Bladder & Urinary

Bladder & Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

Though UTIs can affect anyone, women are more prone to them. That’s because the female urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the bladder, is shorter than the male urethra. The shorter distance makes it easier for bacteria to reach the bladder.

UTI symptoms
Common UTI symptoms include:

a burning sensation when peeing
frequent urination
cloudy or dark urine
urine with a strong odor
a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying
pelvic pain
Bacteria cause almost 95% of UTIs, but fungi can also cause infection.

Help for UTI's?

Drink plenty of fluids
Drinking plenty of liquids can decrease your risk of UTIs by making you pee more, which helps remove bacteria from your urinary tract.

Increase vitamin C intake
Some evidence suggests that increasing your intake of vitamin C could protect against UTIs. Vitamin C is thought to work by increasing the acidity of urine, killing off the bacteria that cause infection.

Recommendation:  Now Foods Vitamin C

Take probiotics

Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms that are consumed through food or supplements. They can promote a healthy balance of bacteria in your gut.
Some studies also show that certain strains of probiotics may decrease the risk of UTIs:

A 2013 study found that Lactobacillus, a common probiotic strain, helped prevent UTIs in adult females.
A 2013 study found that taking both probiotics and antibiotics was more effective at preventing recurrent UTIs than using antibiotics alone.
Probiotics could help prevent UTIs and are beneficial for restoring gut bacteria after antibiotic treatment.

Recommendation:  Vivomixx Powerful Probiotic

D-Mannose.

D-Mannose is a type of sugar that is found in cranberries. Research suggests it’s effective in treating UTIs and preventing recurrence.

Recommendation:  Power Health D-Mannose

Cranberry extract.

Like cranberry juice, cranberry extract works by preventing bacteria from adhering to the urinary tract.

Recommendation:  Now Foods Cranberry

Garlic extract.

Research shows garlic and garlic extract to have antimicrobial properties, so they it may be able to block the growth of bacteria to prevent UTIs.

Recommendation:  Now Foods Odorless Garlic

Note: This does not constitute medical advice, always consult your GP if you are concerned about your health.