Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFoods to AvoidDrinks to AvoidAlcohol and AntibioticsCaffeine and CarbonationReducing Acid in Food
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Foods to Avoid
Drinks to Avoid
Alcohol and Antibiotics
Caffeine and Carbonation
Reducing Acid in Food
When you have a urinary tract infection (UTI), it’s important to be mindful of your diet. Certain foods and drinks, including acidic, caffeinated, and spicy items, can trigger a UTI and make it worse.
Diet alone is not considered to be a risk factor for getting UTIs. Although more research is needed, some studies suggest that certain dietary patterns likely help prevent these infections.
Instead, experts recommend a urinary tract-friendly diet that may help lower acidity in your body and urine while supporting antibiotic UTI treatment.
Natalya Ugryumova/ Getty Images
UTI Trigger Foods to Avoid
Certain foods are known as bladder irritants. They can cause irritation or discomfort of your bladder and urinary tract, potentially worsening UTI pain and infection time. You should avoid these itemswhen you have a UTI.
Acidic Foods
Although someacidic foodsare high invitamin Cand contribute to a healthy diet, they should not be eaten in large quantities while you have a UTI. These foods includecitrus fruits, like:
Thehigh acidity levelsin these foods can interfere with your body’s ability to maintain a balance of “good” or healthy bacteria in the urinary tract, potentially worseningUTI symptoms.
Spicy Foods
Similar to acidic foods,spicy foodsare also considered to be a UTI irritant.Peppers, jalapeños, and other spices are prone to causingbladder irritation, which is not ideal while you’re battling a UTI. You’ll want to avoid tomato-based foods and broths, too.
Chocolate
Chocolate contains sugar and somecaffeine, increasing urine frequency and urgency while your bladder is already sensitive from a UTI. Experts suggest selectingdark chocolateif you need a chocolate fix. This antioxidant-rich version may support lower acidity and higher metabolite levels in the urine, potentially making it more difficult for UTI-causing bacteria to thrive.
Trigger Drinks to Avoid
While drinking plenty of water can help relieve, and, in some cases, potentially prevent, UTIs, there are some liquids you should avoid drinking while being treated for this infection.
Sweetened Beverages
Sugary drinks can contribute to UTIs due to the way that sugar increases the acidity of your urine and encourages UTI-causing bacteria to grow.Limit artificially or naturally sweetened beverages, including orange juice, lemonade, and other store-bought drinks.
Cranberry juiceis often touted to help prevent and treat UTIs.However, to avoid sugar, select an unsweetened version.
Caffeine
Caffeine beverages, including coffee and soft drinks, are not best if you have a UTI. A study found a link between caffeinated beverages and lower urinary tract symptoms.Caffeine is also a knowndiuretic, increasing the amount of urine that your body produces and further triggeringurination urgencysymptoms.
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can be irritating to the bladder, especially mixed drinks or other varieties that are loaded with sugar.Alcohol can lead to dehydration and increase the acidity level of your urine, making UTI symptoms worse.
UTI vs. Interstitial CystitisA UTI is an infection of your urinary tract system involving the bladder,ureter, or kidneys.Interstitial cystitis(or painful bladder syndrome) is a type of UTI, but it’s a chronic infection that only involves thebladder.Both causesimilar symptoms, like pain with urination and urgency. However, UTI symptoms tend to be more mild, whereas interstitial cystitis often comes along with long-lasting abdominal, pelvic, and genital pain.
UTI vs. Interstitial Cystitis
A UTI is an infection of your urinary tract system involving the bladder,ureter, or kidneys.Interstitial cystitis(or painful bladder syndrome) is a type of UTI, but it’s a chronic infection that only involves thebladder.Both causesimilar symptoms, like pain with urination and urgency. However, UTI symptoms tend to be more mild, whereas interstitial cystitis often comes along with long-lasting abdominal, pelvic, and genital pain.
A UTI is an infection of your urinary tract system involving the bladder,ureter, or kidneys.Interstitial cystitis(or painful bladder syndrome) is a type of UTI, but it’s a chronic infection that only involves thebladder.
Both causesimilar symptoms, like pain with urination and urgency. However, UTI symptoms tend to be more mild, whereas interstitial cystitis often comes along with long-lasting abdominal, pelvic, and genital pain.
Alcohol While on UTI Antibiotics
Drinking alcohol while on certain antibiotics likeamoxicillinmay slow down the medication’s absorption in your body, taking longer to clear the infection.Technically, it should not be harmful to drink socially or in moderation if taking other antibiotics used for UTIs, like nitrofurantoin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. However, mixing alcohol and antibiotics could still cause side effects and risks.
