Just like other parts of the body, the urinary tract is also susceptible to infection. A urinary tract infection occurs when microbes enter the bladder through the urethra. The urine is generally sterile in nature. But when the bacteria enters the urine and begins to grow, it leads to an infection.
Research in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2015, suggests that molecules found in acidic urine can directly affect how bacteria multiply in the urinary tract.
UTI microbial infection starts at the opening of the urethra and eventually moves upward in the tract. It is also found residing in the kidneys, urinary system, and bladder. Bacteria E.coli is majorly responsible for causing UTI. UTI is likely to occur when the body is highly alkaline or acidic. This eventually leads to pain and discomfort during urination.
UTI is extremely common in women owing to the size of the urethra which is much shorter in us women.
Symptoms for UTI
- Strong, persistent urge to urinate
- A burning feeling when you pee
- Pain in the lower abdomen
- Passing a frequent and small amount of urine
- Strong-smelling urine
- Pelvic pain, especially in the centre of the pelvis and around the area of the pubic bone
If left untreated, urinary tract infections can evolve into a more severe form.
The best part about UTI infections is that they are easy to control. All you need is the right balanced diet!
UTI Diet:
Diet is the first thing you should consider when improving your overall health. Not just solid food but also the liquid diet you consume can affect your bladder health. The right UTI diet goes a long way when it comes to relieving the symptoms.
Best Foods for UTI
Food and beverages that are rich in antioxidants can keep UTI infections under control. To recover, you must include the following foods for bladder health:
1) Cranberries and Cranberry Juice:
Cranberry juice is known to prevent UTI infection by assisting in normal urine function and flow. It promotes urinary continence. The juice should be taken in natural form without adding sweeteners to reduce the prevalence of UTI.
Cranberry juice is free from side-effects. It balances the number of bacteria and prevents them from colonising and is therefore touted as the best UTI diet. Cranberries contain proanthocyanidin that may help prevent the infection-causing bacteria from sticking to the urinary walls.
However, researches are still being conducted to test its efficacy. Consume it in the form of dry fruit bars, fruit salads, and include in your UTI diet.
2) Honey + Lemon Water
For instant UTI relief, start your day with a glass of lemon water. Add honey to the mixture. Lemons are known for flushing out the toxins. Therefore, lime juice is a must-have to get rid of urinary tract infections. By acting as a diuretic agent, lemons allow expelling urine frequently. Rich in ascorbic acid, lemons make the urine acidic and prevent bacteria from multiplying.
3) Dark Chocolate:
Dark chocolate always has the upper hand when it comes to treating menstrual cramps and improving reproductive health. It is also one of the best foods for UTI. Rich in antioxidants like polyphenol, it reduces the risk of infection.
4) Pomegranate Juice:
Pomegranate is rich in antioxidants that flush out the bacteria. It also contains Vitamin C that boosts your immune system for quick recovery from UTI. This juice should, therefore, be an essential part of the UTI diet.
5) Bananas:
Bananas encourage bowel movements and create pressure in the urinary tract. Fibre-rich foods are must-have like bananas, legumes help you fight off UTI infections.
6) Garlic:
Garlic is antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-parasitic, and it attacks E. coli which is responsible for UTIs.
7) Buttermilk:
Buttermilk is an essential constituent of the UTI diet. Not only is it acidic but also quite soothing. Drink it 2-3 times a day to get rid of UTI infections. You can also apply or rinse your private parts using buttermilk. It acts as a natural healer.
8) Vitamin C:
Food rich in Vitamin C like Amla hinders the growth of bacterial infection. It also boosts energy. Take 60 gm of Amla with a teaspoon of honey thrice a day to treat bladder infections.
9) Probiotics:
Probiotics have been scientifically proven to get rid of UTI. Curd, a natural probiotic, is recommended to lower the risk of existing UTI. A bowl of curd every day keeps UTI at bay. Besides, other UTI foods to eat are eggs, green tea, milk, apple cider vinegar, baking soda, etc.
10) Coconut Water for UTI
The benefits of coconut are tremendous. Coconut water has a lot of antimicrobial, anti-fungal properties, which makes it a must-have for treating UTI infections. Its healthy fatty acids can help invade bacteria like E.coli, thereby making them effective against UTIs, stomach ulcers, and other diseases.
11) Baking Soda for UTI
Baking soda is known to neutralize the acidic nature of urine. It also helps in detoxification and prevents the infection from spreading. Baking soda-cream with tartar is good food for UTI.
12) Does green tea irritate the bladder?
No, green tea is most beneficial as it is rich in antioxidants. It also increases water intake. The only thing to consider is not taking more than 2-3 cups in a day. But, otherwise, green tea can help to ease UTI symptoms.
13) Milk for UTI
Urinary tract infections can be cured with milk. It lowers the severity of illness and can help you get rid of UTI if taken on consistently. This is one of the topmost food items, which is considered as the best UTI diet.
14) How to Flush Out UTI with Water
It is one of the simplest things to do. Drinking a lot of water is the best remedy that works in relieving UTI symptoms. 7-8 glasses of water is recommended on a daily basis.
Foods To Avoid With UTI
1) Beer and UTI:
Alcohol, particularly beer, may cause irritation in your bladder and even worsen the infection. Hence, you should avoid alcohol and other caffeinated drinks, especially when recovering from a urinary tract infection. UTI symptoms may worsen after drinking alcohol.
2) Acidic fruits and vegetables:
Undoubtedly, eating fruits is good for health. However, fruits that are too acidic can worsen the bladder. So, avoid taking lemons, oranges, tomatoes, and grapes when you are trying to recover from UTI. Similarly, pineapple, strawberries, peaches, and plums are also some of the UTI foods to avoid.
3) Skip spicy food:
Spicy foods also cause irritation and make the situation even worse. So, opt for unflavored and unappetizing, foods since these are the best diet for UTI prevention. Also, stay away from artificial sweeteners since they are known to increase the risks associated with UTI infections. E.coli loves sugar. With the increased consumption of sugar in the body, the acid level of urine becomes more welcoming for the bacteria. This allows the infection to grow more rapidly.
Your diet plays a crucial role in maintaining or deteriorating overall health. The diet you follow has a more significant impact on UTI contractions.
A healthy diet of antioxidant-rich food and beverages can help reduce the symptoms in the first place. But, if the infection continues to persist for long, consult your urologist.
Is Tomato Juice Good for UTI?
No, tomatoes should be avoided in UTI infections. Since tomato is acidic in nature, it irritates the bladder and intensifies UTI contractions. Therefore, it should be strictly avoided in the case of UTI infections.
