Can Orange Juice Cause a UTI?

Written by

Jessica Guht

Jessica is a medical writer with an unquenched thirst to discover something new. She believes that medical content should be accessible to everyone and strives to write content that every single person can understand. When Jessica isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading a book with a dog cuddled in her lap. Jessica has a Masters of Engineering degree in Biomedical Engineering.

Medically reviewed by

Amy Dougherty, FNP-BC, AGAC

Amy is a Board Certified Family Health Nurse Practitioner (FNP) with over 15 years of experience working in Hospital Medicine, Urgent Care and Primary Care practices. Amy graduated Thomas Jefferson University with high distinction earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2008, a Master of Science in Nursing in 2010 and a Post Master's Certificate in Adult Gerontology Acute Care (AGAC) in 2014. She was recognized by the Elite American Nurses Association in 2013 for her dedication, achievements and leadership in the field Nursing. She served as a clinical preceptor for a number of Nurse Practitioner students and enjoys teaching the bright minds of future NPs.

Consuming particular foods or beverages can irritate the bladder, which can occur even in people who do not have an overactive bladder. 

In this post, we will examine whether orange juice – a favorite breakfast drink for many people – can irritate the bladder and cause a UTI, as well as what drinks could help with an irritated bladder and which ones to avoid.

Table of Contents

• What Is a UTI?
• Can Orange Juice Cause a UTI?
• Could Orange Juice Irritate Your Bladder So It Feels Like a UTI?
• Can Orange Juice Make a UTI Worse?
• Can Orange Juice Help or Prevent a UTI?
• What Drinks Should You Avoid With a UTI?
• What Should You Drink With a UTI?
• When to See a Doctor?
• How Can DrHouse Help You?
• Key Takeaways

What Is a UTI?

A UTI, which some people refer to as a bladder infection, is a condition that happens when bacteria enter the urinary tract and multiply. It is a common infection that causes a burning feeling when urinating, frequent need to urinate even when you have just emptied your bladder, discomfort in the lower abdomen, and various other symptoms.

Can Orange Juice Cause a UTI?

There is no evidence to suggest that orange juice – or any fruit juice – can directly cause a UTI. A urinary tract condition is caused by bacteria entering the urinary tract, which is usually sterile. Orange juice does not cause this. 

However, if you consume large amounts of orange juice on a regular basis, you could be overloaded with sugar in your diet. Increased sugar in the blood can encourage the growth of bacteria which in turn can cause a UTI. This is true of all drinks and foods high in sugar.

Could Orange Juice Irritate Your Bladder So It Feels Like a UTI?

While orange juice cannot directly cause a UTI, it can, in some people, irritate the bladder and cause symptoms similar to urinary tract infections. 

This is because orange juice – like other citrus fruit juices contain a lot of acids, which can cause bladder irritation. The same goes for lemon, grapefruit, lime, and other foods and drinks that are acidic. 

Can Orange Juice Make a UTI Worse?

​​Although orange juice and other citric fruit juices such as grapefruit, lemon, and lime are packed with Vitamin C, which is great for boosting your immunity, the acid in them can further irritate the bladder and increase UTI symptoms, making it feel even worse.

Can Orange Juice Treat or Prevent a UTI?

After the illness has cleared up, continuing to consume fruits high in vitamin C and acids can help avoid further infections. Your diet could benefit from the addition of grapefruit and strawberries, as well as spinach and green peppers. Just be mindful of the amount of sugar in your diet overall. 

What Drinks Should You Avoid With a UTI?

• Caffeine: According to the findings of a study,  caffeine consumption has been linked to bladder problems, particularly in people who are older. Caffeine is a bladder irritant and a diuretic. This means that it causes your kidneys to produce more urine and makes your bladder more sensitive. If you drink a lot of coffee, you can expect to need to use the bathroom a lot. It is important to be aware that it is not just coffee that contains caffeine – tea, cocoa, and even chocolate can add to your daily intake. 
• Alcohol: Not only does alcohol itself have the potential to irritate the bladder and produce dehydration, but many alcoholic mixed drinks also contain a great deal of sugar, which is another factor that contributes to the potential for bladder irritation. Like caffeine, alcohol is a diuretic that will cause you to need to use the bathroom more often.
• Carbonated soda: Carbonated soda drinks run the danger of raising harmful bacteria that will cause a UTI thanks to the amount of sugar they contain. It isn’t just limited to the regular varieties as well. Diet-free drinks frequently contain a whole host of artificial sweeteners and additives, not to mention caffeine, in many cases, all of which have the potential to irritate the bladder, making it much more prone to infection.  In addition to this, the consumption of these artificial sweeteners runs the danger of disturbing the natural balance of the beneficial bacteria that live in the gut, which can also have a negative knock-on impact.

