Nutrition & Hydration Week 2025, an annual global event created in 2012 to raise awareness about the importance of healthy food and drink in health and well-being, took place 17th to 23rd of March. One of the factors we found interesting was the way that this year’s event highlighted the dangers of dehydration and the way that dehydration is often a factor in Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs).
Dehydration is often a key contributing factor to the development of a UTI because when you are dehydrated, your body produces less urine, and the urine that is produced is far more concentrated. This is an issue for your body because the concentrated urine can irritate the lining of your bladder and create an environment where UTI-causing bacteria are more likely to develop. Also, if you’re not urinating as frequently due to dehydration, this gives the bacteria in your urinary tract more time to multiply, increasing the infection risk. Dehydration can also hamper the body’s ability to recover from a UTI, even when undergoing treatment.
Drinking plenty of water helps your body to flush bacteria out of your urinary tract and also soothes the discomfort of a UTI. However, there are other things you need to look out for during your recovery – certain commonly enjoyed beverages may do you more harm than good!
The two main culprits we are referring to? Caffeine and alcohol. Drinking too much tea, coffee, caffeinated fizzy drinks, wine, and beer can irritate your bladder, dehydrate your body, and potentially delay your UTI recovery. Why is this the case?
Caffeine, Dehydration, And UTIs
Although it might be a slight exaggeration to claim that UK society is propped up by caffeine, it is definitely the case that many of us drink a lot of coffee and tea. Coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoon, and maybe an energy drink before the gym – caffeine gives us that much-needed boost we need to get through the day. In moderation, there are potential benefits to caffeine use, but when you are recovering from a UTI, it’s wise to minimise or avoid caffeinated drinks.
This is because caffeine is a diuretic, which increases urine production. You might think this would be helpful in flushing harmful bacteria from your system, but in fact it often causes you to urinate more than usual, leaving you feeling dehydrated. It can also worsen UTI symptoms such as burning and irritation, further irritating your bladder lining.
To avoid this, some people recovering from a UTI swap some of their caffeinated drinks for a herbal alternative such as peppermint, chamomile, or ginger, which are easier on your bladder.
Alcohol And UTI Recovery
In a similar way to caffeine, alcohol is also a diuretic, increasing urination and flushing out many of the important electrolytes that your body needs to stay hydrated. Excessive alcohol consumption can also cause inflammation of the bladder, which could hamper your recovery. It’s still possible to enjoy a drink or two with a UTI, but consider varying your favourite tipple up with non-alcoholic alternatives, or give alcohol a complete break during your recovery to allow full hydration.
Staying Hydrated During Your UTI Recovery
Ultimately, there’s no substitute for good old-fashioned water when recovering from a UTI. Aim for around 8 to 10 glasses of water throughout the day to keep yourself topped up. Sparkling, still, tap, or fruit-infused water are all good. You can also buy an electrolyte solution from your local pharmacy if you are aware of overindulgence in caffeine and alcohol. An electrolyte will help your body to replenish the lost minerals it needs to keep your system healthy and balanced, and will increase the health value of the water you drink.
Find Out More
Our Suresign range of pharmacy self-test kits includes a rapid at-home UTI test to give you an accurate diagnosis without needing to see your GP. Get in touch today to find out where our products are stocked. If you run a pharmacy and are interested in stocking Suresign products, please call our technical sales team today on 02825 685385.
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