Check with a healthcare provider or pharmacist about alcohol use while taking antibiotics. The packaging label and instructions may also have specific alcohol-related information.
Limiting alcohol use while receiving treatment for an infection like a UTI may be the safest route to go, helping yourbody heal quickerand lowering the risk of side effects.
Caffeine and Carbonated Alternatives
While you have a UTI, it’s generally recommended that you avoid caffeinated and carbonated beverages because they can cause bladder irritation and contribute to lower urinary tract infections.
As alternatives, you might consider:
How to Reduce Acid in Food
Too much acid in your diet can lead to acidity in your urine, causing bladder-related symptoms,uric acid stones, and other complications.This is especially problematic when dealing with a UTI since yoururine pHlevels (measure of how acidic or alkaline a substance is) may be higher than usual and more acidic.
While treating a UTI, aim to avoid acidic foods like soft drinks, processed meats, cheese, and condiments, and try selecting more alkalizing (or neutralizing) options, such as:
Dietary supplements like Prelief helpneutralize stomach acidand prevent the acidic effects in certain foods and drinks.
Summary
Certain foods and drinks can irritate the bladder, exacerbating UTI symptoms and potentially making treatment more complicated. Experts recommend limiting acidic, spicy, and caffeinated foods and beverages and avoiding alcohol until a UTI infection is cleared.
To support UTI treatment, focus on drinking plenty of plain water and incorporating fresh vegetables, most fruits, and fermented dairy products like yogurt. Check with a healthcare provider if you have specific questions about your diet or drinking alcohol while treating a UTI.
22 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kontiokari T, Nuutinen M, Uhari M.Dietary factors affecting susceptibility to urinary tract infection.Pediatr Nephrol. 2004 Apr;19(4):378-83. doi:10.1007/s00467-003-1410-zNational Association for Continence.Preventing incontinence before it starts.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Urinary tract infections.Shields-Cutler RR et al.Human urinary composition controls antibacterial activity of siderocalin.J Biol Chem. 2015 Jun 26;290(26):15949-60. doi:10.1074/jbc.M115.645812National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating, diet, & nutrition for bladder infection in adults.National Association for Continence.The truth about sugar and incontinence.Lai HH, Vetter J, Song J, et al.Management of symptom flares and patient-reported flare triggers in interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS)-findings from one site of the MAPP research network.Urology. 2019;126:24-33. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2019.01.012U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA announces qualified health claim for certain cranberry products and urinary tract infections.Maserejian NN et al.Intake of caffeinated, carbonated, or citrus beverage types and development of lower urinary tract symptoms in men and women.Am J Epidemiol. 2013 Jun 15;177(12):1399-410. doi:10.1093/aje/kws411MedlinePlus.Caffeine.National Association for Continence.Ask the doc: Which drinks should I avoid to protect my bladder?Miller JM, Garcia CE, Hortsch SB, Guo Y, Schimpf MO.Does instruction to eliminate coffee, tea, alcohol, carbonated, and artificially sweetened beverages improve lower urinary tract symptoms: a prospective trial.J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2016;43(1):69-79. doi:10.1097/WON.0000000000000197.MedlinePlus.Urinary tract infection-adults.Yale Medicine.Cystitis.MedlinePlus.Interstitial cystitis.Haber PS, Kortt NC.Alcohol use disorder and the gut.Addiction. 2021;116(3):658-667. doi:10.1111/add.15147Mergenhagen KA, Wattengel BA, Skelly MK, Clark CM, Russo TA.Fact versus fiction: a review of the evidence behind alcohol and antibiotic interactions.Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2020;64(3):e02167-19. doi:10.1128/AAC.02167-19Trevejo-Nunez G, Kolls JK, de Wit M.Alcohol use as a risk factor in infections and healing: a clinician’s perspective.Alcohol Res. 2015;37(2):177-84.Carvalho M.Urinary pH in calcium oxalate stone formers: does it matter?.J Bras Nefrol. 2018 Jan-Mar;40(1):6-7. doi:10.1590/1678-4685-JBN-2018-00010002Carnauba RA, Baptistella AB, Paschoal V, Hübscher GH.Diet-induced low-grade metabolic acidosis and clinical outcomes: a review.Nutrients. 2017 May 25;9(6):538. doi:10.3390/nu9060538National Association for Continence.12 best home remedies for UTIs.Akgül T, Karakan T.The role of probiotics in women with recurrent urinary tract infections.Turk J Urol. 2018 Sep;44(5):377-383. doi:10.5152/tud.2018.48742
