Foods That Prevent Urinary Tract Infections

Our Specialists At Norton Childrens Urology Recommend Five Power Foods For A Urinary Tract Infection In A Child And Overall Better Urinary Health

A childs urinary system plays an important role in filtering and eliminating waste products from the body.

A balanced diet filled with key power foods can have a big impact on keeping the body healthy. Our specialists at Norton Childrens Urology, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, recommend five power foods to improve urinary health.

Water. Drinking plenty of water is the most important way to improve your childs urinary and digestive systems. Drinking enough water helps flush bacteria from the urinary tract, which prevents infection and helps the digestive tract function regularly. Children should drink one 8-ounce cup of water for every year in age . This should be increased with increased activity or in the warmer or colder seasons.

Sprucing up your childs water with fruit, cucumber slices or a sprig of fresh mint can help them choose water over other options.

Recipe: Infused water

Taste Of The Wild Pacific Stream

Most Affordable: Sometimes it can be difficult to choose a dog food because there are so many options out there. When you just cant make a choice, consider a trusted brand like Taste of the Wild.

This brand doesnt have the largest selection , but their recipes are complete and balanced and loaded with premium roasted meats and other whole-food ingredients.

This particular recipe features real fish including whitefish and salmon as well as turkey liver, a bonus source of protein and urinary health-supporting nutrients.

It is extremely high in moisture with an optimal balance of protein and healthy fats, not to mention fresh fruits and vegetables that add a boost of premium nutrition to complement the synthetic vitamins and chelated minerals.

Overall, this recipe is an excellent source of natural nutrition and is highly digestible thanks to the inclusion of prebiotic fibers. If this recipe doesnt seem like the right fit, Taste of the Wild has several more to offer, including dry food recipes.

• Pros: High in moisture and premium animal protein, contains urinary health-supporting nutrients, highly digestible recipe, complete and balanced nutrition
• Cons: Contains some plant protein , contains added starch

What About Cranberry Juice

Thereâs no harm in trying it. But itâs not a proven fix.

Over the years, a lot of studies have focused on a substance found in cranberries thatâs thought to prevent bacteria from sticking to the lining of the urinary tract. But none of these studies have shown how much of this substance it would take to help prevent UTIs.

If you still want to give it a try, drinking cranberry juice or taking cranberry pills is probably fine to do. But there are some exceptions, like if you take a blood-thinning medication, a medication that affects the liver, or aspirin. Itâs always wise to talk to your doctor first, before you try any supplements.

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Also Check: Thin Pads For Urinary Incontinence

Are Some People At A Higher Risk Of Getting A Uti

Women get more UTIs than men. This is because women have a shorter urethra the tube that brings urine out of the bladder. This allows bacteria to enter the urethra and bladder more easily.

Also, a womans urethral opening is closer to the anus, where most UTI-causing E.coli bacteria are found.

Other factors that can further increase the risk of UTI include:

• frequent sexual activity

UTIs cant always be avoided, but its possible to reduce your risk of getting one. Here are nine prevention methods that may help you sidestep a UTI.

Best Foods For Uti Prevention And Healing Plus 3 Uti

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If youve ever had a urinary tract infection, you know the burning isnt fun. These infections can last one to two days in the bladder and a week or so in the kidneys, and sometimes antibiotics are needed to get rid of the bacteria causing the issue.

While medicine is the best bet for many people, if youre experiencing reoccurring UTIs, it might be a good idea to look at the foods you eat and see if theres a way to tweak them to help prevent and fight infections.

If youre interested, read through this list of the 15 best foods for UTI prevention and healing. At the end of this article, Ill share a few snack ideas that you can use to build your own UTI diet around.

• Apple Cider Vinegar

Recommended Reading: What Can Cause A Urinary Tract Infection In Males

What Happens If You Let A Urinary Tract Infection Go Untreated

If the infection moves up the urethra, they may cause a bladder infection . Bacteria that have infected the bladder may travel to the upper urinary tract, the ureters and the kidneys. An infection of the kidneys is called pyelonephritis. An upper urinary tract infection may cause a more severe illness than a lower urinary tract infection.

What Is The Most Common Cause Of A Uti

Urinary tract infections are among the most common bacterial infections in adults and may involve the lower or upper urinary tract or both. Asymptomatic bacteriuria refers to considerable bacteria in the urine of woman without symptoms. When the infection is limited to the lower urinary tract and occurs with symptoms of dysuria and frequent and urgent urination and, occasionally, tenderness above the pubic, it is termed cystitis.

Also Check: Urinary Tract Infection Or Bladder Infection

Good Quality Probiotics And Fermented Foods

What happens in the gut doesnt stay in the gut, Nielsen says. Taking oral probiotics actually changes the flora of the vagina, and by default, the urinary tract.

Taking a probiotic during a UTI will help restore microbial balance. I like Bio-K+ fermented probiotic as a clinical strength option, and recommend also eating good quality fermented foods like homemade sauerkraut and kombucha, daily.

Whats A Cpac And Why Is It Helpful

I know I mentioned this above, but in case youve scrolled down without reading, heres the info again:

PACs are a class of polyphenols .

