Health - Wellness
How Spicy Foods Impact Your Bladder
By ANDRA PICINCU
According to the Urology Care Foundation, interstitial cystitis is a disorder that often causes pain in the urethra, bladder, lower back, or pelvic region, along with a constant urge to urinate; cystitis has also affected millions of people. The Interstitial Cystitis Network reports that symptoms of this condition can be related to the food we eat.
Certain types of food and beverage such as caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, vinegar, and citrus fruits can irritate the bladder, causing a burning sensation, pain, and discomfort. Though hot chili peppers, curry, paprika, or hot sauce can turn any bland meal into a tasty feast, spicy foods can highly irritate the bladder.
According to the University of Chicago Medicine, spicy foods can pose problems for those with irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, and other digestive ailments. Spicy capsaicin can irritate the tissues lining the bladder, causing spasms of the bladder muscle, so eat hot and spicy foods with caution if you have bladder troubles.