It’s always difficult to avoid succumbing to all the amazing sugary goodness in the world. Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate – hell, there’s even sweet treats for those who aren’t a fan of chocolate altogether. Let's face it, it’s hard to resist the urge to embrace a mountain of sugary treats.
We know the main consequences of indulging in too much sugary foods – but did you know exactly how if affects your pelvic floor? Read on to discover more.
How does sugar affect the pelvic floor?
Artificial sugars and sweeteners can wreak havoc on your pelvic floor. When excess sugar or glucose builds up in your blood, it can begin to damage nerves. This can lead to the nerves that control your bladder becoming damaged, encouraging the onset of urinary incontinence. They can also worsen symptoms of an overactive bladder.
When sugar levels are high, your kidneys must work a lot harder than normal to flush the sugar out of your blood. This can result in a significantly larger amount of urine than you’re used to – making existing bladder issues even worse!
What’s more, high blood sugar levels can increase your risk of urinary tract infections as the bacteria feeds on the available sugar.
A high sugar consumption can also have a negative impact on your sex life. Eating too much sugar can lead to an increase in cortisol (a stress hormone) which can affect your sex hormones. It can also result in headaches, sleep problems and weight gain.
Bad foods for your pelvic floor
Your pelvic floor may start to despise you if you overindulge in:
- Caffeinated drinks
- Carbonated drinks
- Acidic fruits, like cranberries and oranges
- Spicy food
- Artificial sweeteners
- Alcohol
Good foods for your pelvic floor
The best things to include in your diet to make your pelvic floor happy are:
- Water
- Low-acidic fruits, like bananas, apricots and melons
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Caffeine-free herbal teas
How to keep your pelvic floor strong
Kegel exercises are an easy and guaranteed way of keeping your pelvic floor fit and strong. These pelvic floor exercises are really straightforward if your pelvic floor has not already been damaged.
But, if you've already begun to feel the effects of a weak pelvic floor, you may need a little extra help. That's where Kegel8 comes in! Using a Kegel8 Ultra 20 Electronic Pelvic Toner is a quick and easy way to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles - all with the push of a button. Plus, you can tailor the device to your specific needs! Suffer predominantly from urge incontinence? We've got you covered. Have your intimate sensations diminished? The Ultra 20 can help!
Reviews for the Kegel8 Ultra 20 Electronic Pelvic Toner
Stargazer - Fantastic Product!
"Only been using the Ultra 20 for a week and already noticing a difference (can now sneeze and most the time not pee a little!) love the fact it has different programs for different things, would highly recommend!”
Lullabelle - Well Worth Buying!
"The Ultra 20 is an excellent aid to recover pelvic floor strength. 4 weeks in and I'm already noticing a difference!"
Sources
Connell, K. (2017) A Diet for Your Pelvic Floor: The Do’s and Don’ts [online]. University of Colorado: Urogynecology [viewed 04/03/2019]. Available from https://urogyn.coloradowomenshealth.com/blog/pelvic-floor-diet
Pelvic Health & Rehabilitation Center (2016) Chew on This: Diet and Your Pelvic Floor [online]. Pelvic Health & Rehabilitation [viewed 04/03/2019]. Available from https://pelvicpainrehab.com/female-pelvic-pain/4115/chew-diet-pelvic-floor/
DeWitt, D. (2019) Control Sugar Levels to Prevent Bladder Problems [online]. EmpowHER [viewed 04/03/2019]. Available from https://www.empowher.com/overactive-bladder/content/control-sugar-levels-prevent-bladder-problems?page=0,0