Fiber & Urinary System Health | Tennessee Valley Urology Center
Did you know? Keeping up good gut health is an important part of maintaining your urinary health. The two systems are intricately connected and issues with one will impact the other in ways you may not expect.
Take, for instance, constipation. A buildup of waste in your bowel can put pressure on your bladder, causing you to feel the need to urinate more often. Alternatively, it could make it harder for you to fully empty your bladder.
An important part of regulating digestive health is consuming enough fiber to help your body function properly.
Where Can You Get Fiber?
While some people may need fiber supplements to help them regulate their digestive health, most of us can get enough just from eating a healthy, balanced diet. There are two forms of fiber available in foods: soluble and insoluble.
Neither can be fully broken down by your body, which is part of why they provide so many benefits.
Soluble Fiber This type, when isolated, dissolves in water to form a gel and can slow the passage of food from the stomach to the intestine. In your body, it can help lower blood cholesterol and glucose levels. It is found in:
- Beans
- Oats
- The meat of apples
- The meat of pears
- Barley
- Bananas
- Potatoes
Insoluble Fiber As you may guess, this type won’t break down in water. Instead, it actually holds onto water, which helps your body produce softer, bulkier stools that are easier to pass. It is found in:
- Whole grains
- Whole bran
- The skins of apples
- The skins of pears
- Nuts
- Corn
- Carrots
- Grapes
- Berries
How Does Fiber Help My Urinary System?
As already noted, fiber can enable your body to produce stools that are easier to pass, which helps keep your digestive system functioning regularly so it doesn’t negatively impact your urinary system.
Beyond that, it may help reduce the risk of several potentially deadly illnesses, including heart disease, diabetes and diverticular disease.
Its specific benefits to the urinary system show up in the bladder and kidneys. Many fiber-rich foods are also bladder-friendly foods, meaning they’re gentle, nutritious and help keep digestive system regular.
Fiber saves its big impacts for the kidneys, though. Research shows it can help improve kidney function and reduce inflammation. Additionally, it may help lower cancer-related mortality risk, particularly in those with kidney health issues.
So get out there and grab some apples, pears and other produce of autumn!
Our team of expert specialists works every day to help people improve their overall health and to treat urologic conditions. If you’re having urinary system issues, you can trust us for compassionate care in diagnosis and treatment.