Many people assume that improving your bladder starts with just improving your pelvic floor and drinking water. And while those two are extremely important to one’s overall bladder function, there are still many other ways to keep your bladder healthy.

Not to mention, in order to alleviate any irritabilities in the bladder, one must also alleviate any stressors around the kidneys and bowels. There is a whole system at play when it comes to urination and how we feel every day, and focusing on just one aspect will not have the same results as maintaining an individual’s whole urinary health.

So, what other ways can we combat bladder irritants? One step you can take is by altering your diet!

What Foods to Avoid if Bladder Problems Persist

There are three main food and beverage groups that people should limit or modify when experiencing irritating bladder symptoms: citrus, caffeine, and spicy. High citrus foods are known to increase urinary citrate, which can cause the sensation of having to urinate more than usual. Caffeine, on the other hand, can impact the muscles around the bladder.

It can irritate the smooth muscles in the bladder that cause it to involuntarily contract, which can induce urge incontinence. Finally – and probably the most serious of the three – spicy foods can upset both the bowels and bladder. They specifically irritate the lining of the bladder and can contribute to chronic bladder pain if spicy foods are a common occurrence.

While citrus, caffeine and spicy foods all have an impact and are some of the more common bladder irritants, others also include processed foods, artificial sweeteners, and alcohol. Condiments can be sneaky and are often overlooked by many as a cause of bladder concerns. Items that especially include soy sauce, vinegars, horseradish, and ketchup all have ingredients to avoid or limit when it comes to bladder health.

However, it’s important to note that not all bladder irritants will cause bladder issues for all individuals. The best way for someone to conclude what bladder irritant may be causing uncomfortable symptoms is by undergoing a food and beverage elimination diet.

What Foods Can Improve Bladder Health

The best thing you can do for optimizing bladder health is prioritizing water intake. When urine becomes concentrated, those waste particles will cause irritation to the bladder lining and increase irritative bladder symptoms.

However, when urine becomes more diluted through water intake, this disperses those waste particles leaving less irritation. Additionally, water helps maximize the functions of the kidneys, gallbladder and bowels, all of which can contribute to irritability in the pelvic area.

While water is a great source to improve your bladder function, there are also other foods that can improve your overall bladder. Specifically, foods high in fiber such as lentils, beans or almonds, can help decrease opportunities for constipation which inevitably leads back to your bladder.

This is because when constipation arises, the fullness of the intestines causes increased pressure directly to the bladder, leading to increased urgency and frequency of the bladder.

Foods rich in vitamin C and calcium are also highly suggested to help support the kidneys and bladder health. Fruits such as berries, apples, bananas, and watermelon, along with vegetables that include kale, spinach, cucumbers, broccoli, cauliflower, bell peppers, green beans, and carrots, can all help the bladder continue to function optimally and decrease the impact of overactive bladder and incontinence.

Of course, it is important to remember that diet is just one part of dealing with incontinence or overall bladder health. If an individual finds that symptoms are persisting long after a change in diet occurs or bladder problems are worsening, they may find that bladder problems are related to another source – such as pelvic floor muscles, lack of exercise or certain workouts.

However, if symptoms become too uncomfortable for an individual to handle on their own, always consult a medical professional on next steps and other treatment options.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Have you noticed a connection between your diet and any incontinence issues? Which foods have a negative impact on your bladder? What tips can you share with the community?

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I’m continually in awe of each new release Peace Out Skincare drops—from line-smoothing retinol sticks to acne-targeted cleansing balms, the brand knows how to pinpoint concerns and rectify them swiftly. That’s why when I caught wind early of another exciting launch on the horizon, I jumped at the opportunity to put it to the test before the public. And boy oh boy, it did not disappoint. 

Introducing: The Instant Pore Perfector Primer. The skincare-makeup hybrid formula blurs large pores and texture immediately upon application—trust me, you will gasp—while improving the overall look and feel of your skin overtime. As Peace Out founder and CEO, Enrico Frezza, told StyleCaster, “Instant Pore Perfector is so much more than a primer, it’s your nex-gen pore perfector. Unlike most primers on the market, Instant Pore Perfector doesn’t contain silicones and instead uses a powerful blend of hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, mushroom extract and malic acid to minimize pores with good for your skin ingredients.”

