Are you one of those people who enjoy drinking alcohol? Do you like to relax with a glass of good red wine? Or you like to drink a mug of beer after a run or a strong workout.
If you are a person suffering from UTI, you are in the right place to find out how alcohol will affect your urinary tract and UTI condition as you drink it.
Can you drink alcohol with UTI?
Constant consumption of alcohol can be associated with many health problems including UTI.
You would have an increased risk of UTIs if you consume alcohol because alcohol can cause disorders in the immune system, as well as problems with blood sugar regulation.
Studies show that alcohol reduces the function of the immune system, which increases the chance of developing UTIs and the multiplication of bacteria that are the main cause of UTIs.
UTIs and similar conditions are generally more common in people who consume alcohol than those who do not.
Generally speaking, It has been scientifically proven that alcohol irritates the bladder. This results in worsening UTI symptoms.
This would mean that when people have a UTI, alcohol should always be avoided, However, whether this is always the case and whether every alcoholic drink irritates the bladder and worsens UTI, will be discussed in this article.
So let’s see what alcoholic beverages can we drink if we have a UTI.
Why does it feel like I have a UTI when I drink alcohol, and can alcohol cause a UTI?
As we have already said, alcohol is not a direct cause of UTI. However, constant alcohol consumption can encourage the development of UTI, for many reasons.
One study showed alcohol use with frequent sexual activity and an increased number of sexual partners may increase the risk of developing UTIs.
Alcohol is a mild diuretic. So when we drink alcohol we often have to go to the toilet, so we may think we’ve got a UTI.
Prolonged drinking of alcohol can lead to dehydration. If we have a UTI, it would be best to avoid alcohol, this will prevent dehydration and allow the symptoms of UTI to disappear.
If we drink alcohol with a UTI, we will also have disturbed sleep, which further the worsening of UTI.
When we consume alcohol we can have bladder pain regardless of UTI. This pain comes from the high acidity of alcohol which irritates the bladder.
Bladder irritation from alcohol is similar to that when we have a UTI, so then we will have that feeling similar to UTI symptoms.
A study showed that reduced intake of acidic beverages such as alcohol can reduce UTI symptoms and improve urinary tract health.
Red wine and UTI?
Red wine is very popular around the world and has numerous health benefits. Red wine contains the most water, carbohydrates, organic acids, minerals, alcohol, polyphenols, and aromas.
Red wine is rich in antioxidants, which are mostly found in the skin of grapes, so it is healthier to drink red wine compared to white wine.
Antioxidants are very important for our immunity and protect our body and our cells from damage. Red wine contains a lot of antioxidants, like polyphenols, flavonoids, etc.
Antioxidants are very important for UTI because by strengthening the immunity we enable both the improvement of UTI and the reduction of symptoms.
Red wine is rich in iron and calcium.
Red wine is very important and good for diabetes.
It has been scientifically proven that moderate wine consumption can aid in the prevention of diabetic complications and the occurrence of diabetes.
This is very important in UTIs because diabetes is one of the main risks for developing UTIs. This would mean that moderate consumption of red wine also has significant health benefits for UTIs
Whiskey and UTI?
Whiskey as a type of distilled alcoholic beverage is made from fermented cereal. Whiskey contains phosphorus, thiamine (vitamin B1), zinc, iron, niacin (vitamin B3). In addition to this, whiskey also contains ellagic acid, which is an antioxidant found in berries.
Whiskey contains fewer calories than other alcoholic beverages and has no carbohydrates or sugars. Its content of ellagic acid can also reduce inflammation in the body and can reduce the risk of obesity. This could have a beneficial effect on UTI.
If you are at risk of getting diabetes, whiskey could be good for you. It has been shown to reduce the risk of diabetes by up to 40%.
According to this study, a moderate amount of whiskey can improve your body’s ability to regulate insulin and glucose levels due to the simple sugars it contains.
However, although whiskey may have some health benefits, you will not get any of them if you over-consume. Like other drinks, whiskey also should be consumed in moderation.
Vodka and UTI?
Vodka is one clear alcoholic beverage of very high purity. Most vodka is made from grains such as corn, whey, or potatoes. But vodka can be made from apples, grapes, berries, and plums too.