The PACs found in cranberries help prevent the adhesion of certain harmful bacteria, including E. coli .

Supplements can deliver a higher dose of cPACs, compared to juice.

As soon as I suspected my UTI, I was taking 2 cranberry supplements a day throughout the infection and for two weeks post just for good measure.

This is the one I use :

Read Also: Urinary Tract Infection When To See A Doctor

Foods High In Vitamin C

What we commonly call Vitamin C is also known as ascorbic acid, which can reduce the acidity level in urine, helping to prevent UTIs. Many foods contain Vitamin C, including oranges, grapefruits, tomatoes, broccoli, red berries, spinach and cauliflower to name just a few. Starting your day with orange juice or including vegetables in your salad at lunchtime will help you get the Vitamin C you necessary to keep your urinary tract healthy.

Things To Avoid: Sugar & Utis

Adjusting your diet for a UTI involves more than introducing certain foods and drinks it also means abstaining from things. Not sure where to start? Heres a simple rule of thumb to follow: Avoid sugar for a UTI. Sugar is laced in an overwhelming amount of commercial foods and drinks these days. Unfortunately, it can also aggravate an infection. To cut back on these sugary delights and boost your care plan for a UTI, avoid:

• Carbohydrates
• Alcohol
• Artificial sweeteners

Although theres no evidence that artificial sweeteners can worsen a UTI, they have been shown to exacerbate bladder symptoms for individuals with chronic interstitial cystitis, so you may want to avoid them. Other foods and beverages to avoid with a UTI include:

• Spicy foods. Certain spicy foods can irritate the bladder. Instead, try sticking to a bland dietlike the BRAT dietwhen you have a UTI.
• Citrus. Although theyre high in immunity-boosting vitamin C, highly acidic fruits like oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits can irritate your bladder and aggravate UTI symptoms.
• Caffeinated drinks. Its important to stay hydrated when you have a UTI, but stay away from coffee and other caffeinated beverages. When in doubt, choose water!

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These Are The Steps To Take When Youre Trying To Ward Off Utis

If you havent experienced a urinary tract infection before, take note: while the infections are uncommon in older men, they can be common in older women, occurring in 10% of women ages 65 or older, and in 30% of women ages 85 or older. For up to a third of women who have a UTI, the infection comes back within six months.

“E. coli bacteria cause approximately 80% of all recurrent UTIs and continue generating microbe strains that are resistant to antibiotics. The ability of the bacteria to stick to the urinary tract can sometimes make them very difficult to eliminate,” says Edward Doherty, who spent 10 years working on potential vaccines for recurrent UTI and other conditions at Harvards Wyss Institute and is now CEO and co-founder of vaccine maker Attivare Therapeutics.

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What To Drink For A Uti

Can you treat a UTI by drinking cranberry juice? The answer behind the infamous cranberry juice cure is mixed. In some clinical studies , the consumption of pure cranberry juice, cranberry extracts, or cranberry supplements helped reduce the risk of repeated UTIs. In any case, however, the benefit to drinking cranberry juice for a UTI is small. So, what should you drink for a UTI instead? Water is by far the best beverage choice for someone with a UTI. Drinking at least 12 8-ounce cups of water each day while you have an infection will help flush the bacteria from your system and can speed up the healing process.

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What To Drink And Avoid If You Have A Urinary Tract Infection

Drink a lot of water, even if you are not thirsty. Drinking a lot of water all through the day will help flush out the bacteria.

You should also drink sugar-free cranberry juice. Cranberry juice can readily help fight the urinary tract infection and is even good for your bladder.

Avoid drinking alcohol, coffee or other caffeinated drinks until your urinary tract infection is cured as these drinks can irritate your bladder and make the symptoms of UTI more severe and complicated.

Also Read-What are the types of Urinary Tract Infections?

Urinary Tract Infections Must Be Treated Promptly By Your Doctor Left Untreated A Uti Can Be Painful And May Spread There Are Several Things You Should Avoid While You Have A Uti In Order To Prevent Worsening Of Symptoms

Urinary tract infection is one of the most common infections affecting older adults, especially women. If you have a UTI without complications, and you are otherwise in good health, your doctor might prescribe a shorter urinary tract infection treatment, such as a 3-day course of antibiotics. However, treatment type and length will depend on your medical profile and specific symptoms. Additionally, your physician may prescribe pain medication that relieves burning during urination, but pain is usually relieved shortly after beginning the antibiotic treatment. Below is some information to help you know what to do if you have a UTI infection in order to prevent exacerbating your UTI symptoms.

The following things can further irritate your bladder and increase the frequency of sensing an urgent need to urinate. Until your UTI has cleared up, you should:

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Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet W+u Weight Management + Urinary Care

If your veterinarian is adamant that even the best non-prescription dog food for urinary health wont be enough for your dog, at least go with a trusted brand like Blue Buffalo.

This Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet Urinary Care wet food is a prescription formula, but it is made with much higher quality ingredients than the leading brand.