Image: Peace Out

Instant Pore Perfector Primer

And the primer’s claims check out; through a brand-run consumer study, over 89 of participants said their skin “appeared more smooth and even” while near equal percentages of users said their skin “appeared more mattified” and “pores appeared smaller or minimized after application.”  

I personally can attest to all of the above. The first time I applied the primer, I was amazed at how effortlessly it blurred the pores around my nose and paved the way for foundation and concealer to glide over top better than before. My skin almost appeared airbrushed; there was definitely a notable difference between all my makeup applications prior to this one. After several subway rides and a full-workday, I was surprised to see how well my makeup held up, too—while it normally would have appeared patchy and oily, it instead looked nearly as fresh as the morning.

Source: Instagram

Naturally, Frezza has seen results from personal use as well. “My skin instantly has a photo-filtered look,” he shared. “It helps even out my skin texture and tone, blurs my pores, making them almost invisible. I’ve been using Instant Pore Perfector for X months and have seen a drastic improvement in the appearance of my pore size. I also love that it provides instant benefits for immediate skin-gratification and has long-term pore refining properties that I look for in all my skincare products.”

I’m eager to see the long-term benefits from using the Instant Pore Perfector. In the meantime, I’ll continue to reap its skin-blurring magic daily with each makeup application. Scoop a tube of your own for $28 now, and don’t forget to shop the brand’s Labor Day sale to save 25 percent off on purchases through the weekend.

Paige DeSorbo’s Black Patent Boots at Friendsgiving

Southern Charm Season 8 Episode 11 Fashion

Being an east coaster as well I can totallyyyy relate to Paige DeSorbo’s sentiment of wanting to wear all-black even in a pastel/floral-filled city. And although her sexy black patent boots from last night’s ep are sold out (well for you guys in the US, they appear to be still in stock for me in Canada), there’s of course still Style Stealers to shop — and a tan version for all of you “basic beige Bettys” (lol).

Fashionably,

Faryn

Click Here to Shop Her Steve Madden Boots in Tan on Sale

Click Here to Shop Them in Black on Sale on the Canada Site

Originally posted at: Paige DeSorbo’s Black Patent Boots

I know, it’s not easy starting over later in life, especially if it wasn’t what you had planned, or you have had an unexpected setback. It may even feel like the end of the world.

I get it. After my marriage of more than 30 years collapsed, I was just a puddle on the floor of my new apartment.

It took me some time to pull myself back together. I still have lots of bad days, but I have slowly started to have more good days than bad. It didn’t happen overnight, but I’ve found some keys to making it happen.

Starting Over After 60? Start by Making New Friends

If you are waiting for someone to knock on your door to help get you back on your feet, you may be waiting forever. The only person who can make your life better is you and sitting on the couch binge-watching Netflix is not the answer, as much as I love it.

So, get out there and get to know your surroundings if you are in a new locale. If there is a coffee shop in your area, become a regular for a while. As you get to know the servers, they will get to know you.

You can look on the community board and find some activities near you. Take a book or the paper and just “camp” there for a while and you will most likely meet others from nearby. It just takes a couple of new acquaintances to make you feel at home in your new surroundings.

Look for an association in your neighbourhood or building. That’s a great way to get to know some new faces. And it’s all you need to make you feel like you are moving forward.

I had a party shortly after I moved to my apartment and combined my long-time friends with some friends from the new neighbourhood and it was a blast. My old friends loved my new digs and my new neighbours got a sense of who I am and who I was. Plus, I got some invitations for gatherings in my new neighbourhood after that, so it was a success.

Never Stop Learning

Continuing to learn isn’t just key for starting over, it is key for anyone as they age. Learning and keeping your brain working – and exercise – are the two best ways to keep yourself young, in my opinion.

