Sufficient drinking is particularly important for illnesses such as incontinence. Incontinence is a problem that can affect any of us. Be it an illness or simply old age. In any case, it is very unpleasant. Many people therefore try to get to grips with this problem by drinking less. This certainly reduces urine production, but the body needs sufficient fluid to function properly. The urinary tract, the kidneys, in fact the whole organism needs to be properly flushed out in the truest sense of the word.

This is the only way to remove harmful substances from the body. The kidneys quickly become undersupplied due to insufficient fluid intake. The result is that they can no longer optimally fulfill their “detoxification function”. The ureters, bladder and urethra become far more susceptible to infection – which in turn promotes both the development and maintenance of incontinence.

When every sip seems too much

It is a fatal mistake to believe that drinking less will reduce incontinence. The opposite is the case: it even intensifies. The bladder muscles are exercised by filling the bladder. If this is no longer the case and the bladder is only half full, the muscles slacken. Gradually, the capacity of the bladder decreases and the urge to urinate or incontinence increases.

These connections are actually self-explanatory. The amount you drink should therefore not be reduced under any circumstances. Many people generally drink too little, as the feeling of thirst is all too often ignored. The minimum daily intake of 1.5 – 2 liters of fluid should be constantly maintained – whether you are thirsty or not. However, older people in particular without intensive exercise often feel overwhelmed by this. A good rule of thumb is to consume at least 30 ml of fluid per kilogram of body weight, and more if you feel thirsty or are exerting yourself.

By distributing this amount throughout the day, the urge to urinate can be controlled to a certain extent. Patients with bladder weakness can therefore drink less before longer trips if they replenish the body with the necessary fluids afterwards.

It can be helpful to have a drinking plan on which the amount of fluid you should drink is noted – this can also help forgetful people with incontinence to ensure that they drink enough. This is because the natural feeling of thirst decreases in old age and there is a risk of the body being undersupplied with water.

The right drink for incontinence

What you drink is also important. Coffee, for example, is one of the biggest urine drivers of all beverages. It is even considered an “accelerator” of incontinence. The caffeine it contains increases urine production in the kidneys. Some teas also have a diuretic effect. This includes not only black tea, but also green and some herbal teas. Mate, nettle, rosemary and birch leaf tea are also not recommended. The iced teas that are popular in summer, which are often based on green or black teas – and usually contain too much sugar anyway – are rather counterproductive when it comes to incontinence.

Caffeine-free rooibos (rooibos tea) is safe because it does not have a diuretic effect. If you like this tea, then drink as much as you like.

Carbonated and highly sugary drinks can even irritate the bladder in sensitive people. Artificial sweeteners can impair bladder control. They are contained in low-calorie foods and drinks and may promote inflammation of the bladder. Cola, similar soft drinks and many supposed fruit juices are high in sugar.

Alcohol also removes fluids from the body. Alcohol in general, whether beer or wine, is a diuretic. It can also irritate the bladder, which can lead to incontinence. It is best to drink as little of it as possible – or preferably no alcohol at all.

Overview for drinking with incontinence: You should reduce or completely avoid these drinks

• Coffee
• Black tea
• Green tea
• Alcohol
• Coke and similar soft drinks

This leaves water as the ideal drink for incontinence. Not only is it healthy, but it’s also cheap or free when it comes to tap water. The water quality in this country is optimal.

Homemade spritzers are also ideal. But when mixing your spritzers, make sure you have a healthy ratio of juice to water. In other words: mix in plenty of water, the more the better.

Timing when drinking

In addition to the right choice of drink, you should also think about the correct distribution of your fluid intake. Start drinking as soon as you get up in the morning and drink less in the evening. This technique also helps you to keep changes of incontinence material to a minimum during the night.

The condition of the urine also provides an indication: If the urine is light and dark yellow to orange, a lack of water is very likely. On the other hand, abundant and relatively light-colored urine tends to indicate a balanced water balance.

There is also a herb for incontinence

Naturopathy has many helpful things to offer to provide relief from incontinence. The classic is pumpkin seeds. Two tablespoons of this per day provide valuable potassium, calcium    Chemisches Element Ca mit der Ordnungszahl 20, Mineralstoff, der zu den Mengenelementen zählt. Unter den Mineralstoffen ha... and magnesium, which are responsible for the smooth functioning of nerves and muscles. The ingredients they contain are very similar to testosterone and also inhibit the urge to urinate. Horsetail and yarrow prepared as tea also have a supportive effect and enrich the daily drinking plan with their taste, making it easier to manage the daily recommended amount to drink.

Incontinence firmly under control

Even if it is tempting to try to protect yourself from incontinence by drinking too little a day, this is the wrong approach. Our body cannot function optimally without an adequate supply of fluids. Instead, drinks that are stressful for the urogenital system should be avoided and drinking times should be adapted to the daily schedule. This means you can stay well hydrated throughout the day, even if you have incontinence problems.