Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): What Foods To Eat And What To Avoid

According to a recent study by the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, urinary tract infections are closely linked to the food you consume. Namely, the molecules that are created during digestion along with your urine acidity significantly affect the growth of bacteria in the urinary tract.

When it comes to urinary infections, the most important thing is to drink large amounts of fluids so as to flush colonies of E. coli, the major cause of urethra infections. Drinking herbal teas and natural juices, especially cranberry and blueberry juice, is highly recommended in such cases. Cranberries and blueberries contain substances that inhibit the binding of bacteria to bladder tissue. Drinking unsweetened cranberry juice regularly helps lower the risk of UTIs.

However, increasing your fluid intake is not enough. Actually, your diet matters as well because certain foods can only worsen the symptoms. Such foods are coffee and chocolate, whose ingredients irritate the inflamed tissue.

Unlike coffee and chocolate, there’s a wide array of foods that are extremely beneficial for relieving urinary tract infection.

Below, there’s a list of foods to be avoided, as well as foods to stick to when dealing with UTI.

Foods That Are Recommended When Suffering From UTI

Some foods are extremely beneficial for easing the symptoms and even preventing the occurrence of UTI. Most of these are common foods that you probably have in your pantry right now – almond, white meat, pumpkin oil, beets, eggs, barley coffee, yogurt, coconut, nettle, leafy vegetables, lentils, hazelnuts, legumes, olive oil, carrots, nuts, trout, seeds, fresh cow cheese, grapes, and water.

Foods Not Recommended When You Have UTI

A number of common foods and drinks can irritate your bladder, and may worsen UTI symptoms — so you should steer clear of them if you suffer from this condition. These include citrus fruits, chocolate, strawberry, coffee, vinegar, tomatoes, berries, and sweetened carbonated drinks, among others. These contribute to yeast overgrowth and can aggravate the condition.

Foods To Eat To Prevent UTI

To prevent the occurrence of urinary tract infections, it’s important to consume as many green vegetables and take two teaspoons of olive oil every day. You can also drink wine, but only moderately (twice a week at most).