That means following your doctors 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.
Thats when what you eat and drink may impact how you feel during this time.
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 youre recovering from a UTI.
Nows the time to avoid topping off tacos and pizza slices with jalapenos.
Caffeine
DuringUTI treatment, its 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.
Alcohol
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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.
Sugary Foods and Drinks
There are two reasons to avoid consuming a lot of sugar right now.
Secondly, bacteria feed on sugar.
Consuming sugar makes it easier for the infection to take hold, she says.
High-Sodium Foods
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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.
So check your favorite brands to see if it has nitrates.
Dr. Wolter has been heavily involved in urologic education.
Wolter completed his undergraduate and medical education at the University of Illinois.
She was previously an assistant editor atPreventionwhere she wrote monthly science-based beauty news items and feature stories.