Whether it is joining a yoga class, learning to cook some new recipes or taking up a new hobby, you will not only replace old habits and attitudes with new ones, you will increase your knowledge and maybe make some new friends. You’ll feel like you are in forward motion, rather than feeling stuck in old patterns.

If you are not in a book club, join one. It will force you to read a book that you might not otherwise read. Take a cooking class. If you want to learn Spanish, find a course in your area. If you wish you had taken accounting classes in college, many colleges and universities offer classes to seniors at a reduced cost or even for free.

Keep your brain busy and learning and you will have less time to dwell on the past and feel sorry for yourself.

Exercise

Let me assure you, if I never had to exercise another day in my life I would be the happiest girl in the world. But I do have to exercise. I am not a skinny girl who can eat anything she wants and not pay for it in pounds. So, exercise just must be a part of my life.

But, I know that without it I will not have the best chances of staying mobile and healthy in the future. So, I do it. And I have met some nice people along the way. If you are not exercising now, do it. And if you are, great, keep it up.

You are doing something positive for yourself. Exercise helps your mood, keeps you upright and improves your attitude. All you must do is put on your gym shoes and walk. You will feel better and get to know your surroundings.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Have you ever gone through a major life event that forced you to start over? If you are struggling to start over, have you tried any of the ideas in this article? Please share your experiences with other women in the community.

When someone in your life circle passes away, everyone in that circle feels the heaviness of grief in one way or another. It’s hard to know what to say to relatives, friends, or even acquaintances as they experience deep grief and loss.

We feel the loss too, and want to say something profound, something helpful and comforting. Sometimes our words just come out wrong. We put our foot in our mouth and there’s no retracting it.

Words That Hurt

My sister and my mother passed away within months of each other. I experienced intense grief for a time. I heard things like, “She’s in a better place”; “God wanted another angel”; or “God took her home.” Some of these statements could make me resent God if He indeed “took” them.

How about these statements, “She was so nice, God wanted her with him. It was her time to go. She accomplished what she was here for.” Or “I know how you feel,” followed with a story about someone in their life that passed on. These statements are not helpful and can bring more sorrow.

What Two Words?

If these things don’t help, what can we say? It comes down to two words. I’m sorry. Then stop talking. Sharing experiences that you’ve had in your own family doesn’t help. Am I supposed to feel compassion toward you when my heart is full of pain? Talking about God taking my loved one doesn’t help.

The person who this is told to may not have the same belief toward God as you. Will this be hurtful to them? If someone says to me, “Call me if you need anything,” I won’t be calling. It’s better for you to call me. Ask if anything is needed on any given day. Putting the call on them is a cop out. You pick up the phone, and you take the lead.

Less Is More

When saying the two words, “I’m sorry,” you can elaborate slightly. Here are a few examples:

“I’m so sorry”; “I’m sorry for the pain you are going through”; or “I’m sorry this happened.” Saying less is saying more. Are you comfortable sitting with someone without talking? Silence and just being there might be what they need.

Can you be with someone as they cry without getting them to stop? Crying is healthy and needed at a time like this. They may not have let their guard down with anyone else, but they can with you.

It might just be me, but even when people say, “I’m sorry for your loss,” it doesn’t sit right. It has become a phrase so overused that the meaning is lost on me. Try stopping at the first two words. See if you can do it.

My Friend Showed Me How

My friend called to ask if she could stop over after my mom passed away. She brought me a sandwich and said, “I’m sorry,” as we hugged. Then she stopped talking and let me do the talking. She was the only person who truly helped me.

This girlfriend made a very big impression on me. She was sorry, and she listened. I’ve learned from her. This is what I will do when my mother-in-law, who is very close to dying as I write this, passes on. I’ll bring food and say the two words that hold meaning and love, “I’m sorry.”

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Can you relate to this? Have people said phrases or words that elevated grief, or have they helped you feel better? If so, please share what they said. If you’d like, share the words that made you feel worse, so we can all learn from them.