One in five women will have at least one urinary tract infection (UTI) in her lifetime, according to the National Kidney Foundation. When it comes to a bladder infection, it was found that many women seek for doctor’s treatment for the pain, pressure, and constant urge to urinate which is associated with the condition.
Urinary tract infection is caused by bacteria that overcome the body’s defense in the urinary tract. The bacteria irritate the urinary tract and this causes painful urination and even lower abdominal pain or cramping. It typically affects women more often than men.
In a study conducted at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, it was found that urinary tract infections are closely linked to the food you consume. A number of common foods and drinks can irritate your bladder and may worsen UTI symptoms.
5 Symptoms of a UTI
The signs of a urinary tract infection are very hard to miss:
- A persistent urge to pee
- Foul-smelling and/or cloudy urine
- Pelvic pain
- A burning sensation when urinating
- Sometimes passing only a couple of drops of urine despite a feeling of urgency to pee
People with catheters may only experience fever as a symptom, making diagnosis more difficult.
Here Are The List Of Foods You Should Avoid If You Have UTI
Citrusy Or Caffeinated Sodas
According to studies, citrus-flavored sodas and caffeinated sodas can cause irritation in the bladder and can worsen bladder infections. Simply stick to plain water or cranberry and blueberry juice if you are struggling to overcome UTI. 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.
Spicy Foods
Are you a fan of red pepper flakes or extra hot chicken curry? Well, if you have UTI, you should skip the spice because they are known to irritate the bladder and worsen UTI symptoms.
Artificial Sweeteners
Even when you don’t have a UTI, you should avoid artificial sweeteners. They can intensify your bladder symptoms.
Coffee
In a study involving people with interstitial cystitis (chronic inflammation of the bladder), it was found that people who drank coffee experienced worsened symptoms. Caffeine is known to irritate the bladder thereby worsening bladder infection symptoms. It would be better if you opt for non-caffeinated herbal tea to replace your morning coffee ritual until you are UTI-free.
Drinking Alcohol
Alcohol can irritate the bladder, too, particularly if you have a bladder infection. Avoid alcohol as much as possible even if you want to get plenty of fluids in order to flush out the bacteria and recover from a urinary tract infection.
Acidic Fruits
Though fruits are needed in a healthy diet, some of them contain a lot of acids that can irritate the bladder and worsen UTI symptoms. Some of the fruits you need to avoid are oranges, tomatoes, pineapples, apples, grapefruits, plums, grapes, and peaches.
