A lot of people get urinary tract infections (UTIs) every year. UTIs happen when bacteria get into your pee system, usually through the tube where pee comes out, and start growing in your bladder. You might feel the need to pee a lot, it might hurt or burn when you go, your pee might look cloudy or have blood in it, and your lower belly might hurt.
When you have a UTI, you might wonder what you can eat or drink to feel better. Many people think about watermelon. Can this fruit help you get better or could it make things worse?
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What Watermelon Does for UTIs
Watermelon is 92% water, so it can make you pee more. This might help wash away the bacteria that cause UTIs. Watermelon has a stuff called citrulline, too, which might make your blood vessels relax and lower the pressure on your bladder, helping to ease UTI pain.
The fruit is also full of vitamin C, which is an antioxidant that can make your immune system stronger and fight infections. Vitamin C makes your pee more acid, and that’s not good for bacteria.
But, watermelon also has sugar. If you eat a lot of it, the sugar might feed the bad bacteria instead of getting rid of them. This can make the infection worse.
How Watermelon Might Help with UTI
1. Hydration Matters
Drinking plenty of fluids is important when you have a UTI to help get rid of bacteria. Watermelon can help you drink more and keep your pee from getting too concentrated, which can cause more infections.
2. Full of Good Antioxidants
Watermelon has good stuff like lycopene that helps fight harmful particles in your body called free radicals. The antioxidants might also help reduce swelling and lower the chance of infections like UTIs.
3. Natural Vitamins and Minerals
Watermelon has vitamins and minerals that make your body healthier. For example, vitamin C in watermelon can help your body fight off infections. Eating watermelon won’t cure UTIs, but it’s a good thing to eat for your overall health.
Here are the main reasons why watermelon might help with UTIs:
- It can help you pee more to get rid of bacteria
- It has citrillinethat may ease your bladder
- It gives you vitamin C to fight infections
- It can act as a light diuretic to help with bladder pressure
- It provides antioxidants that might lower inflammation
- It’s a low-calorie food if you’re watching your diet
Eating a little watermelon could make you pee more, help your immune system, reduce pressure on your bladder, and cut down on swelling that comes with the infection. This may help you get better faster.
Risks of Eating Watermelon with a UTI
While there are good things about eating watermelon, there are some risks too:
- The sugar might make the infection grow
- The acid in it could bother your bladder
- If you pee too much, you could get dehydrated
- The citrulline might not mix well with your medicines
- Eating a lot might cause tummy troubles like diarrhea
Too much watermelon or its juice could feed the bacteria because of its sugar. The acids in the fruit might also make your bladder feel worse.
Eating lots of it can make you pee too much and dry you out. The stuff in watermelon like citrulline could also interfere with UTI drugs. Some might even get loose stools from eating too much.
How to Eat Watermelon When You Have a UTI
If you want to eat watermelon while you’re dealing with a UTI, remember these tips:
- Only eat a small amount, like 1 cup or less
- Stay away from watermelon juice, because it has more sugar
- Drink lots of other fluids to stay hydrated
- Keep an eye on how you feel and stop eating watermelon if you feel worse
Eating a small bit of watermelon, around 1 cup, can give you benefits without too much sugar. It’s better to eat the fruit than to drink its juice. And make sure to drink lots of water or herbal tea.
In general, if you balance how much watermelon you eat, it can help with things like cleaning out bacteria, relaxing your bladder, and giving your immune system a boost while you have a UTI.
But if you have a sensitive bladder or you notice it makes you feel bad, you might want to skip it. Always think about your own symptoms, how much you drink, and what else you’re doing to get better. With the right care, your UTI should go away in a few days.
Final Thoughts
Watermelon can be a good food to eat when you’re trying to get over a UTI, if you don’t eat too much of it. It can help lower bladder pressure and give you antioxidants, but eating lots might make the infection stay because of the sugar.
Enjoy small amounts with other good health habits to get well. Follow what your doctor says, and watermelon can be a nice extra thing to help with your UTI and make you feel better quicker. Most of all, listen to your body, drink lots of fluids, and rest as much as you can.
