Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for Kidney Infection (Pyelonephritis)

Can my eating, diet, and nutrition help prevent kidney infections?

Experts don’t think eating, diet, and nutrition play a role in preventing or treating kidney infections.

Can drinking liquid help prevent or relieve kidney infections?

Yes. Drink six to eight, 8-ounce glasses a day. Talk with a health care professional if you can’t drink this amount due to other health problems, such as urinary incontinence, urinary frequency, or kidney failure. The amount of liquid you need to drink depends on the weather and your activity level. If you live, work, or exercise in hot weather, you may need more liquid to replace the fluid you lose through sweat.

A woman drinking a glass of water.
Drinking lots of liquid can help flush bacteria from your urinary tract.
Last Reviewed April 2017
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This content is provided as a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health. NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. Content produced by NIDDK is carefully reviewed by NIDDK scientists and other experts.

The NIDDK would like to thank:
Ann E. Stapleton, MD, FIDSA, FACP, University of Washington School of Medicine