Photo Credit: Nailia Schwarz / istockphoto.com
8. Fresh Herbs
While herbs themselves may not have a noticeable positive impact on your OAB, they make great substitutions for two major bladder irritants – spice and salt. Not everyone suffers to the same degree, but many OAB patients report that things like chili, wasabi, and pepper bother their bladder. Salty foods will increase your thirst and cause the body to retain water, which will tend to tax the kidneys and lead to more urine. One easy way to sidestep both problems is by swapping out pungent spices and salt for fresh, aromatic herbs like basil, thyme, and rosemary. Parsley is a particularly good pick, since it seems to bolster bladder health (it’s a traditional remedy for urinary tract infections).
Although a new diet won’t cure your OAB, it can help you develop a bit more control over your symptoms, and that can have a larger impact on your quality of life than you might imagine. Learning how and when to restrict certain foods is just as important as adding in the right ingredients, so pay close attention to your bladder response, and record the patterns you notice in a daily food journal. Understanding your particular set of symptoms will help you craft a better treatment approach.
Read more about OAB nutrition and what foods to avoid with OAB over at NewLifeOutlook.
Alternative therapies may help to reduce irritability of bladder tissues, urgency and lessen episodes of incontinence and reducing stress related to OAB.
