Healthy Holidays Food for
Urinary Tract Health

Published 2019/09/23

The indulgent holiday season has officially begun. While we all want to enjoy the treats that the season has to offer, ensure your Urinary Tract health is not neglected by staying mindful of the foods and drinks you are consuming.

The best thing you can do for the long-term health of your Urinary Tract through your diet is aware of what you are consuming and be cognizant of how your body is responding. An irritant for one person may not be for the next.

What to Eat for
Urinary Tract Health:

Vegetables & Greens: Support an overall healthy immune system, loaded with antioxidants and micronutrients.

Pumpkin & their seeds: Studies have shown that pumpkin seeds can help ease the symptoms of an overactive bladder. The pumpkin flesh is rich in vitamins A and C, and high in fiber.

Cranberry: Helps prevent E. Coli from attaching to the urinary tract wall, which is what leads to Urinary Tract Infections.

Fermented Foods: The probiotics in kombucha, sauerkraut, and yogurt all help to balance the healthy bacteria in your digestive system. There is extensive research on the benefits, which include increased digestive health and boosted immune function.

Cinnamon: Unlike other spices that can irritate the bladder, cinnamon is a great way to add flavor to your holiday cooking. Cinnamon has been used for thousands of years, it’s loaded with antioxidants and studies have shown everything from it improving bad breath to preventing cancer.

High-fiber foods: Vegetables, beans, fruit, oats, and nuts all help your body run on schedule.

Water: Crucial in maintaining a healthy bladder, however, try not to gulp it all at once which can lead to overfilling your bladder.

What to Limit for
Urinary Tract Health:

Red and Processed Meat: Research suggests that daily intake of red meat triples your likelihood of Enlarged Prostate. According to the World Health Organization, and supported by hundreds of studies, red and processed meat intake are positively correlated with Prostate Cancer.

Sodium: Processed meats, salted nuts, and potato chips are all foods typically high in sodium, which over time can lead to kidney damage over time. High sodium intake is also correlated with the body’s storage of excess water.

Dairy: Lactose in dairy products can be an irritant for many, causing inflammation and digestive issues. Dairy can be easily substituted with plant-based alternatives that are now commonly available.

Alcohol: Aggravates the bladder and prostate causing increased urges to urinate. It is also a diuretic, increasing the amount of urine being produced. This combination leads to extra trips to the bathroom.

Sugar: is difficult to avoid, but something we all know we should limit. Bad bacteria love to feed off of sugar (and other simple carbohydrates) weakening the immune system. Sugar can also contribute to inflammation in the body.

Caffeine: Similar to alcohol, caffeine stimulates the bladder and is a diuretic, causing an increased need to urinate.

Happy holidays
from CompactCath!

If you’re traveling this holiday and need travel intermittent catheters. CompactCath produces pocket-sized catheter that are touch-free and pre-lubricated with anti-bacterial silicone oil.