Nighttime Pee-Free: How to Kick the Midnight Potty Break Habit
This scenario may sound familiar: you wake up in the middle of the night with a full bladder to use the toilet. And once you are relieved of this worry, you crawl back into bed.
Getting up at night to go to the toilet before your alarm goes off can be extremely annoying. Especially if you have to do it multiple times in the night. Anyone who experiences this knows how tired you can be the next day.
This problem is common in many people and can happen for many reasons. But one particular reason was explained by Japanese researchers. The secret lies in your diet.
Age-related problems
Getting up at night to urinate – sometimes multiple times in a row – can be due to a medical problem. As most people know, it is often a problem that worsens with age. The older we get, the more our antidiuretic hormone levels decrease.
But there are also other reasons why we get up at night to urinate. For example, diabetes, or an overfull bladder. Or certain medications or prostate enlargement in some men. Or simply by drinking too much before going to bed.
But Japanese researchers at Nagasaki University have found that the reason may be linked to your diet. Specifically, by our salt intake.
In a study with over 200 volunteers, researchers found that reducing salt intake led to less urination.
What Japanese researchers have found means that just a small change in our diet can help reduce or even stop this problem.
“Larger studies needed”
Lead researcher Doctor Matsuo Tomohiro told BBC News that large studies were needed to confirm the link.
“This work shows that there is a possibility that a small adjustment in our diet could optimize the quality of life for many,” he added.
Best of all, it’s not difficult to eat less salt. A simple tip is to replace salt with garlic or ginger when cooking. Another tip for salt alternatives is things rich in potassium such as bananas, yogurt, and potatoes.
But, as always, consult a doctor before making any drastic changes to your diet.
The problem of frequent nighttime urination can have different causes for different people. But by paying attention to your salt intake, you can better prevent discomforts.
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