Vodka is a drink that does not contain a significant amount of minerals and nutrients. Vodka has no sugar and has 64 calories fewer than some other drinks. However, if you add vodka to some mixers, they may contain more sugar which adversely affects UTI.
If you drink a lot of vodkas, it can disturb sleep, which adversely affects UTI.
Vodka can also lead to weight gain. Vodka is one of the drinks that has the least calories in total and has no carbohydrates, so it is a choice for people who want to lose weight.
However, even if there are few calories, if you drink more glasses of vodka, it can mean the intake of many calories, which could be equal to a McDonald’s cheeseburger.
You need to be moderate in everything. And obesity and weight gain can pose a risk for diabetes and worsening UTIs.
Vodka also contains a large amount of alcohol in its composition, it is pure alcohol. So it is very harmful to UTI and can make the symptoms much worse.
Beer and UTI?
Beer is rich in many vitamins and minerals that are important for our health. Beer contains a large percentage of water (as much as 93%).
Beer contains B vitamins (B1, B2, B6, B12, vitamin B3), folic acid, very important minerals Mg, Ca, K, Fe, Zn, high levels of silicon, phosphorus, low sodium, pantothenic acid, riboflavin.
Beer contains proteins, carbohydrates, and flavonoids, which are very important antioxidants that reduce oxidative stress and free radical levels and strengthen our bodies.
The most common grain from which beer is made is barley. Barley is rich in phenols which are strong antioxidants that have a very beneficial effect on UTI.
The water that makes up the largest percentage of beer is very important for UTIs, it constantly flushes out the bacteria that cause UTIs, prevents them from multiplying and staying in the urinary tract, and thus has a beneficial effect on UTIs.
Beer significantly reduces the risk of kidney stones. The water and alcohol contained in beer increase the flow of urine and dilute the urine, thus reducing the risk of kidney stones.
Alcohol can also increase the excretion of calcium, which is a major component of kidney stones. Kidney stones are one of the risk factors for UTIs.
If you drink beer in limited quantities, it prevents dehydration, the formation of kidney stones, and the worsening of UTI.
Beer is also a diuretic, so it has a beneficial effect on UTI, however, if consumed in large quantities, frequent urination will have a very bad effect on UTI.
If you drink a larger amount of beer, you can get a lot of empty calories, which can lead to obesity.
Obesity is one of the factors for the formation of kidney stones, as well as for the development of diabetes, which can cause and worsen UTI.
To have the best effects from drinking beer when having a UTI, it is best to use it in moderation. This means that women drink one, and men drink up to 2 glasses a day of 0.25-0.3 dl.
The hop that is an ingredient in beer is an acidic compound and makes beer an acidic compound as well. This is good because the acid repels UTI bacteria.
Beer has anti-inflammatory properties, reduces inflammation in the body. This is good because inflammation is the root cause of many diseases.
It is believed that one or two drinks a day can stimulate the immune system to fight infection. In this way, the organism is strengthened in the fight against urinary inflammatory processes, which is favorable for UTI.
Beer is an antioxidant. It increases the body’s defenses against bacteria that are the main causes of UTI. Darker beer is thought to contain more antioxidants.
If beer is drunk in limited quantities, it will not reduce the production of the hormone vasopressin, which is responsible for water resorption, which has a beneficial effect on UTI.
Beer contains several B vitamins that are responsible for metabolic functions in the body, such as the production of red blood cells. It strengthens the immune system and has a very beneficial effect on UTI.
Beer contains more potassium than sodium, which is very important for the proper balance of fluids in the body and preventing the formation of kidney stones. This of course has a beneficial effect on UTI.
People who are under chronic stress have a higher amount of cortisol, a stress hormone that can increase blood sugar levels.
Stress also weakens the immune system and worsens UTIs. Therefore, it would be best for these people to drink beer in moderation to have a beneficial effect on UTI because beer reduces stress and insomnia.
For more information on this topic, check out our beer for UTI article.
What is the best alcohol to be used in UTI treatment and prevention?
Based on the ingredients and properties it has, it could be said that beer is one of the drinks that are good for UTI.
Beer also reduces the risk of kidney stones, and this also has a beneficial effect on UTIs because kidney stones are a risk of developing UTIs.
