Foods to Avoid with UTI

Updated on February 14th, 2020
foods to avoid with uti

A urinary tract infection, commonly termed as UTIs are among the most widely recognized infections found in the elderly, particularly in ladies. A bladder infection can be excruciating as well as irritating. It can also turn into a severe medical issue if the infection spreads in your kidneys.

As indicated by the medical experts, one out of every five ladies suffers from a urinary tract infection (UTI). Also, women are almost ten times more prone than men to get bacterial infections because of their shorter urethra.

If you’ve suffered from a UTI, you might have been asked to gulp down a lot of water. But it turns out; certain foods can help aid this condition much better. Therefore, along with the antibiotics and other treatments, there are few foods to avoid UTI, you can try help in providing you better and faster results.

List of Foods to Avoid with UTI:

What not to eat when you have a UTI, or what are the foods not good for UTI?”

First and foremost, if you have suspect any signs of UTI(1), you need to start avoiding some foods, which are a strict no-no. These foods which are not allowed for UTI are mentioned below.

1. Coffee

coffee
Image: ShutterStock

Why Should You Avoid This?

Caffeine is known to aggravate the bladder and also worsen the situation of bladder infections and its symptoms. Experts found that individuals who drank espresso experienced exacerbated symptoms of bacterial bladder infections.

What Can You Have Instead?

You should cut or avoid the coffee when you are affected by UTI. You can also replace the urge of coffee in the morning with a cup of non-caffeinated herbal or green tea until you recover from UTI.

[ Read: Natural Remedies for UTI ]

2. Alcohol

Why Should You Avoid This?

Alcohols like beer, wine, and alcoholic liquor are not good for your kidney and can also cause harm to your bladder, as well, especially if you have a bladder infection. Thus, alcohol can induce large volumes of urine input that may disturb the bladder and debilitate your pelvic muscle tone.

What Can You Have Instead?

Avoid alcoholic drinks when suffering from UTI. You can also replace alcoholic drinks with fresh non-acidic fruit juices.

3. Soda

Soda Drinks
Image: Shutterstock

Why Should You Avoid This?

Soda is often not considered the best thing to consume when you are suffering from UTI since it has artificial sugars, caffeine(2), and bubbles, which could further aggravate the infection. Therefore, you should not have soda or such caffeinated drinks while treating UTI.

What Can You Have Instead?

Replace the soda drinks and stick to regular water or green/herbal tea. You can also take cranberry juice as a replacement for soda drinks- the list could be exhaustive.

[ Read: Foods That Make UTI Less Painful ]

4. Acidic Fruits

Why Should You Avoid This?

Acidic fruits can aggravate your bladder and also intensify your UTI signs. Thus, avoid fruits like lemons, grapefruits, tomatoes, and oranges, apples, peaches, grapes, plums, strawberries, and pineapple.

What Can You Have Instead?

Opt for fruits that are non-acidic.

5. Spicy Food

Spicy Food
Image: Shutterstock

Why Should You Avoid This?

Spicy food may help in adding taste to your diet, but it can merely irritate your bladder when you have bacterial infections in your urinary system. It also worsens your bathroom experience causing pain during urination.

What Can You Have Instead?

Replace the spicy foods with neutral herbs such as rosemary and thyme rather than dark pepper, cayenne, and pepper flakes, and more.

[ Read: Supplements for UTI ]

6. Artificial Sweeteners

Why Should You Avoid This?

Artificial sweeteners are definitely a good substitute for sugar. If you have a UTI, then it is not an ideal option to choose as it may worsen the UTI symptoms. As per a study, it was also found that artificial sweeteners may even aggravate the bladder infection symptoms with people suffering from chronic interstitial cystitis.

What Can You Have Instead?

Consume alternatives like honey, stevia leaves, and more in limited quantities.

Therefore, to remain UTI free, you should adopt a healthy lifestyle with a healthy diet to keep your bladder and kidney fit. One of the essential elements for the same is to stay hydrated, which is also all in one solution to keep you away from all infections.

[ Read: Home Remedies for UTI ]


FAQs

1. Is There Any Surgery For UTI?

You don’t need any surgery for UTI. You could require surgery if there is a blockage in your urinary system, like a kidney stone or extended prostate. Follow all what not to eat when you have a bladder infection, as listed above.

2. Can Sexual Intercourse Lead to UTI?

Sex is a cause for UTIs in ladies because sex brings bacteria into the urinary tract. During sex, the urethra comes into direct contact with the microorganisms from the genital region, enabling them to enter the urethra, the bladder, and c in the long run, the kidneys, which results in bacterial infection.

3. How Dangerous Can UTI Be? Can it Lead to Death?

An untreated UTI may cause harm to your kidney, irritates your bladder, and worsens the infection. It can, likewise, cause sepsis. The term urosepsis is typically used to portray sepsis brought about by a UTI. Sepsis is a reaction to disease or damage.

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