If you think to yourself, “Tea makes me pee,” you aren’t alone. According to the Mayo Clinic, some foods may irritate the bladder, including teas. Not only can tea irritate the bladder — many teas also contain diuretic compounds that are likely to make you urinate more.
Foods That Irritate the Bladder
Tea is one of a group of foods and drinks that can contain a chemical or ingredient known to irritate the bladder. For example, tea often contains caffeine and certain herbal diuretics, both of which may send you to the bathroom more frequently.
Other foods that the Mayo Clinic says irritate the bladder include:
- Coffee
- Alcohol
- Chocolate
- Soda and other carbonated beverages
If you find that you need to pee very frequently or are dealing with frequent bladder problems like cystitis, a doctor might suggest that you cut these bladder irritants out of your diet for a set period of time. Your bladder irritation should decrease significantly after a few days. When your bladder isn’t as irritated, you may find that you don’t need to urinate as often.
A doctor may also suggest that you increase your liquid intake if you find that you have symptoms of bladder irritation, according to the Mayo Clinic. While this may seem counterintuitive, if you are dehydrated, the waste products in your urine will be more concentrated. This concentrated waste can irritate your bladder and give you the urge to pee more frequently.
Caffeine and Urination
Many teas contain caffeine, which is a natural diuretic whose use can lead to more frequent urination. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that instant, unsweetened tea contains 26.2 milligrams (mg) of caffeine per 8-ounce cup, whereas brewed black tea contains almost twice as much, with 47.4 mg per cup.
While the caffeine content of teas varies, any amount can make you need to pee more often. According to the Urology Foundation, caffeine can irritate the bladder, increase bladder filling, and make you feel like you need to pee urgently. Cutting caffeine out of your diet or significantly limiting your caffeine consumption can help reduce the urge to urinate frequently.
Be aware that even teas that claim they contain no caffeine may still contain small amounts, and even small amounts may be enough to irritate your bladder if you are very sensitive to caffeine. Additionally, some teas have other compounds in them that can send you running to the bathroom more often.
Natural Herbal Diuretics
Many herbal teas may be naturally decaffeinated, but they can still make you need to pee frequently because many are made from natural diuretics. For example, some teas are brewed from dandelion leaves or nettle, both of which have mild well-established diuretic properties.
Other Causes of Frequent Urination
While drinking tea can lead to more frequent urination, there are also other harmless causes of increased urination that may be the reason you find yourself needing to use the bathroom so often. For example, you may be unintentionally consuming more liquids than you realize each day. This may cause you to need to relieve yourself more than usual.
Serious health problems can also cause frequent urination. Some health conditions that may cause you to experience excessive urination include:
- Diabetes
- Too much or too little calcium in your body
- Urinary tract infections
- Kidney failure
- Enlarged prostate gland
- Other medications that have diuretic properties
MedlinePlus defines excess urination as 2.5 liters (about 2.6 quarts) or more per day. However, the specific amount varies, depending on how much liquid you drink each day.
If you are concerned about your urination levels, monitor how much you drink and how often you urinate, and estimate the amount of fluid you urinate. Tracking your weight can also help you determine your fluid output. If you experience high urination over the course of several consecutive days, talk to your doctor.
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