If beer is drunk in limited quantities, it can reduce the dehydration of the body, the formation of kidney stones, and the worsening of UTI.
Beer can reduce inflammation in the body, for which hops from beer are most responsible because it has these anti-inflammatory effects. This is important as this can relieve some UTI symptoms.
Beer is also an antioxidant and is therefore healthy for UTIs, darker beers are considered to have a higher concentration of antioxidants.
It is believed that people who drink beer in limited quantities are less likely to get diabetes, which is one of the main causes of UTI. so, beer can be consumed in moderation as we said by UTI patients.
In addition to beer, red wine is extremely healthy for UTI.
Several factors make red wine one of the permitted drinks for UTI patients. Primarily to say that red wine is good for UTI only if it is consumed in limited quantities.
That means 5 ounces of red wine. Namely, red wine is a very good antioxidant.
We have heard and read many times how important antioxidants are for our body, they reduce oxidative stress, that is, the number of free radicals that are the main causes of diseases in our body. This includes UTI.
That is why red wine is highly recommended at UTI. Red wine, on the other hand, is scientifically proven to be good for diabetes.
If consumed in moderation, it can prevent the appearance of diabetes, which is the trigger in the development of UTI. These are the important reasons why red wine in addition to beer can be said to be good for UTI.
Ranking the best and worst alcoholic beverages for UTI?
The worst alcohol for a UTI would be the one with the highest percentage of alcohol in its composition.
It is considered that you should always drink alcohol in moderation. That would mean an average of one drink a day for women and up to two for men.
One drink is considered to be 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits. Mild to moderate alcohol use can reduce the risk of the following conditions: heart disease, ischemic stroke, diabetes.
It could be said that whiskey and vodka are the worst options when it comes to UTI because they irritate the bladder a lot, while red wine and beer are good for UTI and have significant benefits for UTI.
How long should one wait after a UTI to drink alcohol?
It is important to note that while you are on antibiotic therapy and have a UTI, you should avoid alcohol.
Under no circumstances should you consume it during therapy and while you have symptoms of the disease.
If you are prescribed, for example, Bactrim for the treatment of UTI, it is important to avoid alcohol. It is considered that you should avoid drinking alcohol for a full three days after finishing Bactrim therapy.
While acute infection, UTI patients should avoid alcohol in any form and any kind.
Can alcohol cause kidney infection?
Alcoholism or drinking large amounts of alcohol is a big risk for kidney and kidney infections.
In healthy people, the kidneys work very hard, and they are much more burdened if alcohol is consumed. Alcohol can lead to kidney infections and interfere with kidney function.
Large amounts of alcohol lead to an increase in the concentration of alcohol in the blood, which can lead to loss of kidney function.
Kidney infection is a severe type of UTI. UTI symptoms and condition may worsen after consuming alcohol. That is why it is very important to drink a larger amount of water and to contact a doctor.
What kind of alcohol can you drink if you have a kidney infection?
It is believed that wine if consumed in limited quantities, can have a good effect on the kidneys.
Wine intake is thought to reduce protein levels in the urine, of course only if ingested in moderation. Reduced protein levels in the urine are good because they reduce the risk of kidney disease.
Red wine is considered good for the kidneys because of the way it is made.
Red wine has significant anti-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory properties. It has important vitamins and minerals that improve the condition of the kidneys and reduce the risk of chronic kidney disease.
In case of acute kidney infection, wine should be avoided as alcohol consumption can increase the load on the kidneys, an organ that is necessary to eliminate toxic metabolic waste.
To conclude
- Alcohol is generally not good for UTIs. However, some types of drinks are recommended and allowed at UTI.
- Beer is an alcoholic beverage that is highly recommended at UTI. It is safe, healthy, and useful for patients suffering from UTI. It is rich in ingredients that, if drunk in moderation, can have numerous benefits for UTI.
- Red wine, as a strong antioxidant, is recommended for UTI and can be drunk in moderation so it can give the best results for our health.
If you need to know about other kinds of beverages and how they are good for UTI or not, then please check out our drinks not allowed for UTI resource and our what to drink for UTI article.
Also If need any more help with your UTI, feel free to contact us or check the multitude of articles we have about this disease on our website KNOW & TREAT UTI.
Stay healthy and have a wonderful rest of your day.