UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) is an infection of the urinary system that affects your kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra. This is a very common problem affecting almost 1 in 2 women and 1 in 10 men in their lifetime. Fortunately, with the help of different medications including natural UTI remedies, you can successfully prevent UTI.
Even though UTI is commonly treated by antibiotics, it is increasingly an unpopular choice. More and more people believe that it's possible to be healthy without taking antibiotics. People prefer natural remedies instead of over-the-counter medications, mainly because these natural products do not have many side effects.
Usually, treatment with natural UTI remedies revolves around three principles:
Statistically, more women suffer from UTI than men, in their lifetime. If we look at the female anatomy, women have a shorter urethra than men which makes it easier for bacteria to reach the bladder. This makes them more vulnerable to UTI than men.
Postmenopausal women are found to suffer more, with UTI. This is because, their estrogen levels drop, after menopause and lead to vaginal dryness. This makes them more vulnerable to UTIs. Promiscuous women are also found to be more affected by this condition. Having numerous sexual partners, considerably increases, the chances of UTI among them.
Other risk factors that can affect both men and women include urinary tract abnormalities, blockages in the urinary tract, a suppressed immune system and, catheter use.
If you leave UTI untreated, it can cause major health problems, some of which can be life-threatening. The most common ones are recurrent infections, permanent kidney damage, and sepsis.
UTI can affect different parts of your body. If it's limited to the bladder, then it's usually painful and annoying. However, if it spreads to the kidneys, it can lead to major health problems.
7 common symptoms of UTI:
Doctors often mistake the symptoms for other condition which leads to a delay in taking the necessary action. So, you must seek immediate advice if you have any of the above-listed symptoms. Also, take a second opinion if your doctor doesn't diagnose your UTI.
We know that prevention is better than cure. Sometimes, all it takes to avoid a UTI is to introduce some simple lifestyle changes:
If you hold your urine for too long, it helps a buildup of bacteria in your bladder. This will gradually manifest as UTI one day.
Given that urine has powerful disinfecting properties, if you urinate soon after intercourse, it will help flush out any bacteria that you may have accidentally contracted during intercourse. Possibly, one of the best natural UTI remedies that you can have.
Deodorant sprays, douches, and powders applied to the genital area can irritate the urethra and make it vulnerable to bacterial infections. So avoid using strong chemicals to prevent UTI.
If you are prone to UTI, you should avoid using diaphragms, unlubricated or spermicide-treated condoms. These birth control methods may contribute to bacterial growth. Also, spermicides and unlubricated condoms can increase irritation in the genital area. To avoid contracting UTI, use lubricated condoms that don't contain spermicides.
Wearing tight underwear or jeans is not only uncomfortable but may also promote UTI. Tight clothes do not allow sufficient "breathing" space and this encourages bacterial growth in the genitals. Besides, if you have very sensitive skin, you should avoid underwear made from artificial materials.
Wiping from back to front can cause bacteria to spread from anus to the urinary tract. This increases your risk of UTI.
Studies show that low fluid intake is one of the common causes of UTI, especially in women. One of the natural UTI remedies is, therefore, to drink enough water. Water helps to flush out the infection that you may have contracted and so this is an effective preventive measure. Given, that water also dilutes the urine, drink at least one liter of water every day and urinate more frequently.
Today, about 70% of the bacteria that cause infection are resistant to antibiotics. Perhaps one more reason, why you should use one of the natural UTI remedies. Probiotics are one such natural UTI remedy that prevents overgrowth of harmful microorganisms that cause illness. The existence of friendly gut bacteria is absolutely crucial.
When you take antibiotics to deal with urinary tract infection, it kills both the harmful and the friendly bacteria.
So, although an antibiotic quickly removes the infection, it disrupts the delicate balance of your gut microbiome. When your friendly gut bacteria are destroyed by antibiotics, there's nothing to stop the pathogens from invading and multiplying.
To make sure this doesn't happen, take some natural probiotics every day, especially if you've been taking antibiotics.
Some of the natural probiotics available are fermented foods like kefir, yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, and kombucha. Alternatively, you can also take probiotic supplements.
With the increase of drug-resistant bacteria, more and more people are turning to nature to get relief from common conditions. Below, is a list of different natural UTI remedies that are easily available regardless of where you live. These are essentially useful because these remedies have no side effects.
CranberryA strong immune system is one of the best natural UTI remedies. A healthy vagina contains Lactobacilli that produces lactic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and other substances that inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria and prevent UTIs.
However, you are vulnerable to UTI if your immune system is compromised. It may be due to a poor diet or an unhealthy lifestyle and sexually active women are particularly at risk.
If you often suffer from UTIs, the first step that you should take is to boost your immune system. The easiest way to do this is by incorporating immune-boosting, probiotics and acidic food in your diet. Vitamin C is one of the simple but very effective natural UTI remedies. By increasing the acidity of the urine, it makes it easier for bacteria to be destroyed.
As mentioned earlier, foods such as yogurt, sauerkraut, and kombucha are excellent sources of probiotics. If these are unavailable, supplements will do. Certain strains of probiotics are highly effective natural UTI remedies because they help the growth of gut-friendly bacteria. Other supplements known to be very useful natural UTI remedies are D-Mannose, cranberry extract, and raw garlic. They all prevent the growth of bacteria that causes UTIs.
The Inflammation circuit of the NEM stress response model is one of the most important systems in our body. The immune system is one of the three systems that make up the inflammation circuit and is very important in how we respond to stress. Under normal circumstances, your immune system fights off infections and your body deals with the stress. However, if your body is weakened due to conditions like Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome and you continue to have recurrent infections, then stress accumulates in the body. As a result, it increases the level of inflammation in your body. On top of that, if you are taking antibiotics for the infection, the imbalance of your gut microbiome will further cause more inflammation in your body.
Crucially, you must find out the reason for getting UTI. You can then respond to that and also use natural UTI remedies to prevent the condition. Even though it may seem like a simple infection, but with time, the cumulative effect could be harmful to your body. As they say, it is wise to nip the problem in the bud. It will, therefore, be useful to take help and advice from an expert and challenge the root cause of your condition.
© Copyright 2020 Michael Lam, M.D. All Rights Reserved.
The secret of natural UTI remedies' efficacy is their ability to kick-start your immune system and enable your body to self-repair and self-heal. Many of these natural remedies can be found in foods you already have at home, eg echinacea, garlic, cranberry, and vitamin C.
