Discover 7 types of food and drinks to avoid for a smoother UTI recovery.
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Urinary tract infections (UTIs) — the symptoms of which include pain and burning during urination — are treated with antibiotics.
“A UTI isn’t treated with dietary changes,” says Philippe E. Zimmern, MD, director of the Cain Bladder Center at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. “That means following your doctor’s advice for taking the antibiotic is key in clearing the infection from your body.” However, certain foods may aggravate your bladder and worsen symptoms during treatment.
That’s when what you eat and drink may impact how you feel during this time. Keep reading to learn about the seven types of food and drinks to avoid or limit when you have a UTI.
1. Acidic Foods
Citrus, tomatoes, and carbonated beverages (seltzer, tonic, flavored sparkling waters) are all acidic foods. “Acidic foods make the bladder more sensitive,” says Karolynn Echols, MD, urogynecologist and director of female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery at Jefferson Health in Philadelphia.
Echols notes that the bladder typically has a protective lining that safeguards the muscle of the bladder, which contracts when you have to urinate. “When you have a UTI, the lining becomes weak and the bladder muscle is more sensitive to these acidic foods,” she explains.
2. Spicy Foods
Spicy peppers contain an active ingredient called capsaicin that gives them their fiery heat. However, “capsaicin can irritate the bladder in some sensitive people,” says Dr. Zimmern. That may mean a stronger urge to urinate more often. If possible, keep your food choices more on the mild side while you’re recovering from a UTI. Spicy foods include hot peppers, hot sauce, salsas, curries, and any other dish that provides a little heat. Now’s the time to avoid topping off tacos and pizza slices with jalapeños.
3. Caffeine
During UTI treatment, it’s time to rethink your morning cup of coffee or afternoon tea. “Caffeine excites the brain, and the brain is what controls the bladder,” says Zimmern. Therefore, caffeine will excite your bladder, he says.
During a time when you may be urinating often, consuming caffeinated beverages or foods like coffee, tea, caffeinated sodas, or chocolate will have you heading to the bathroom even more frequently.
4. Alcohol
Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it prompts your body to produce more urine, leading to more frequent peeing. “For that reason, it’s another drink that aggravates the bladder,” says Dr. Echols. “When you’re already urinating more often than normal with a UTI, having an alcoholic drink only worsens the symptoms.”
In addition, alcohol may interact with the antibiotics treating the infection, says Zimmern. “We recommend not drinking alcohol when taking antibiotics,” he says. “Save wine, beer, hard liquor, and other alcoholic drinks for after recovery.”
5. Sugary Foods and Drinks
There are two reasons to avoid consuming a lot of sugar right now. For one, “sugary drinks — such as soda, some juices, sweet teas, sweetened coffees, and sports drinks — stimulate the bladder, so you’ll be going to the bathroom more,” says Echols. Secondly, bacteria feed on sugar. “Consuming sugar makes it easier for the infection to take hold,” she says.
Sugar also increases the acid level of urine, which creates a better environment for bacteria to feed.” Finally, Echols also points out that high-sugar diets may hinder immune response. “This can be detrimental when your body is fighting infection,” she notes.
Along with the drinks mentioned above, other top sources of sugar in the diet include desserts, sweet snacks, candy, and breakfast cereals and bars. Although not exactly like a candy bar, Echols recommends consuming berries “to add sweetness to your diet during UTI treatment, because their compounds, such as anthocyanins and resveratrol, provide anti-inflammatory properties.”
6. High-Sodium Foods
In general, we tend to consume nearly 50 percent more sodium than experts recommend. “The problem here is that high-sodium foods are another culprit that can create urinary urge and frequency,” says Echols. “These foods activate the nervous system, which can make the bladder hyperactive, too,” she adds.
There is also research suggesting that restricting daily salt intake may help reduce urinary symptoms in people who have overactive bladder and benefit overall health. While not the same as a UTI, when you have an infection, your bladder can be considered overactive.
It’s worth it to focus on eating a lower-sodium diet. High-sodium foods to avoid include sandwiches, pizza, soups, savory snacks, condiments, desserts, and bread.
7. Cured and Processed Meats
“Avoid cured meats during UTI treatment,” says Echols. “Aged, processed meats often contain nitrates (a preservative), which is another bladder irritant.”
You can instead opt for fresh meats and proteins during this time, including:
Chicken
Fish
Lean cuts of red meat
Uncured, nitrate-free products
This will be listed on the front label of the package. So check your favorite brands to see if it has nitrates.
The Takeaway
Some foods in your diet can stimulate the bladder and contribute to UTI symptoms.
Decreasing your intake of acidic foods, spicy foods, alcohol, caffeine, sodium, and more may help reduce urinary urgency and frequency.
In addition, limiting sugar is important for supporting your body’s ability to clear the infection.
Christopher Wolter, MD, is an assistant professor in urology at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona. He has been in practice since 2008, specializing in the areas of urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, urologic reconstruction, urologic prosthetics, post prostate cancer survivorship, erectile dysfunction, neurourology and neuromodulation, and overall functional considerations of urogenital health.
Dr. Wolter has been heavily involved in urologic education. He spent the last 12 years heavily involved in resident education and leadership for his department, including the last eight years as urology residency program director. He currently serves as the director of urologic education for the preclinical and clinical rotations for the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine Phoenix, Arizona, campus.
Wolter completed his undergraduate and medical education at the University of Illinois. He then completed his urology residency at Tulane University in New Orleans, followed by a fellowship in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive urology at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.
Jessica Migala is a freelance writer with over 15 years of experience, specializing in health, nutrition, fitness, and beauty. She has written extensively about vision care, diabetes, dermatology, gastrointestinal health, cardiovascular health, cancer, pregnancy, and gynecology. She was previously an assistant editor at Prevention where she wrote monthly science-based beauty news items and feature stories.
She has contributed to more than 40 print and digital publications, including Cosmopolitan, O:The Oprah Magazine, Real Simple, Woman’s Day, Women’s Health, Fitness, Family Circle, Health, Prevention, Self, VICE, and more. Migala lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, two young boys, rescue beagle, and 15 fish. When not reporting, she likes running, bike rides, and a glass of wine (in moderation, of course).
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Shomali N et al. Harmful Effects of High Amounts of Glucose on the Immune System: An Updated Review. Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry. April 2021.
Matsuo T et al. Efficacy of Salt Reduction for Managing Overactive Bladder Symptoms: A Prospective Study in Patients With Excessive Daily Salt Intake. Scientific Reports. February 18, 2021.
