Jan 10 2010
Keeping Your Bladder In Great Shape
How to Keep Your Bladder In Great Shape?
The bladder is among the simpler organs in the body, with a simple task. It stores urine and eliminates it when we need to. But simple or not, it is subject to a number of possible problems including:
- cystitis.
- cancer.
- incontinence.
But, as the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Keeping your bladder in good working condition will help minimize your odds of problems and contribute to optimizing overall health.
Consuming the right amount and type of fluid should be first on the list. It is not just a cliché that drinking plain old water is very healthy. It is a well-researched fact. Some reasons should be obvious, others may not be.
Fluids.
Water is used by nearly every chemical reaction within the body. But less obviously, it also plays a role in determining blood pressure. Excess fluids tend to increase it. That in turn has an effect on how well the bladder performs its proper function.
But the right type of fluid (and solids, and some things in between) affect the odds of bladder cancer. More and more well-founded studies suggest a link between phytochemicals and cancer prevention.
Those are compounds that come from the skins of brightly or intensely colored fruits such as cranberries, strawberries, and blueberries. Both the juice and pulp near the skin are rich in those phytochemicals.
Diet.
Diet also plays a role in reducing the odds (and severity) of IC, interstitial cystitis, an inflammation of the bladder. Consuming less caffeine helps your odds. Though the specific amount will vary from person to person, it is a known bladder irritant, one of the factors that can lead to IC.
While generally health-promoting, even citrus fruits can contribute to that same result when consumed far in excess of recommended amounts. Similarly, alcoholic drinks – which in moderation have definite health benefits, thanks to anti-oxidants in them and the alcohol itself – can irritate the bladder.
Ditto, chocolate, yogurt, and even bananas. All of these are healthy in the right amounts. Excess leads not only to degraded general health, but poor bladder health in particular.
Moderation is key..
A diet that promotes muscle health overall will also benefit the bladder. While the bladder is made of somewhat different tissues, the sphincter muscles surrounding it play a crucial role in regulating urination.
Degraded function of these ring-like muscles that allow us to ‘hold back’ leads to incontinence. Keeping them in good working order helps control bladder function.
Muscle Friendly Diet.
To do that, a ‘muscle-friendly’ diet is best. That will include the right amounts of calcium. That number will vary with weight, age, and other factors but ranges from:
- 800 mg for children 4-8 years old up.
- 1,500 mg for those 50 years and above.
Plentiful and varied amino acids are also beneficial since they are the building blocks of protein, a prime ingredient in muscles.
Keep your bladder healthy with a good diet and you will lower your odds of infection, cancer, and other problems.
~ To your health and well-being.
Healthy Nutritional Products.
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