Food
7 Foods That Make UTIs Worse
Certain foods build immunity and fight infections of any kind. Others can trigger urinary tract infection (UTI) symptoms like incontinence, the urge to urinate, or even cause pain while urinating. Only by trial and elimination and careful evaluation of what you eat can you find out what food prevents and what foods can trigger UTI. Here are some of the food and food groups that could make a UTI worse: 1. Caffeine Caffeine is considered a diuretic, i.e., a substance that increases the production of urine. Caffeine can also impact the bladder muscles and lead to involuntary contraction of the bladder resulting in incontinence. Hence, avoid too many caffeinated beverages, including coffee, sodas, tea, dark chocolate, chocolate liqueur, and chocolate coffee. 2. Alcohol Alcohol can irritate the lining of the bladder and also cause the urine to become more acidic. Both these, in the long run, can trigger an infection. If you are prone to frequent UTI, you should avoid alcohol. Regular drinking can also lead to dehydration which is a trigger for UTI. 3. Citric and Acidic Fruits Although citrus-based fruits are generally recommended as immunity builders against infection, the acid content can increase the urge to urinate. Use them in moderation and make a note of which fruits work and which don’t.
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