It comes in both a dry food and canned food formula, both featuring increased levels of fiber to boost satiety with controlled levels of magnesium and sodium to support urinary health.

This canned food is made with fresh chicken as the main ingredient followed by chicken broth for a boost of moisture and natural flavor.

It contains fresh fruits and vegetables, including cranberries, as well as added vitamins and chelated minerals to ensure complete and balanced nutrition.

• Pros: Veterinarian-recommended for urinary health, increased moisture content, fresh chicken as the main ingredient, fresh fruits and veggies for natural nutritional content
• Cons: Fairly expensive compared to non-prescription diets, contains plant protein as main ingredient

Four Foods To Prevent Urinary Tract Infections

Some women have gone through the terrible period of urinary tract infections and another group is still facing it. But how does it occur? The American Academy of Family Physicians mentions that urinary tract infections include the kidneys, bladder, and urethra. Most infections occur in the lower urinary tract .

Given this, specialists said that women are more likely to get a urinary infection. This disease that is limited to the bladder can be painful and annoying. In addition, it can have serious consequences if the urinary tract spreads to the kidneys.

But how does this infection manifest itself? The National Library of Medicine of the USA UU mentions that the symptoms to identify a urinary tract infection are presented as follows:

Pain or burning when urinating.

Fever, fatigue or tremors.

The pressure in the lower region of the abdomen.

Urine with a bad smell or with a turbid or reddish appearance.

Less frequently, nausea or back pain.

If you recognize these symptoms, it is important that you go to your doctor to carry out the necessary tests and consecutively to carry out an adequate treatment. But if we want to avoid these infections, specialists recommend opting to maintain a good diet since she is capable of preventing and fighting it. Attentive and take note to prevent utis naturally.

Red cranberries

Papaya

Asparagus

Chia

Recommended Reading: Google What Are The Symptoms Of A Urinary Tract Infection

Foods To Eat When You Have Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are characterized by bacterial infections that develop in your urinary tract, which is composed of the bladder, kidneys and urethra, according to the University of Michigan Health System. UTIs are often accompanied by lower back cramping, abdominal pain and burning sensations during urination. In addition to prescribed medications, your doctor will usually recommend dietary adjustments to prevent further urinary tract irritation.

Acidic Fruits Can Worsen Symptoms Of A Bladder Infection

Fruit may be an essential part of a healthy diet, but fruits containing a lot of acid can irritate the bladder and worsen your UTI symptoms. So try to avoid lemons, oranges, grapefruits, and tomatoes when you’re treating a UTI. Other fruits that may cause bladder irritation and worsen a urinary tract infection include apples, peaches, grapes, plums, strawberries, and pineapple. You should also steer clear of juices made from these fruits.

Recommended Reading: How To Treat Urinary Incontinence Naturally

Best Variety: Purina Pro Plan Urinary Tract Health Variety Pack Canned Cat Food

Key Ingredients: Varies by flavor | Calories per Serving: 82 to 107 depending on flavor | Texture: Wet, varies | Balance: Varies but most are Crude Protein min. 10.0%, Crude Fat min. 6.5%, Crude Fiber max 0.5%, Moisture max. 78.0% | Life Stage: Adult

• Nutritional and flavor diversity for your cat

• No prescription needed

• Meat by-products are the first ingredient

• Added color

If your cats digestive system can tolerate more than one type of food, a variety pack is a wonderful way to give them a broader range of flavors and nutrients at the same time.

Purina Pro Plan Focus Classic Urinary Tract Health Formula Adult Wet Cat Food Variety Pack comes as a case of 12, 24, or 36 cans. It can be purchased as four, eight or twelve cans each of three flavorsOcean Whitefish or Beef & Chicken, Chicken, and Turkey and Gibletsor as twelve cans each of two flavorsOcean Whitefish and Salmon.

Each recipe has low dietary magnesium and has been designed to reducing urinary pH. Purina products are also manufactured in the U.S. and are widely available and among the more affordable brands on shelves today.

Key Ingredients: N-Acetyl Glucosamine from shrimp and crab, D-mannose, cranberry extract | Calories per Serving: Not listed| Balance: Not listed | Life Stage: Adult | Texture: Soft chews

• Incorporates D-mannose ingredient known to decrease urinary tract infections

• Several inactive ingredients

Diabetes And Urinary Tract Infections

To avoid urinary tract infections, consult your doctor if symptoms occur.

People whose diabetes is not properly controlled have twice the risk of developing infections.

In addition to diabetes, you could be more susceptible to urinary tract infections if:

• Your blood glucose levels are not properly controlled.
• Sugar in the urine promotes bacterial growth.
• Your nervous system is already affected by diabetes .
• You could have a lazy bladder that does not empty completely.
• You are a woman.

Recommended Reading: Why Do Opiates Cause Urinary Retention

Acidic Foods And Fruits Like Lemons

Fruits like lemon contain citric acid which leads to the creation of UTI bacteria in the urinary tract. The intake of acidic foods and spicy foods should be avoided by a person going through UTI as they lead to irritation in the urinary tract.

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a professional healthcare provider if you have any specific questions about any medical matter.

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