Too Much Fluid

Sure, you need to stay hydrated to keep your body healthy. But drinking too much water -- or any other fluid -- could mean more trips to the bathroom if you've got urinary urge incontinence, also called overactive bladder (OAB). Drink no more than 2 liters (about two quarts) of water or other fluids daily. And drink most of those fluids during the daytime; limit your fluid intake in the evening so you don't have to get up at night to go to the bathroom.

Too Little Fluid

Skimping on fluids might seem like it would help curb urinary urge incontinence, but this strategy can backfire by irritating the bladder and promoting infection. And while recent research suggests that people don't need to drink eight glasses of water per day, you still need to drink. How much? Experts recommend drinking at least one liter (about one quart, or four cups) of fluid per day. You also get about 20% of your total water intake from food.

Alcoholic Beverages

Beer, wine, or liquor -- in any form, alcohol is dehydrating. But it dehydrates by increasing the amount of urine -- which means more bathroom visits when you drink alcoholic beverages. Alcohol also interferes with brain signals to the bladder about when to release urine. So if you have urinary "urge incontinence," also called overactive bladder (OAB), you may want to cut down on or eliminate alcohol.

Coffee, Tea, Energy Drinks, Colas

Caffeine also stimulates the bladder and acts as a diuretic, causing you to produce more urine. Drinking less -- or no -- caffeinated beverages could help you control an overactive bladder, but you might not have to quit coffee, tea, energy drinks, or colas cold turkey. Try switching to decaf beverages, low-acid coffees, and non-citrus herbal teas.

Chocolate Has Caffeine, Too

Chocolate is another caffeine source -- and unfortunately there's no decaf version. Can't give up chocolate? You may not have to. Along with cutting back or avoiding chocolate late in the evening, try switching to chocolate with less caffeine, like milk chocolate.

Acids: Citrus Fruits and Juices

Citrus fruits and citrus juices, like oranges, grapefruits, clementines, lemons, and limes, are all acidic. Because acids can irritate the bladder, try cutting back on acidic foods to see if it eases your urinary urge incontinence.

Pineapple: Also an Acidic Fruit

You may find pineapple isn't your friend either if you've got overactive bladder. That's because -- you guessed it -- pineapple is acidic, just like citrus. If you're looking to add a Caribbean perk to a dish, try switching to shredded coconut instead.

Also Acidic: Tomatoes

Tomatoes are another acidic food that can make incontinence symptoms worse. And unfortunately for tomato lovers, it's not just the produce itself that's an irritant. Tomato-containing foods like spaghetti sauce, chili, tomato juice, and ketchup can also increase leakage.

Cranberries and Cranberry Juice

Cranberries can help prevent bladder and urinary tract infections. However, because they are acidic they could spell trouble for some people with an overactive bladder. If it bothers you, cut your use. Reducing or eliminating acidic foods and drinks may have another benefit -- it may help tame heartburn.

Carbonated Drinks

Fizzy drinks may irritate sensitive bladders. So if you've got an overactive bladder, you may want to try drinking carbonated beverages sparingly or skipping them completely.  Fizzy drinks include soft drinks, club soda, seltzer water, and other "sparkling" waters. And if your taste runs to Champagne or other sparkling wines, keep in mind that besides their fizz, the alcohol in those beverages could also be a trigger for people with overactive bladders.

Spicy Foods

Four-alarm chili. Fiery salsa. Wasabi. Spicy foods like these may do more than tingle your taste buds or make your eyes water. They can also be irritating for the bladder. Dialing down the spiciness may help keep you out of the bathroom. But that doesn't necessarily mean you're headed for a bland diet. Tinker with how much heat you can take without affecting your bathroom habits -- everyone is different, so finding your spice tolerance may be a matter of trial and error.

Sweeteners

Sugar, honey, and artificial sweeteners can irritate the bladder, so limit your use of these items if you're concerned about how often you go to the bathroom. As with many of the other foods and drinks that can affect the bladder, you may need to do some experimenting to learn whether sugar, honey, or artificial sweeteners make a difference to you. You could take a break from sugar, honey, and artificial sweeteners and see how your bladder responds.

Onions Bite Back

You may love onions, but you may want to steer clear of them if you have problems with overactive bladder. Can't bear to be without onions in your sandwich and recipe arsenal? Try cooking the onions, which may make them easier on your bladder. Or switch to the milder, onion-like shallot instead.

Banana, Grapes, and Apples

Along with citrus, other fruits may trigger urinary incontinence. Apples, bananas, and grapes may be some of those to blame. If you're having trouble with bladder control, it pays to know which foods -- and how much -- trigger your symptoms. If you suspect a food is a trigger, try excluding it from your diet, then adding small amounts back slowly.

Aged Cheese and Sour Cream

Some people find that creamy and rich, sour cream and cheese may make overactive bladder symptoms worse. Try switching to imitation sour cream or processed non-aged cheese if your bladder can't tolerate the real thing.

Prunes: Blessing or Curse?

Prunes can help you manage the constipation that may accompany overactive bladder treatments. Yet these sweet, dried fruits can also be a bladder irritant. One way to help handle constipation is to boost the fiber in your diet. Try adding bladder-friendly, fiber-rich produce.  

Condiments Can Be a Problem

Lots of condiments contain acids or other bladder irritants -- so use them with caution. Mustard, soy sauce, vinegar, hot sauce, ketchup, and mayonnaise can all aggravate symptoms. To give your meals zing, instead try using tamer spices, extracts, and garlic.

Processed Food

Artificial flavors, preservatives, and additives like MSG, benzyl alcohol, and citric acid can irritate the bladder. To avoid these problem ingredients, you'll need to read nutrition labels carefully. Another good way to control what's in your food: cook at home more often. Use bladder-friendly fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Pickled, Smoked, or Canned Meats and Fish

If you're noticing an increase in urinary incontinence symptoms after you eat smoked salmon or canned meat, it's not your imagination. Processed, smoked, pickled, and canned meats and fish can all aggravate symptoms. The nitrates, nitrites, or acids in these foods can trigger bladder irritation.

Balanced Approach

Let's say you have coffee and an orange with breakfast, a soda with lunch, a chocolate bar as a mid-afternoon snack, and spicy Thai food and a nice glass of wine for dinner. That may sound yummy, but all of those items may affect your bladder. What are you supposed to do -- give them all up at once? Not necessarily. You might take one step at a time, notice if it helps, and take it from there. Your doctor can help with diet and bladder problems, so don't hesitate to ask.

Medications Matter

Drugs aren't foods or drinks -- but some may worsen urinary incontinence. For instance, some blood pressure drugs, such as diuretics or calcium channel blockers, relax the bladder and boost urine output. Some antidepressants make it harder for the bladder to contract. Muscle relaxants relax bladder muscles, and sleeping pills curb your awareness that the bladder is full. So if you've got a bladder problem, ask your doctor if it could be a side effect of your drugs.

More Reading on Incontinence

• Expert Q&A: What Causes Overactive Bladder?
• New Ideas for Treating Bladder Problems
• Putting an Overactive Bladder to Bed
• Sex, Exercise, and Stress Incontinence
• Video: Exercise for Better Bladder Control
• Pregnancy and Incontinence
• Women's Health Board: Friends Talking
• Free Living Better Newsletter