A urinary tract infection, commonly termed a UTI, is an infection of the urinary tract and system. (1)
The urinary system is responsible for cleaning the blood, filtering waste from the body, generating urine, regulating blood pressure and controlling blood volume, among other things. The kidneys, bladder, ureters, urethra, and renal pelvis comprise the overall urinary system.
Many patients may also have questions about their day-to-day lifestyle such as ‘Can Too Much Caffeine Cause UTI Symptoms?’
Therefore, patients must understand what a UTI is as well as how it can be prevented and treated.
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1. Causes Of A UTI:
Many different types of bacteria can be found in the rectum and vagina, as well as on the surrounding skin.
Harmful pathogens and bacteria may then penetrate the urethra and move to the bladder.
Although the urinary system is intended to keep dangerous pathogens and bacteria out, these barriers may occasionally fail and bacteria may be able to enter the body through the urinary system and spread.
This then causes a urinary tract infection. (2)
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Your risk of developing a UTI may also increase due to one or all of the following:
- Urinary-Related Diseases
- Poor Personal Hygiene
- Previous History of UTIs
- Being Sexually Active
2. Symptoms Of A UTI:
If a patient develops a urinary tract infection, they may experience any of the following symptoms: (3)
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Pungent urine
- Increased urge to urinate
- Bloody urinal discharge
- A burning sensation when urinating
- Cloudy urine
Symptoms can be mild, complicated and sometimes UTI can occur without any symptoms.
A widely asked question: Can anxiety cause UTI symptoms? Yes.
3. Can Caffeine Cause UTI Symptoms?
Patients may be wondering, ‘Does caffeine cause UTI symptoms?’
Excessive caffeine consumption may lead to worsened urinary tract infection symptoms. (4)
UTI symptoms may be worsened as a result of dehydration or insufficient urination.
Caffeine substantially dehydrates the body by altering fluid retention levels, thus causing your body to expel liquids before they can be ingested properly.
Caffeine intake may also cause certain UTI symptoms such as increased blood pressure and an increased urge to urinate as it is a diuretic.
Therefore, although consumption of coffee may not necessarily cause UTI symptoms, it may irritate the lining of the urinary tract and make pre-existing UTI symptoms worse.
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4. How Much Caffeine Can Be Safely Consumed?
The FDA has specified 400 mg per day for healthy adults (roughly four or five cups of coffee) as a safe quantity to consume per day without dealing with health issues.
However, there is a large range in both how receptive individuals are to caffeine's effects and how quickly they are able to metabolize it. (5)
Certain medical problems, as well as some medications, might make people more susceptible to caffeine's effects.
Therefore, patients wondering ‘Can too much caffeine cause UTI symptoms?’ can hence vary UTI symptoms caused by caffeine by consuming less than 400 mg of caffeine per day.
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5. Alternatives To Reduce Caffeine Intake:
Many people drink coffee or some alternative caffeinated beverage on a day-to-day basis.
However, there are numerous alternative beverages that patients can try to reduce caffeine intake.
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Matcha Tea
Matcha tea is an extremely popular coffee alternative. Matcha is a green powder formed from crushed tea leaves that may be substituted for coffee.
In contrast to brewed green tea, you consume the complete leaf. As a result, the antioxidant content is much greater than that of coffee.
Matcha has also been linked to a decreased prevalence rate of type 2 diabetes, as well as weight loss.
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Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has been widely used to treat UTI.
Apple cider vinegar is a non-caffeinated beverage made from fermented acetic acid-containing apples. It has been shown to increase insulin sensitivity and improve glucose levels.
Patients should always dilute apple cider vinegar with water to avoid damage to teeth.
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Lemon Water
Replacing caffeinated drinks with lemon water can be extremely beneficial. Lemon water is high in vitamin C and extremely low in calories. (6)
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that strengthens your immune system and shields your skin from UV rays.
Other fruits and herbs, such as cucumbers, mint, watermelon, and basil, can be used to further flavour lemon water to make it more appealing.
RECOMMENDED READING: How Much Vitamin C Should I Take To Prevent UTI?
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Chicory Root
Chicory root can be roasted, ground and brewed into a hot beverage that tastes similar to coffee but contains no caffeine.
Therefore, chicory root can help patients avoid caffeine UTI symptoms.
It is also high in inulin, a soluble fiber that can help promote the growth of healthy bacteria.
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Cornsilk Tea
Corn silk tea is created from corn silk, which is made up of long threads that grow within the husks of corn heads.
Corn silk tea can be used to treat urinary infections, urinary tract inflammation, prostate inflammation, kidney stones, and other renal issues.
If you want to know how to make corn silk tea for UTI, check out our recipe right away!
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Kombucha
Black tea is fermented with bacteria, yeast, and sugar to make kombucha. The fermentation process results in the formation of healthy bacteria and yeast. Kombucha includes large amounts of probiotics, acetic acid, and antioxidants.
Kombucha can increase your immune response, reduce cholesterol levels, and improve blood glucose levels.
Since kombucha contains significantly less caffeine than coffee or other caffeinated drinks, it can also help avoid caffeine UTI symptoms.
6. How To Prevent A UTI:
- Avoid Fragranced Products
- Avoid Douching
- Stay Hydrated
- Maintain Personal Hygiene
- Urinate Frequently
- Urinate After Sexual Intercourse
- Consume nutritious foods that are rich in vitamins and probiotics
Alternatively, you can also try out some of the natural herbal remedies for UTI.
RECOMMENDED READING: Foods To Avoid With UTI
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Have more queries about Urinary Tract Infection? Use our guides to the following topics for support:
3. UTI vs Yeast Infection Symptoms
4. How Long Does It Take For UTI To Go Away?
6. How To Get Rid Of A UTI With Baking Soda?
7. Conclusion:
Since urinary tract infections can be an extremely unpleasant and time-consuming process for patients, it is crucial for patients to understand how to prevent the development of UTIs as well as how to address them.
Although caffeine may not cause the development of urinary tract infections, excessive consumption can make existing symptoms worse.
Therefore, patients that are wondering ‘Can too much coffee cause UTI symptoms?’ should consider reducing their day-to-day coffee intake by trying some of the above mentioned caffeine alternatives.
