Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder resulting from infection, irritation, injury, or a combination of the three. The main symptoms of the disease are pain, increased frequency of urination, urgent urge to urinate. This problem is widespread among women and can lead to a number of unpleasant sensations and inconveniences in social life. Reviews about the diet for cystitis are only positive: still, because proper nutrition can never harm you.
Therapy
Currently, there are drugs that can reduce the manifestations of the disease, but often drug therapy does not work 100%, and the disease does not recede completely, becoming chronic. The ideal treatment strategy has not yet been developed. Advice given by doctors, in addition to taking medicationinclude avoiding stress, taking warm baths, and getting enough sleep. Therefore, a diet for cystitis in women is the most important way to prevent exacerbation and support the body in a difficult period for it. It is about proper nutrition that we will talk about in this article.
History of diet development
A 2004 study showed that in 92% of patients, certain drinks and foods provoked an exacerbation. 84% of those surveyed claimed that the symptoms became less pronounced if the diet was followed. During the study, participants did not receive any additional therapy, and no one expected such impressive results.
In July 2007, a group of researchers of this insidious disease published a list of foods that can cause an aggravation in the journal of urology. Dr. Beyer reports that these products are the same ones that have been talked about for the past 20 years and mentioned in online sources and support groups. To the question: “What kind of diet can reduce symptoms?” - still to be answered. But the results of the research published in the article give hope that the answer will be found.
Diet for cystitis, or Help in the fight against the disease
The diet still needs work, but some of the tools have already been discovered. It is advisable to work with each patient individually and analyze what is best for him. The diet for cystitis in women consists of several stages. We will talk about them further.
Tool 1
The first tool is the rejection of foods and drinks that can cause an exacerbation of the disease. For most patients, this is coffee, many types of tea, most carbonated drinks, especially low-calorie ones, most alcoholic drinks, citrus fruits and juices from them, cranberry juice, tomato products, soy, sweeteners, hot peppers and spicy dishes. Patients are advised, as far as possible, to try to reduce the amount of the above foods in the diet. Many patients feel relief after the first stage of the diet. For those who want to go further, an expanded list of prohibited foods has been developed and special recommendations have been added.
Tool 2
All products are divided into 3 categories: not dangerous for the bladder, those that need to be used with caution and harmful. The first category is the safest. Food related to the second may cause problems in some patients. Patients are encouraged to experiment and observe how the body reacts to products from this category. It is better to exclude junk food completely, since its use is likely to cause an exacerbation. Of course, in practice, with the help of diet alone it is impossible to rid patients of all their problems, but this approach helps to significantly alleviate the condition and, very importantly, give hope to those patients who are desperate and think that their discomfort will never end.
Additional recommendations
Dietfor cystitis in women, it will be even more effective if you follow these tips:
- Water. The question of whether patients need to drink more water is not so easy to answer. In most cases, water is well tolerated, but much depends on the manufacturer. It is advisable to choose options that are suitable for your body. Chlorinated water and brands with added minerals are not to be consumed.
- Soft drinks. For patients who find it difficult to refuse carbonated drinks, fizzy drinks from root vegetables can be advised. As for tea, chamomile and mint can be a good substitute for those who miss black.
- Cereals. In many cases, grains are well absorbed, except when the patient suffers from celiac disease or gluten sensitivity (according to the study, approximately 14% of patients have such intolerance).
- Semi-finished products. It is highly not recommended for patients to use semi-finished products and various types of pasta. However, you can cook these dishes yourself using fresh ingredients. In most cases, it comes out even cheaper and, of course, much more useful.
- Smoked meat and soy. These products pose a danger to patients, especially soy, which causes an exacerbation in 99% of patients.
- Dairy products. Good news for cheese lovers: the results of the study show that dairy products are well tolerated. Moreover, cheese or ice cream can even improve the condition of patients during an exacerbation.
- Fruit. You have to be very careful with fruits. Some patients tolerate only peaches and some types of berries. But each patient's tolerance may be different.
- Vegetables. Most vegetables are useful for cystitis, with the exception of tomatoes and hot peppers. It is with them that the diet for cystitis in women should be rich. The menu is recommended to be tailored to the wishes of the patient, but it must include vegetable soups.
Sample menu
- Breakfast: mashed potatoes with stewed zucchini, carrot juice.
- Lunch: dried fruit compote.
- Lunch: vegetable soup with buckwheat, dumplings, a piece of cheese, pumpkin juice.
- Snack: a few slices of melon or watermelon.
- Dinner: yogurt, cottage cheese with peach slices.
The transition to proper nutrition
It is not necessary to immediately eliminate all harmful foods from your diet. The transition to proper nutrition can be gradual. A diet for cystitis in women is quite a lot of stress for the body. Keep a diary where you will write down all the foods that you consumed during the day. Describe your condition below. Gradually reduce junk food in your diet over 2-3 weeks. Monitor your well-being. Dietitians can help you create a menu and list of necessary products, taking into account your taste preferences and prohibitions.
Diet for acute cystitis in women
Acute cystitis requires special attention. The main task is to cleanse the urinary tract and excretepathogens. It is also necessary to prevent irritation of mucous tissues. Ground rules:
- Drink plenty of fluids, at least 1.5-2 liters daily. Well suited calcium chloride water. Fruit compotes and fruit drinks, vegetable juices (except tomato) will be useful. An excellent option is pumpkin juice, it has diuretic properties.
- You need to drink herbal infusions, kidney teas with horsetail, lingonberry leaf, bearberry.
- Fresh vegetables are useful - zucchini, cucumbers, spinach, carrots, as well as watermelons and melons. From fruits - grapes and pomegranate.
- Eat 1 tablespoon of honey daily.
- Milk, cottage cheese, cheese and yogurt will be useful during this period.
Sick people know how unpleasant and even dangerous the disease is acute cystitis. The diet must be followed without fail so that the body can recover quickly.
Now you know the basic recommendations regarding nutrition in this insidious disease. It must be remembered that the diet for chronic cystitis in women is slightly different from that for the acute course of the disease. Therefore, during periods of exacerbations, it is important not to neglect the advice of nutritionists and reconsider your diet. Of course, each organism is individual, and its reaction is not always predictable. Monitor your well-being and look for products that are good for you. Remember that diet can greatly relieve many symptoms. Your he alth is in your hands!