22 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kontiokari T, Nuutinen M, Uhari M.Dietary factors affecting susceptibility to urinary tract infection.Pediatr Nephrol. 2004 Apr;19(4):378-83. doi:10.1007/s00467-003-1410-zNational Association for Continence.Preventing incontinence before it starts.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Urinary tract infections.Shields-Cutler RR et al.Human urinary composition controls antibacterial activity of siderocalin.J Biol Chem. 2015 Jun 26;290(26):15949-60. doi:10.1074/jbc.M115.645812National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating, diet, & nutrition for bladder infection in adults.National Association for Continence.The truth about sugar and incontinence.Lai HH, Vetter J, Song J, et al.Management of symptom flares and patient-reported flare triggers in interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS)-findings from one site of the MAPP research network.Urology. 2019;126:24-33. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2019.01.012U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA announces qualified health claim for certain cranberry products and urinary tract infections.Maserejian NN et al.Intake of caffeinated, carbonated, or citrus beverage types and development of lower urinary tract symptoms in men and women.Am J Epidemiol. 2013 Jun 15;177(12):1399-410. doi:10.1093/aje/kws411MedlinePlus.Caffeine.National Association for Continence.Ask the doc: Which drinks should I avoid to protect my bladder?Miller JM, Garcia CE, Hortsch SB, Guo Y, Schimpf MO.Does instruction to eliminate coffee, tea, alcohol, carbonated, and artificially sweetened beverages improve lower urinary tract symptoms: a prospective trial.J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2016;43(1):69-79. doi:10.1097/WON.0000000000000197.MedlinePlus.Urinary tract infection-adults.Yale Medicine.Cystitis.MedlinePlus.Interstitial cystitis.Haber PS, Kortt NC.Alcohol use disorder and the gut.Addiction. 2021;116(3):658-667. doi:10.1111/add.15147Mergenhagen KA, Wattengel BA, Skelly MK, Clark CM, Russo TA.Fact versus fiction: a review of the evidence behind alcohol and antibiotic interactions.Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2020;64(3):e02167-19. doi:10.1128/AAC.02167-19Trevejo-Nunez G, Kolls JK, de Wit M.Alcohol use as a risk factor in infections and healing: a clinician’s perspective.Alcohol Res. 2015;37(2):177-84.Carvalho M.Urinary pH in calcium oxalate stone formers: does it matter?.J Bras Nefrol. 2018 Jan-Mar;40(1):6-7. doi:10.1590/1678-4685-JBN-2018-00010002Carnauba RA, Baptistella AB, Paschoal V, Hübscher GH.Diet-induced low-grade metabolic acidosis and clinical outcomes: a review.Nutrients. 2017 May 25;9(6):538. doi:10.3390/nu9060538National Association for Continence.12 best home remedies for UTIs.Akgül T, Karakan T.The role of probiotics in women with recurrent urinary tract infections.Turk J Urol. 2018 Sep;44(5):377-383. doi:10.5152/tud.2018.48742
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Kontiokari T, Nuutinen M, Uhari M.Dietary factors affecting susceptibility to urinary tract infection.Pediatr Nephrol. 2004 Apr;19(4):378-83. doi:10.1007/s00467-003-1410-zNational Association for Continence.Preventing incontinence before it starts.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Urinary tract infections.Shields-Cutler RR et al.Human urinary composition controls antibacterial activity of siderocalin.J Biol Chem. 2015 Jun 26;290(26):15949-60. doi:10.1074/jbc.M115.645812National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating, diet, & nutrition for bladder infection in adults.National Association for Continence.The truth about sugar and incontinence.Lai HH, Vetter J, Song J, et al.Management of symptom flares and patient-reported flare triggers in interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS)-findings from one site of the MAPP research network.Urology. 2019;126:24-33. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2019.01.012U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA announces qualified health claim for certain cranberry products and urinary tract infections.Maserejian NN et al.Intake of caffeinated, carbonated, or citrus beverage types and development of lower urinary tract symptoms in men and women.Am J Epidemiol. 