What Should You Drink With a UTI?

• Water: Water is the liquid most likely to make a difference to your UTI symptoms and help to flush out the bacteria quicker. Drinking plenty of water – around eight glasses a day – can also help to prevent UTIs from developing in the first place.
• Cranberry juice: Cranberry juice is known to be beneficial in helping with UTIs and cystitis. Again, it is important to be wary of the sugar content but high-quality juices and even cranberry supplements can be beneficial to urinary tract health.
• Green tea: Polyphenols are plant components that are found in green tea in high concentrations. Polyphenols are well known for their potent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory actions, and green tea is a major source of these molecules. In test-tube research, the chemical epigallocatechin (EGC), which is found in green tea, has been shown to have powerful antibacterial properties against strains of E. coli that cause urinary tract infections. Green tea extracts containing EGC have also been found to boost the effectiveness of some types of antibiotics, which are often used to treat UTIs. 

When to See a Doctor?

Since antibiotics are often needed to treat a UTI, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible if you notice the signs.

Early and effective UTI treatment helps ensure that the infection is dealt with while it is at its most treatable stage and before it progresses to the kidneys. Even in mild cases, kidney infections can cause symptoms like high fever, nausea, and pain in the kidneys that can make it hard to do anything.

Also, the worse the kidney infection is, the more likely it is that something bad will happen. In some cases, they may only need to be treated in the hospital, but in other cases, they may cause permanent damage to the kidneys or a life-threatening infection in the bloodstream. 

UTIs have also been linked to the development of prostatitis in men, a condition that, like UTIs, typically needs treatment with antibiotics for a longer period of time.

How Can DrHouse Help You?

With DrHouse you can start an on-demand video call with a certified doctor at any time. The doctors are available 24/7 and you can talk to them about your UTI symptoms and get professional advice regarding treatment.

Our online doctors can help diagnose you, create a treatment plan, and even write a prescription for medication.

DrHouse is here to make sure that you can get access to quality healthcare, even if it’s in the comfort of your own home. So, if you need help with any UTI symptoms, don’t hesitate to start a call with one of our doctors today. We are here to make sure you get the care that you need!

Key Takeaways

• Orange juice cannot directly cause UTIs, however, a diet high in sugar can.
• Water and cranberry juice are two of the best drinks to have if you have a UTI.
• Antibiotics are required for treating a UTI.
• Avoid caffeine, acidic drinks, and alcohol if you have a UTI.

Sources:

• Urinary Tract Infection. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/uti.html
• Raoofi A, Ghavami M, Shahhamzeh M, Ghasemi M, Hedartabar R, Salehi L. The Impact of Demographic Factors and Blood Sugar Control on the Incidence of Urinary Tract Infections in Khorramabad in 2013. Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2016 Feb 14;18(5):e21942. doi: 10.5812/ircmj.21942. PMID: 27478624; PMCID: PMC4939233.
• Caffeine Intake and Urinary Tract Infections among Older Adults. Gardner-Webb University. Available from: https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/nursing_etd/43/ 
• Reygaert Wanda, Jusufi Ilir. Green tea as an effective antimicrobial for urinary tract infections caused by Escherichia coli. Frontiers in Microbiology. VOL 4,2013. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2013.00162  
• Hellerstein, Stanley MD. Long-term consequences of urinary tract infections. Current Opinion in Pediatrics 12(2):p 125-128, April 2000.
• Elizabeth A. Coyle and Randall A. Prince. Urinary Tract Infections and Prostatitis. Pharmacotherapy in Primary Care, Chapter 44, Pages 496-502. Available from: http://ndl.ethernet.edu.et/bitstream/123456789/66940/1/33.pdf#page=496