Introduction
Drinking coffee is a lifestyle choice for many people. Some enjoy the taste and ritual of drinking a cup first thing in the morning, while others use it as a pick-me-up during the day. The one thing that everyone agrees on is that coffee can cause dehydration—but does that mean you should cut back on your caffeine intake if you’re prone to UTIs?
While doctors don’t recommend cutting out coffee completely, there are some things about drinking lots of caffeine (and other substances) that might surprise you.
What is a urinary tract infection?
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection of the urinary tract. It can be caused by bacteria, which can be spread through sexual contact or contaminated water and food.
It’s important to note that not all UTIs are caused by E. coli–some forms of UTIs are caused by other types of bacteria, such as streptococcus and klebsiella.
A UTI causes pain in the lower abdomen, along with urgency and frequency when urinating; blood may also appear in your urine during this time period. You may also experience fever or chills if you have a bacterial infection in your body (though these symptoms aren’t always present). If left untreated for too long, some cases might result in kidney damage or even sepsis–and if there aren’t any symptoms at all but instead just chronic discomfort from fluid retention from high levels of estrogen after menopause? Well then yes indeedy: That could very well mean something serious!
Can coffee cause UTIs?
- There’s no evidence that caffeine causes UTIs.
- Cutting down on caffeine won’t help your UTI go away faster, but it might make you feel better in other ways.
- The myth that coffee and other caffeinated beverages cause UTIs is based on an outdated study from the 1960s.
Can black tea cause UTIs?
Black tea is a diuretic, meaning it makes you pee more. It also has a high amount of caffeine, which can cause dehydration and UTIs in some people. If you’re prone to kidney stones or gout (a type of arthritis), black tea could be even more problematic for your health–and perhaps even lead to an emergency room visit!
How do I know if I have a UTI?
If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, it’s time to see a doctor:
- Pain or burning when you pee
- Frequent trips to the bathroom (especially at night)
- A strong urge to pee, even if your bladder isn’t full
Should I stop drinking coffee if I have a UTI?
To answer this question, we need to look at what causes UTIs in the first place.
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection that affects any part of your urinary system: kidneys, ureters and bladder. Most of the time UTIs are caused by bacteria entering the body through the urethra and travelling up into one or more parts of your urinary tract. The most common types of bacteria responsible for UTIs are Escherichia coli (E. coli), Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus saprophyticus.[1]
The most common symptom is pain during urination but other symptoms include fever and chills; nausea or vomiting; feeling tired all day long; cloudy urine colour; strong-smelling urine due to increased levels of ketones produced by bacteria feeding off dead cells inside your body.[2]
Does caffeine contribute to the formation of kidney stones?
While there is no evidence to suggest that caffeine contributes to the formation of kidney stones, it’s important to note that it doesn’t cause UTIs either. A recent study on over 1,300 women found no association between coffee intake and urinary tract infection (UTI).
The reason for this? Caffeine does not increase urine volume in healthy individuals; rather, it acts as a diuretic only when someone drinks excessive amounts over short periods of time. In fact, research shows that drinking more than four cups per day may actually reduce your risk of developing kidney stones by up to 40%.
Many people believe that drinking lots of caffeine will lead to a urinary tract infection (UTI). The reality is that having more urine does not increase your risk, and there’s no evidence that cutting down on caffeine will help.
Many people believe that drinking lots of caffeine will lead to a urinary tract infection (UTI). The reality is that having more urine does not increase your risk, and there’s no evidence that cutting down on caffeine will help.
Caffeine does not cause UTIs or increase your risk of them. In fact, there’s no real relationship between caffeine consumption and UTIs at all! However, it’s important to drink plenty of water so you can flush out any bacteria that may be causing an infection in your bladder or urethra (the tube connecting your bladder with the outside world).
Conclusion
So, should you stop drinking coffee if you have a UTI? Probably not. In fact, it could be harmful. As we’ve seen, there are many other factors that contribute to the formation of kidney stones and urinary tract infections–and caffeine is not one of them! If anything, consuming caffeine may help prevent these conditions by increasing urine production and diluting acids in the bladder. The important thing is to drink plenty of water throughout the day (about three liters or more), eat plenty of fruits and vegetables (which contain natural antioxidants), avoid or limit alcohol consumption (which can irritate the lining of your bladder), exercise regularly (which increases blood flow); all these things will help keep your body healthy overall.”