Nutrition plays an essential role in reducing symptoms associated with overactive bladder. Statistics suggest that more than 30% of women in the country have issues with bladder control. Hence, it is necessary to include the following foods that can facilitate bladder control. Make sure to consult a doctor before including any food in daily meals that may act as a trigger for underlying health conditions.

Bananas
Irregular bowel movements can cause enlargement of the intestines, creating pressure on the urinary tract. This can restrict urine flow, creating problems with bladder control. Bananas being a rich source of fiber and potassium, encourage healthy bowel movements, efficiently flushing out the urinary tract. Moreover, being a non-acidic fruit, they do not irritate the bladder, further reducing the risk of suffering from an overactive bladder.

Garlic
It is one of the most nutrient-dense foods that can help with bladder control. Urinary tract infection is one of the biggest risk factors of bladder control. Apart from treating digestive issues, garlic also helps in treating internal and cutaneous infections. Thus, it can be effectively be used for treating urinary tract infections, facilitating bladder control.

Berries
Berries like cranberries are widely used for treating problems associated with bladder control. Fruits like strawberries, cranberries, and blueberries are abundant in vitamin C, which can neutralize bad bacteria, preventing urinary tract infection. Berries also have high water content, which maintains hydration levels and helps manage bladder control. Berries can be added to smoothies, salads, and other delicious recipes.

Pears
Fruits like pears can be used to manage bladder control. Pears are low in sugar and rich in dietary fiber, facilitating easy bowel movements. Comfortable bowel movements ensure better bladder control. The antioxidants in pears also help keep urinary tract infections at bay.

Cruciferous vegetables
Cruciferous vegetables like sprouting broccoli, brussels sprout, cauliflower, cabbage, Bok choy, radish, kohlrabi, watercress, and curly kale are known for their cancer-fighting properties. However, other nutrients in these vegetables, such as vitamin C, E, and K, folate, and fiber, also improve bladder health. These vegetables can be eaten as salads or can also be grilled and roasted.

Lean protein
These are found in white-fleshed fish, plain Greek yogurt, beans, peas, lentils, poultry, and powdered peanut butter. These foods can help avoid bladder irritation, reducing the risk of developing an overactive bladder.

Whole grain
Grains like oats and quinoa are rich in healthy carbohydrates. Hence, they facilitate healthy bowel movements, keeping bladder control problems in check.

Potatoes
Potatoes are not only great comfort food but they can be eaten to avoid overactive bladder conditions. While there are more than 4000 types of potatoes, russet and sweet potatoes effectively help avoid bladder control problems.

Adding the right nutrition to the food helps in improving bladder control. However, in some conditions such as overactive bladder (OAB), a change in the food may not be enough. In these cases, behavioral and lifestyle changes along with medications are necessary.

GEMTESA®
This is a selective beta-3 adrenergic agonist useful in treating the symptoms of OAB. GEMTESA helps in improving the frequent urge to urinate by facilitating bladder control and also reduces urination frequency. A normal dose is a 75mg tablet that can be taken orally but one must follow instructions prescribed by their doctor.

MYRBETRIQ®
MYRBETRIQ (mirabegron) is used to control bladder spasms by relaxing the muscles of the urinary tract. It is sometimes used with another medicine called VESIcare that contains solifenacin succinate to manage OAB. This medicine is also used for treating neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) in children.

OXYTROL®
This medication comes in the form of a skin patch. It contains an active ingredient called oxybutynin, which improves symptoms of OAB like frequent urination and urine leakage. It also helps in controlling nighttime urination. OXYTROL skin patch delivers the medication over 3-4 days through your skin.

TOVIAZ®
Sometimes, doctors may also suggest TOVIAZ®, an FDA-approved prescription suitable for managing the symptoms of an overactive bladder (OAB). The once-a-day pill relaxes the bladder muscles and helps prevent leaks and strong urges to urinate frequently. Regular usage helps calm down the muscle and prevents it from contracting too often to trigger incontinence. The extended-release tablets are available in 4mg and 8mg doses and are prescribed based on the severity of the symptoms.