Urinary tract infections (UTI s) are very common, especially in women. But men can also get them, and when they do, it’s important to know what to do.
When foreign microbes enter your urinary tract, it can affect the bladder or urethra, and in serious cases, the kidney. Most commonly, these infections are caused by bacteria such as E. coli or fungi. UTIs are typically treated with over the counter medication, but sometimes a more serious case needs to be treated by a doctor who will prescribe antibiotics to relieve pain and cure it.
Not everyone has the same symptoms of a UTI: some people may experience pain in their groin area while others may notice pain while urinating or frequent urges to urinate; others may see foul-smelling urine or cloudy urine; others still might experience pressure in their abdomen or feel sick as if they have food poisoning. When caught early, there are several ways to treat a UTI naturally—check out these 10 ways (if you are in pain or symptoms persist, always consult your doctor):
Drink lots of water
We all know that staying hydrated is important, but did you also know that it can help get rid of a urinary tract infection (UTI)?
As we know, urinating helps get rid of waste in our bodies; the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases suggests for men and women to drink 6-8 glasses of water a day.
But what if you already have a UTI? Drinking enough water can prevent it from happening in the first place, but if you already have one, it can help flush out bacteria and get rid of your pain.
Increase vitamin C
Vitamin C is a great way to boost your immune system, keeping you healthy all around!
A study found that increasing your intake of vitamin C can help prevent UTI’s from occurring. This is because vitamin C makes urine more acidic which in turn, will kill the bacteria that is causing the UTI. Another study done on pregnant women taking vitamin C found that their chances of getting a UTI decreased by more than half as opposed to those who weren’t taking vitamin C.
So whether you have a history of UTIs or just want to stay away from them, incorporating more vitamin C into your diet is a great idea!
Heat
If you’re one of the millions of people who suffer from UTIs, you know how much they can affect your life. The bacteria that cause these infections can cause inflammation and irritation on the pubic area, causing pain and discomfort. Studies have found that using heat to treat the pelvic pain caused by UTIs can help improve symptoms. If you use a heating pad or a warmed water bottle for at least 15 minutes in the area, you can feel relief.
Wipe correctly
It turns out that the way you wipe could be causing, or worsening, your UTI.
Yep! It’s true. The correct way to wipe is front to back—not back to front. If you find yourself wiping back to front, you could be dragging bacteria from fecal matter (E. coli) into your urinary tract and causing a UTI.
So how does this happen? Well, when you wipe back to front, fecal matter on the toilet paper gets pushed up into the urethra and then into the bladder instead of being wiped away from there. This can cause an infection in your bladder and kidneys called cystitis (AKA a UTI).
Urinate when you have to
It’s not a secret that the best way to avoid a UTI is to pee when you need to. But it’s also important to remember that if you’re already experiencing symptoms of a UTI, you should try to urinate as often as possible to flush out the toxins.
The more frequently you empty your bladder, the more likely it is that you’ll flush out whatever bacteria are causing your infection. The last thing we want is for those sneaky little guys to have time to settle in and start growing a colony!
Cranberries
As one of the most common at-home remedies for a UTI, unsweetened cranberry juice or capsules are a great way to treat a UTI. Cranberries help fight against bacteria sticking to your urinary tract. A study done in 2015 found that taking cranberry capsules can cut your chances of getting a UTI in half.
If you’re looking to try this remedy, be sure to buy unsweetened cranberry juice or capsules: sugar can increase your risk of getting a UTI.
Don’t irritate your bladder
When dealing with a UTI, you want to make sure you are steering clear from foods that can irritate your bladder. Some irritants can include caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, spicy foods, and more. Ingesting high amounts of these can make it difficult for your body to heal quickly. Make sure you’re eating healthy, nutritious foods to help heal your body.
You should also avoid foods that are high in sugar. Sugar can cause your body to release a hormone called insulin, which can impact your urine production. The more insulin that is created, the less likely it is that you will get rid of toxins from your body quickly.
Garlic
Garlic is a superfood.
It’s been used as a medicinal herb since ancient times and has been proven to boost your immune system, fight off bacteria and fungi, and ward off colds. But did you know that garlic can also help prevent UTIs?
UTIs are caused by E. coli, a bacterium found in the gut of about 50% of women. When these bacteria make their way into the urinary tract, they can cause painful cystitis (bladder infections) or urethritis (urethral infections). If left untreated, these infections can lead to kidney damage or infertility.
But there’s hope! A recent study proved that allicin—a compound found in garlic—can kill E. coli in vitro (in a test tube). This is good news for people who are prone to UTIs because it means that eating a healthy diet rich in garlic can help prevent them!
Probiotics
You might not know it, but your urine is full of bacteria. Some of those bacteria can be harmful to your body’s health, but luckily for you, there are also good bacteria in your urine that can help ward off the bad ones.
The good news is that there’s a way to keep your body’s good bacteria levels up: probiotics!
Probiotics are the ‘good’ bacteria our bodies need to perform healthily. Research has found them in the Lactobacillus group by preventing bacteria from sticking to urinary tract cells, producing hydrogen peroxide (antibacterial) in urine, and lowering urine’s pH to ward off bacteria. While probiotics can be taken through supplements, they can also be found in foods such as yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and more!
Sexual health
Having sex is a great way to keep your relationship strong, but did you know that it could also be the cause of a urinary tract infection?
Urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria entering your urinary tract and multiplying. The most common cause of this is when bacteria enters through the urethra. This can happen during sexual intercourse, which is why it’s so important to protect yourself while having sex by urinating before and after, using barriers such as condoms, making sure genitals are clean before performing sex and more.
While UTIs aren’t always serious and can be treated with antibiotics, they can lead to more serious complications if left untreated or if they occur frequently.
By making sure you’re practicing safe sex in all aspects of your life, you can prevent yourself from getting a UTI!
