Urinary tract infections affect zillions of people every year.
Although they're traditionally prescribed with antibiotics, there are also many home remedies available that help tackles them and forestall them from reoccurring.
What Is a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)?
A UTI is an infection that affects any part of the urinary tract, including the kidneys, ureters, bladder or urethra.
Bacteria in the bowel are the most common cause of UTIs, but fungi and viruses can also cause infection. The two strains of bacteria Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus saprophyticus recorded for about 80% of cases of UTI's.
Common symptoms of UTI include:
- A burning sensation when urinating
- Repeated urination
- Cloudy or dark urine
- Urine with a powerful odour
- A feeling of incomplete bladder emptying
- Pelvic pain
Though UTIs can affect anyone, women are more likely to infection. This is because the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the bladder, is shorter in women than in men. This makes it more accessible for bacteria to invade and reach the bladder.
In fact, almost half of all women will encounter a UTI at some point in their lives. Antibiotics are used to treat UTIs and are seldom used in low doses long-term to avert a recurrence.
There are also some natural ways to defend against infections and decrease the risk of recurrence.
Without more ado, here are the top 6 home remedies to fight UTI.
Hydration has been linked to the chance of UTI.
This is cuz frequent urination can help flush bacteria from the urinary tract to block infection.
A study surveyed participants with long-term urinary catheters and found that low urine output was associated with an increased risk of developing a UTI.
A 2003 study observed at 141 girls and recorded that low fluid intake and occasional urination were both linked to recurrent UTI's.
To stay hydrated and fit your fluid needs, it's best to drink water throughout the day and compulsory when you're thirsty.
Drinking lots of liquids can minimise the risk of UTIs by making you pee more often, which helps eliminate bacteria from the urinary tract.
Some testimony shows that improving your intake of vitamin C could guard against urinary tract infections.
Vitamin C is thought to work by boosting the acidity of the urine, thereby killing off the bacteria that cause infection.
A 2007 study of UTIs in pregnant women looked at the effects of taking 100 mg of vitamin C every day. The study found that vitamin C had a shielding effect, decreasing the risk of UTIs by more than half in those taking vitamin C as opposed to the control group.
Enhancing vitamin C intake may decrease the risk of UTIs by making the urine more acidic, thus killing off infection-causing bacteria.
Sipping unsweetened cranberry juice is one of the most well recognised natural remedies for UTI.
Cranberries act by hindering bacteria from adhering to the urinary tract, thus preventing infection.
Another study showed that consuming cranberry products may lower the amount of UTIs in a year, notably for women who have recurrent UTIs.
A 2015 study explained that the treatment with cranberry juice capsules equivalent to two 120ml servings of cranberry juice could diminish the risk of urinary tract infections in half.
Probiotics are advantageous microorganisms that are consumed through food or supplements. They can encourage a healthy balance of bacteria in your gut.
Probiotics are obtainable in supplement form or can be found in fermented foods. The effectiveness of probiotics has been linked to everything from improved digestive health to enhanced immune function.
Some studies also show that specific strains of probiotics may decrease the risk of UTIs.
One study found that Lactobacillus, a common probiotic strain, helped prevent UTIs in adult women.
Another study found that taking both probiotics and antibiotics was more effective at preventing recurrent UTIs than using antibiotics alone.
5. Practice These Healthy Habits
Preventing urinary tract infections starts with practising a few good bathroom and hygiene habits.
- First, it's important not to hold urine for too long. This can head to a buildup of bacteria, resulting in infection.
- Urinating after sexual intercourse can also reduce the risk of UTIs by preventing the spread of bacteria.
- Additionally, those who are prone to UTIs should avoid using spermicide, since it has been linked to an increase in UTIs.
- Finally, when you use the toilet, make sure you wipe front to back. Wiping from back to front can cause bacteria to spread to the urinary tract and is associated with an increased risk of UTIs.
Several natural supplements may decrease the risk of developing a UTI.
Here are a few supplements that have been studied:
- D-Mannose: This is a type of sugar that is found in cranberries and has been shown to be effective in treating UTIs and preventing recurrence.
- Bearberry leaf: Also known as uva-ursi. One study showed that a combination of bearberry leaf, dandelion root and dandelion leaf decreased UTI recurrence.
- Cranberry extract: Like cranberry juice, cranberry extract works by preventing bacteria from adhering to the urinary tract.
- Garlic extract: Garlic has been shown to have antimicrobial properties and may be able to block the growth of bacteria to prevent UTIs.
Urinary tract infections are a common problem and can be frustrating to deal with. However, staying hydrated, practising some healthy habits and strengthening your diet with some UTI-fighting ingredients are good ways to lessen your risk of getting them.
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