The habit: you skip the probiotics

Eating for better bladder health isn’t all about cutting things out. Tongue advises adding fermented foods to your diet to help combat bladder issues. As a bonus, your gut is sure to be a fan of this move too.

“Foods like natural yoghurt, kefir, kimchi and kombucha are not only delicious but packed with nutritional benefits,” says Tongue. “Evidence suggests that consuming probiotics regularly can help to prevent UTIs.”

The habit: you’re a salt adder

Not only does adding salt to the pan level up the flavours of our favourite recipes, but salt helps our bodies to function and we couldn’t survive without it. That said, the NHS recommends not going over a maximum of 6mg salt per day, which is easy to do when splashing out on a takeaway or your go-to ultra-processed snack.

When it comes to your bladder, Tongue says it might be worth checking how liberal you are with the salt shaker. “A diet high in sodium can lead to fluid retention, which puts more pressure on the bladder and increases the frequency and urgency of urination.”

5 food habits to avoid for better bladder health, according to a nutritionist