2013 Jun 15;177(12):1399-410. doi:10.1093/aje/kws411MedlinePlus.Caffeine.National Association for Continence.Ask the doc: Which drinks should I avoid to protect my bladder?Miller JM, Garcia CE, Hortsch SB, Guo Y, Schimpf MO.Does instruction to eliminate coffee, tea, alcohol, carbonated, and artificially sweetened beverages improve lower urinary tract symptoms: a prospective trial.J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2016;43(1):69-79. doi:10.1097/WON.0000000000000197.MedlinePlus.Urinary tract infection-adults.Yale Medicine.Cystitis.MedlinePlus.Interstitial cystitis.Haber PS, Kortt NC.Alcohol use disorder and the gut.Addiction. 2021;116(3):658-667. doi:10.1111/add.15147Mergenhagen KA, Wattengel BA, Skelly MK, Clark CM, Russo TA.Fact versus fiction: a review of the evidence behind alcohol and antibiotic interactions.Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2020;64(3):e02167-19. doi:10.1128/AAC.02167-19Trevejo-Nunez G, Kolls JK, de Wit M.Alcohol use as a risk factor in infections and healing: a clinician’s perspective.Alcohol Res. 2015;37(2):177-84.Carvalho M.Urinary pH in calcium oxalate stone formers: does it matter?.J Bras Nefrol. 2018 Jan-Mar;40(1):6-7. doi:10.1590/1678-4685-JBN-2018-00010002Carnauba RA, Baptistella AB, Paschoal V, Hübscher GH.Diet-induced low-grade metabolic acidosis and clinical outcomes: a review.Nutrients. 2017 May 25;9(6):538. doi:10.3390/nu9060538National Association for Continence.12 best home remedies for UTIs.Akgül T, Karakan T.The role of probiotics in women with recurrent urinary tract infections.Turk J Urol. 2018 Sep;44(5):377-383. doi:10.5152/tud.2018.48742
Kontiokari T, Nuutinen M, Uhari M.Dietary factors affecting susceptibility to urinary tract infection.Pediatr Nephrol. 2004 Apr;19(4):378-83. doi:10.1007/s00467-003-1410-z
National Association for Continence.Preventing incontinence before it starts.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Urinary tract infections.
Shields-Cutler RR et al.Human urinary composition controls antibacterial activity of siderocalin.J Biol Chem. 2015 Jun 26;290(26):15949-60. doi:10.1074/jbc.M115.645812
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating, diet, & nutrition for bladder infection in adults.
National Association for Continence.The truth about sugar and incontinence.
Lai HH, Vetter J, Song J, et al.Management of symptom flares and patient-reported flare triggers in interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS)-findings from one site of the MAPP research network.Urology. 2019;126:24-33. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2019.01.012
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA announces qualified health claim for certain cranberry products and urinary tract infections.
Maserejian NN et al.Intake of caffeinated, carbonated, or citrus beverage types and development of lower urinary tract symptoms in men and women.Am J Epidemiol. 2013 Jun 15;177(12):1399-410. doi:10.1093/aje/kws411
MedlinePlus.Caffeine.
National Association for Continence.Ask the doc: Which drinks should I avoid to protect my bladder?
Miller JM, Garcia CE, Hortsch SB, Guo Y, Schimpf MO.Does instruction to eliminate coffee, tea, alcohol, carbonated, and artificially sweetened beverages improve lower urinary tract symptoms: a prospective trial.J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2016;43(1):69-79. doi:10.1097/WON.0000000000000197.
MedlinePlus.Urinary tract infection-adults.
Yale Medicine.Cystitis.
MedlinePlus.Interstitial cystitis.
Haber PS, Kortt NC.Alcohol use disorder and the gut.Addiction. 2021;116(3):658-667. doi:10.1111/add.15147
Mergenhagen KA, Wattengel BA, Skelly MK, Clark CM, Russo TA.Fact versus fiction: a review of the evidence behind alcohol and antibiotic interactions.Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2020;64(3):e02167-19. doi:10.1128/AAC.02167-19
Trevejo-Nunez G, Kolls JK, de Wit M.Alcohol use as a risk factor in infections and healing: a clinician’s perspective.Alcohol Res. 2015;37(2):177-84.
Carvalho M.Urinary pH in calcium oxalate stone formers: does it matter?.J Bras Nefrol. 2018 Jan-Mar;40(1):6-7. doi:10.1590/1678-4685-JBN-2018-00010002
Carnauba RA, Baptistella AB, Paschoal V, Hübscher GH.Diet-induced low-grade metabolic acidosis and clinical outcomes: a review.Nutrients. 2017 May 25;9(6):538. doi:10.3390/nu9060538
National Association for Continence.12 best home remedies for UTIs.
Akgül T, Karakan T.The role of probiotics in women with recurrent urinary tract infections.Turk J Urol. 2018 Sep;44(5):377-383. doi:10.5152/tud.2018.48742
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