As a common, often-recurring health problem in women, urinary tract infections produce painful symptoms that frequently continue even after you begin physician-directed treatment. In certain cases, the severity of these symptoms may worsen if you consume particular foods. Minimize the intensity of these potentially overwhelming symptoms by learning which foods to avoid eating while your body fights off the infection that has invaded your urinary tract.
Background
In most cases, a urinary tract infection occurs when bacteria from the digestive tract find their way into the urinary tract. Various symptoms of a urinary tract infection may include blood-tinged or discolored urine, foul-smelling urine, painful or frequent urination, abdominal pain, and a sense of urgency during urination. Treatment generally consists of seven to 10 days of antibiotics, during which time you should take care to avoid certain foods to help minimize the painful symptoms of this common infection.
Refined Foods
Eating a lot of refined foods -- defined as foods that have had a lot of nutrients removed during processing -- may promote the growth of the bacteria causing your urinary tract infection, says Dr. Marianne Legato, co-author of "What Women Need to Know." Key offending foods to look for include refined bread products, refined pasta products and refined sugars. Instead of eating white bread or spaghetti, opt for whole grain bread and pasta products, being careful to choose ones that list whole grain flour as the first ingredient. If you really need a sweetener, try using natural honey instead of white table sugar, artificial sweetener or corn syrup.
Spicy Foods
Take care to avoid spicy foods during a urinary tract infection, since they often act as bladder irritants and may exacerbate UTI symptoms. The bacteria causing the urinary tract infection irritate the lining of your urinary tract. This irritation results in raw, painful urinary tract tissue, which often becomes more irritated when exposed to the components of spicy foods. Keep away from hot spices completely, as well as heavily spiced ethnic foods, salsa, tomato-based products and hot peppers.
Stimulants and Alcohol
Steer clear of coffee, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, cautions Michael Murray, naturopathic doctor and co-author of "The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods." Like spicy foods, coffee and carbonated sodas can stress an already irritated bladder, producing additional pain and more intense UTI symptoms. This increased irritation most likely arises from the caffeine content, which means that you should probably also steer clear of caffeinated tea. Alcohol may also aggravate and inflame the lining of the bladder in a similar fashion. Go for water instead, which hydrates your body and helps flush your bladder without producing an increase in urinary tract infection symptoms.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Urinary Tract Infection in Women
- "What Women Need to Know"; Dr. Marianne Legato, et al.; 2005
- "The Savvy Woman Patient"; Dr. Jennifer Wider, et al.; 2006
- "Encyclopedia of Healing Foods"; Michael Murray, N.D., et al.; 2005
