Bladder-Friendly Foods for Seniors to Prevent Bed Wetting

As we grow older, our bodies start to fall apart. We wake up one morning to discover we cannot grasp our coffee cup as tightly. Getting up from our easy chair is just not so easy anymore. Climbing stairs takes longer, and when we laugh at a joke, we have to cross our legs to plug bladder leaks or rush to the bathroom to relieve ourselves. The truth is, as we slow down, our organs are no longer reliable. An overactive bladder is one cause of urinary incontinence and can strike both caregivers and the elderly alike.

When you suffer from an overactive bladder, the muscles contract uncontrollably leading to the urgency to urinate. If the urge is strong enough, embarrassing accidents such as bed wetting can occur. There are a variety of causes of an overactive bladder including, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, urinary tract infection, or constipation. Another big reason may be your diet. Yes, believe it or not, some foods may make frequent trips to the restroom common. When it comes to providing quality senior care, a few simple changes to eating habits may do the trick.

Foods for Seniors to Avoid

Some foods irritate the bladder. Home care for seniors is easier when you remove those items from their diet. Check out this short list:

• Caffeine
• Citrus fruits
• Alcohol
• Chocolate
• Artificial sweeteners
• Spicy foods
• Carbonated beverages

Even though chocolate, caffeine, and carbonated beverages may cause your bladder to overact, that does not mean your palate has to suffer.

Foods for Seniors to Embrace

Before getting frustrated at having to give up a morning cup of Joe, check out these yummy choices as a place to start:

• Oatmeal: Not only does oatmeal fill you up and strengthen your bones, but it also has fiber to help alleviate constipation. Add fresh fruit like blueberries and a natural sweetener like honey, and you have a perfect breakfast that not only helps your bladder but may help your heart as well.
• Omelets: When you remove the yolk from your egg, you have a delicious high-protein, low-fat food with no cholesterol. Try some spinach, mozzarella cheese and spices like parsley or chives to add flavour along with iron, potassium, and antioxidants.
• Salad: Go ahead and grab plenty of veggies and black beans for lunch. Mothers down the ages have stressed eating veggies for good health. Vegetables are packed with nutrients and you can find countless ways to eat them raw or cooked. Black beans make you feel fuller and add extra fiber to your meal.

General Home Care Practices to Keep Bladder Problems at Bay

Check out these bladder-friendly guidelines for you and your loved ones:

• Stay at a Healthy Weight: In general, overweight people struggle with urinary incontinence more. Combat bladder problems by healthy eating and exercise to get back to shape or maintain a healthy weight.
• Drink More Water: No, this is not an oxymoron. A dehydrated body has to fight bladder problems. Drinking plenty of water stops bladder irritation.
• Eat Fresh Foods: Reduce the chemicals you consume when you eat fresh foods versus pre-packaged foods.

With a few changes to your diet, you or your loved one can slow down or stop the adverse effects of an overactive bladder including bed wetting. At Home Instead Senior Kitchener-Waterloo, ON, our compassionate caregivers serve you and your elderly loved ones with customized in-home care. We provide support with daily activities, including advice and nutrition tips.

Call us at (519) 571-1665 to schedule a no-obligation, in-home consultation. Learn more about the compassionate, quality senior care we deliver, every day, to families in Kitchener-Waterloo, Breslau, Conestogo, Elmira, St Jacobs, and surrounding areas.