice and oranges.
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Acidic Drinks

Although cranberry juice has a reputation for “curing” bladder infections, it’s not a good choice if you have OAB. (Plus, research has shown that cranberry juice is likely not as miraculous as it’s been thought to be.) The acid in citrus juices can irritate the lining of the bladder, Dr. Linehan says. “So the bladder thinks there’s something in it that it wants to get out, and that makes you feel like you have to pee,” she explains. And it’s not just OJ and cranberry juice: limes, lemons, grapefruits, tomatoes, and even pineapples contain acid.


Woman eating a bar of dark chocolate.
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Acidic Foods

In addition to the fruits often found in juices, foods that are high in acids can irritate the lining of the bladder and make you feel the urge to “go.” This includes some surprising offenders, such as chocolate and even onions. There are some remedies, however: Try cooking the onions, which can dampen their effect, or switch to the related shallot. And while it’s not a perfect substitute, white chocolate contains a very tiny amount of acid. Also, some over-the-counter medications such as Prelief may help if you take them before you eat acidic food, Dr. Linehan notes.


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Carbonation

It’s not clear why, but fizzy drinks sometimes seem to irritate an overactive bladder, making it more difficult to control it. Yes, that means champagne is a double whammy. Steer clear of it, bubbly water, and soda to see how your bladder responds. Keep close tabs on your food and drink consumption with a food diary so you can determine what could be causing symptoms. You can use a journal, app, or just take pictures of everything you eat to store in your phone.


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Spicy Foods

Spicy foods can irritate the lining of your bladder, triggering symptoms. “Spicy foods contain chemical irritants that are excreted in the urine,” explains S. Adam Ramin, M.D., urologist and medical director of Urology Cancer Specialists in Los Angeles. “When they come in contact with the inner lining of the bladder, they can cause the bladder muscle to go into spasms, which causes overactive symptoms.” That doesn’t mean you’re forever relegated to a boring, bland diet. Sub mild spices such as cumin, coriander, smoked paprika and turmeric into your meals, and don’t forget herbs.


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Condiments

Hold the ketchup! Yes, that loaded hot dog may just be making your life with overactive bladder more uncomfortable. You may not think of condiments as foods, but extras like mustard, soy sauce, ketchup, and vinegar can contain acids and other irritants. Still, some people may be able to tolerate small amounts of their triggers, so experiment by taking just one packet of ketchup instead of five. Safer choices include mayo or aioli, hummus, or mild salad dressings that don’t contain acidic ingredients.


Anything That Makes You Constipated—or the Opposite

Constipation is not fun for anyone, but it can be particularly aggravating for people with OAB since the colon lies right on the bladder. And the bladder is close to the small intestine, so if it’s full or constipated, that can put extra pressure on the bladder, Dr. Linehan says, making it even more difficult to urinate. And diarrhea can also irritate the bladder, she says, increasing the frequency of urinating. So, it’s best to avoid foods and drinks that may cause either constipation (alcohol, dairy, red meat, fried foods) or diarrhea (sugar, caffeine, spicy foods, and gluten).


What You Should Consume

“Plain water,” Linehan says. No, seriously. Scaling back your beverages to water for a little while may help with OAB. Don’t limit how much you drink—that can make urine more concentrated with irritants and contribute to constipation. You can also try teas that may have a calming effect on your bladder, Ramin says, such as chamomile or valerian root.

And food? For overall health, focus on fruits and veggies, lean proteins, and healthy fats found in fish, nuts, and olive oil. You shouldn’t need to go on an ultra-restricted diet. The idea is to find the right balance between what you’re consuming and what might be causing or exacerbating your symptoms.


This article was originally published October 3, 2012 and most recently updated April 19, 2022.