Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is the second commonest infection in the US, affecting every 10 in 25 women and 3 in 25 men in their lifetime. Some may be serious, and some not. However, you should seek treatment to avoid reoccurrence or worsening. If you have a UTI, it’s crucial to watch out for your diet, as some elements can be problematic. Proper dieting can go a long way if you’re looking for relief.
Add this to-do list of drinks, foods, and supplements that you should eat and should not eat if you have a UTI, pronto.
What to Eat/Drink to Improve UTIs
Fluids: Staying hydrated is one of the best-proven ways to prevent or reduce urinary tract infections. Water is vital to dilute the contents in your bladder, leading to less irritation. Drinking plenty of water can help you frequently urinate, flushing bacteria from your kidney and bladder. If you’re looking to increase fluid intake, plain water is the best.
Cranberry juice is an old-age alternative as it lowers the recurrence of UTIs in women. A recent study shows that Cranberry juice reduces developing UTIs by 26%. Cranberry fruits have a compound called A-type proanthocyanidin (PAC) that reduces the ability of e-coli bacteria to stick in the urinary tract walls. The compound also helps flush the bacteria out of your system. If you’re going to buy cranberry juice, make sure it’s unsweetened and not concentrated. Take ¼ cup of cranberry extracts or unsweetened cranberry juice two or three times daily.
Foods Rich in Vitamin C: If you have a UTI, your urine tends to have higher pH than usual, making it more acidic. Eating fruits with high vitamin C with your meals like oranges, strawberries, kiwifruit, tomatoes, and leafy green vegetables, can lower the pH level in the urine to kill the E-coli bacteria effectively. Also, it can help prevent bacteria from multiplying quickly and limit the rate of infection.
What to Avoid When You Have a UTI
Foods and Drinks Containing High Sugar Amounts: It’s necessary to avoid high-sugar foods and drinks as they can irritate your bladder. Foods and drinks rich in sugar include energy drinks, candy and sweets, soda, and cakes.
Caffeine: Coffee is a leading culprit for people with UTIs. It increases the rate of urination which could lead to increased dehydration. In turn, you increase the E-coli bacteria in your bladder. That means you’ll have salts in your urine that will eventually irritate your bladder and worsen UTI symptoms. Frequent urination could also make you hold back your desire to urinate.
Acidic fruits and spicy foods: Fruits are essential for maintaining a healthy diet. But highly-acidic foods can cause bladder irritation and heighten your UTI symptoms. If possible, avoid fruits such as lemons, oranges, and other acidic foods when treating UTIs.
Topping your nachos with jalapenos or sprinkling your pizza with red pepper has to stop when treating UTI. Just like acidic fruits cause bladder irritation, so do spicy foods.