Health Promotion and Maintenance Q 148
Which of the following diet instructions should be given to the client with recurring urinary tract infections?
A. Increase intake of meats.
B. Avoid citrus fruits.
C. Perform peri care with hydrogen peroxide.
D. Drink a glass of cranberry juice every day.
Correct Answer: D. Drink a glass of cranberry juice every day.
Cranberry juice is more alkaline and, when metabolized by the body, is excreted with acidic urine. Bacteria do not grow freely in acidic urine. A 2003 study that included 324 women found that frequently drinking freshly squeezed, 100% juice — especially berry juice, as well as consuming fermented dairy products like yogurt, was associated with a decreased risk of UTI occurrence
Option A: Increasing intake of meats is not associated with urinary tract infections, so answer A is incorrect. Red meat and other animal proteins have high potential renal acid loads (PRALs), meaning that they make urine more acidic. Conversely, fruits and vegetables have low PRALs, making urine less acidic.
Option B: The client does not have to avoid citrus fruits. The aforementioned study in 4,145 men and women showed that citrus juice intake was associated with a 50% reduction in lower urinary tract symptoms in men only
Option C: Peri care should be done, but hydrogen peroxide is drying. Other factors claimed to increase the chances of developing a UTI include wearing tight underwear, hot tub use, not urinating after sex, and douching, although strong evidence to support these claims is lacking.