Top 6 Foods to Avoid When you Have a UTI

If you frequently suffer from UTIs or currently have a UTI you might be wondering what foods to avoid. Well, you’re in the right place because this article lists the top foods to avoid when you have a UTI. 

Oh, the dreaded UTI…one of the most painful things a girl/woman can face. It’s very common too. Statistics show that about 25-40% of women in the US aged 20-40 years have had a UTI. Some of the symptoms of a UTI include: 

• Passing frequent but small amounts of urine 
• Feeling the need to urinate but nothing comes out 
• Stinging or burning pain when or after urinating 
• Foul smelling urine
• Pain in the lower abdomen
• Itching 
• Low-grade fever or chills
• Blood in the urine 
• And more 

When you suspect you have a UTI, don’t delay going to the doctor and seeking help. A full round of antibiotics can clear you up in a week.  

While taking your antibiotics, here are foods you can steer clear from to help feel better faster: 

6 Foods to Avoid When you Have a UTI 

1.    Alcohol 

Avoiding alcohol is key when you have a UTI. 

This beverage irritates the bladder, increase the acidity level of uring and worsen UTI symptoms. 

If you are prone to getting recurrent UTIs, then alcohol may be something you may want to eliminate from your diet because it may indirectly increase your chances of developing a UTI. 

Remember, alcohol can make you very dehydrated which widens your risk of getting a UTI. 

Not to mention, if you mix alcohol and the antibiotic given to cure your UTI, you may experience side effects like an upset stomach. 

 2.    Coffee 

Coffee comes second on this list of foods to avoid when you have a UTI and you know why – it’s because coffee contains a lot of caffeine. 

Caffeine is known to irritate the lining of the bladder and worsen bladder infection symptoms. 

Not to mention, caffeine is a diuretic which means it can increase symptoms of urination urgency. 

You know you do not want to increase urination urgency because that’s one of the most depressing UTI symptoms – you go to the toilet dying to pee but nothing even comes out!  

You can drink decaffeinated beverages instead of coffee but water is best as always.

3.    Diet Soda 

In people with chronic bladder infection, sodas have been shown to be one of the biggest bladder-irritating beverages. 

When you have a UTI, try to avoid taking diet sodas because they will worsen your symptoms.

The reason why is because they contain caffeine, artificial sweeteners and acidic citrusy flavors. 

You can drink pure cranberry juice or water instead, as these drinks help flush out your urinary system and fight UTI.

4.    Spicy Foods 

Cut back on the spice when you are fighting a UTI! 

Spicy foods are known to irritate the bladder and make UTI symptoms flare.

Avoid using spicy condiments, sauces, toppings and veggies like peppers. 

Instead, eat blander foods to help your symptoms improve until your UTI clears up.

5.    White Sugar & Artificial Sweeteners 

Here’s the thing – bacteria that cause UTIs love feeding on sugar. 

So, if you consume a lot of sugar, you’re just making them grow even more. 

Cut down on your sugar intake and use natural sweeteners like honey or dates syrup instead.

Also, artificial sweeteners like aspartame seem like a healthy replacement for sugar but they aren’t. 

People who had chronic interstitial cystitis experienced worsened bladder symptoms when they consumed food with artificial sweeteners. 

Because of that, they may aggravate your UTI symptoms too. That’s why it’s best to stay away from white sugar and artificial sweeteners while you treat your UTI.

6.    Acidic Fruits 

Last but not least on this list of foods to avoid when you have a UTI is acidic fruits. 

I know I was shocked too because the first thing I thought of was lemons! I thought lemon water is good to drink when you have a UTI. 

But apparently the acidic nature of these fruits including oranges, grapefruits, tomatoes and pineapple can irritate the bladder lining.

If you’re thinking of drinking lemon water for UTI, then I guess you shouldn’t. 

Drinking lots of plain water is the way to go. 

Are there any other foods you know of that are bad for UTI? What foods do you feel have worsened your symptoms? Please share below so we can all avoid them to fight UTIs!