Try these 6 natural ways to support bladder health.
If you feel an uncontrollable urge to use the bathroom all the time, you may need bladder health support. Fortunately, there are natural plant-based supplements and other easy methods to support bladder health and make sure your urinary tract is functioning optimally. Read more in this post!
As you age, give birth or experience prolonged physical stress, the muscles that help control normal urination may experience strain or damage. This could lead to an overactive bladder.
How the Kidneys and Bladder Function
The kidneys remove toxins and waste from your blood. Every day, the kidneys filter up to 150 quarts of blood to produce up to 2 quarts of urine, composed of wastes and extra fluid, which is held in the bladder. As urine flows into the bladder, the muscular walls expand like a water balloon. Sudden pressure from sneezing, coughing, or exercise may accidentally strain the bladder and push urine through the urethra, triggering unwanted urination. According to the American Urogynecologic Society, these types of leaks are most common among women over 45 years old, or women who have given birth. Learn more about what causes an overactive bladder here.
Illustration from National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Ways to Maintain Bladder Health
There are many natural ways you can support optimal bladder health. Here are a few easy ways to get started today!
1. Be active throughout the day to avoid fluid retention in your legs, which may contribute to the urge to urinate when you’re trying to sleep.
2. Try Kegel exercises, which may help strengthen your urinary sphincter and pelvic floor muscles.
3. Always urinate completely to avoid risk of a urinary tract infection (UTI).
4. Avoid eating spicy, salty or sugary foods.
5. Cut down on drinking caffeinated or alcoholic beverages.
6. Drink cranberry juice, or take cranberry supplements (Vaccinium macrocarpon) and other dietary supplements, which deliver essential nutrition to help maintain optimal bladder and kidney health.
Plant-Based Support
Some natural plant-based ingredients that may help support bladder health, especially when taken as dietary supplements, include Lindera (Lindera aggregate) root extract, which provides antioxidant support for the bladder and urinary tract; Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) stem extract, which may promote healthy urinary tract function; and Cratevox Three-leaf Caper (Crateva nurvala) stem and bark extract may help support normal bladder tone.
Bladder Support with Urox from Doctor’s Best is a vegan dietary supplement formulated with these three important nutrients to support healthy bladder function.
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Another natural ingredient that may support bladder health is pumpkin seed oil (Cucurbita pepo), which provides antioxidants, essential fatty acids, phytosterols, various trace minerals, and vitamins A and B.
Bladder Up from Cardiovascular Research is a dietary supplement of pumpkin seed oil that supports bladder health for aging prostates, especially during nighttime trips to the bathroom.
As mentioned earlier, cranberry juice may help maintain a healthy bladder and temporarily relieve UTI discomfort. Cranberries contain proanthocyanidins, which may help balance the bacteria in your urinary tract. However, if you want to avoid the excess sugar often found in such juices, try a cranberry supplement in powder or capsule form.
Cran Clearance from Jarrow Formulas is a concentrated supplement of cranberries and vitamin C to help support bladder health and a healthy immune response.
D-mannose is another potentially beneficial supplement ingredient for bladder health. It comes from cranberries, peaches, and apples. Although the recurrence of UTIs is common in adult women, a clinical study found d-mannose as a promising way to support urological health by blocking the adhesion of certain strains of bacteria inside the body.
D-Mannose with Cran-Gyn DDS from Dr. Mercola is a natural health supplement blending d-mannose, cranberry extract and probiotics to support optimal urinary tract health. Specifically, the supplement provides support for optimal digestive health, immune system function, and helps maintain healthy intestinal flora.
Shop more of Natural Healthy Concepts’ bladder and kidney support products.
What’s your favorite natural bladder health supplement? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Leslie Benson writes regularly about nutrition and healthy living for Natural Healthy Concepts. Visit NHC.com today to browse a wide selection of vitamins, minerals, and other dietary supplements.
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