What To Eat For Urinary Tract Infection

Study Population And Design

The subjects were recruited between 1993 and 1997 at 2 centers: the Finnish Student Health Service at the University of Oulu and the occupational health center for the staff of Oulu University Hospital. The cases were women who had had acute symptomatic UTI caused by Escherichia coli . The women entered the study within 2 wk of the culture-confirmed UTI episode. Subjects were excluded from the study if they received long-term antimicrobial prophylaxis at the time of the index UTI. The controls were selected from lists of all female students and hospital workers from the corresponding center of the case invitations were sent to the next 2 women on the alphabetical list who were born in the same year as the case. The control was accepted if she had not experienced a UTI and had not taken any antimicrobial prophylaxis during the past 5 y. If neither of the controls replied within 2 wk or both of those chosen had to be excluded, 2 more controls were selected, up to 6 per case, so that at least one acceptable control was available for each case. There were a total of 139 case-control pairs, with a mean age of 30.5 ± 10.5 y 45 cases had an additional control and 1 had 2 additional controls . One hundred nine of the cases had had more than one UTI episode. The protocol was evaluated by the Ethical Committee of the Medical Faculty of the University of Oulu and was found to be ethically acceptable.

Avoid Delay In Going To The Doctor When You Have A Uti

At the first sign of symptoms of a UTI, call your doctor. Attempting to treat a UTI yourself just allows the infection additional time to spread. Putting off getting medical attention for a UTI puts you at risk of serious health complications. Over-the-counter medications can mask pain, but do not kill the bacteria antibiotics are necessary to eliminate a UTI infection.

Best Supplements To Prevent Utis

If youre prone to urinary tract infections, you are probably looking for a magic pill that will make you super resistant. Well, consider your search officially over.

No, we havent invented the miracle drug that will prevent anyone from ever getting these nasty infections. However, we have created a list of vitamins, minerals, and supplements that will ensure your bladder and urinary system become stronger and infection-proof.

Please remember to talk to your doctor before consuming any of these supplements!

Here are some supplements youd want to keep on your kitchen shelves:

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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!

Who Is At Risk For Infection

There are many risk factors for developing a urine infection:

• Women have greater risk than men
• Women 50 years of age or more
• Prediabetes
• Diabetes Bacteria eats sugar. The more sugar one consumes and excretes, the more food for bacteria to eat and grow
• Immunosuppression A strong immune system is needed to fight off infection
• Kidney stones
• Sexual intercourse For women with frequent infections, emptying the bladder after intercourse can help with prevention
• Certain birth control The diaphragm, in particular, can contribute to UTIs
• Use of a urinary catheter
• Urologic procedure or surgery

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How To Get A Cat To Drink More Water

All is not lost even if your cat absolutely refuses to eat canned food despite your efforts. There are other ways to increase your cats water intake besides feeding wet cat food.

Try different kinds of water dishestry plastic, metal, and ceramic. Use differently shaped dishesshallow, deep, large, small. Try locating water dishes in various areas around your home so theres always one convenient when your cat feels thirsty.

A lot of cats love drinking from a flowing fountain and there are many products available to choose from these days. The cute flower fountain shown below is a favorite amongst the cats I know. Just be sure to disassemble and thoroughly wash the entire fountain every few days or your cat might not want to drink from it.

You might try adding a flavored liquid to your cats food or as a side dish. Tuna water, chicken broth, beef broth or clam juice are popular flavors. You can try diluting the flavoring ingredient with water. Freeze the extra flavored water in ice cube trays and thaw when youre ready to use them.

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Helps You Sleep Better:

Tart cherries are one of the most outstanding food wellsprings of the cell reinforcement melatonin, which is known for its capacity to assist with managing our bodys inner clock and empower peaceful rest. Devouring tart cherry juice has been displayed to increment coursing levels of melatonin in the circulatory system, advancing a more tranquil nights rest.

One investigation even discovered that drinking two 8 ounce servings of tart cherry squeeze every day for a considerable length of time assisted individuals with nodding off quicker and stay unconscious longer!

Indeed, it was as compelling at further developing rest quality as remedy dozing pills with no detailed secondary effects, fortunately! To really sweeten the deal, drinking tart cherry juice can likewise further develop readiness in the daytime, one more normal advantage of helping your melatonin levels.

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Zesty Paws Cranberry Bladder Bites Urinary Tract Support

Bonus Review: Making sudden changes to your dogs diet can upset his stomach and might do more harm than good if hes already suffering from health problems. If your veterinarian doesnt think your dogs diet is a problem but he still has urinary issues, you might consider simply adding a urinary health support supplement to his daily routine.

These Zesty Paws Cranberry Bladder Bites come in a delicious chicken flavor and are formulated to balance your dogs urine pH while also supporting other aspects of his urinary health.

This supplement features Cran-Max with patented Bio-Shield technology to flush out bad bacteria and promote healthy bladder and urinary function. Simply follow the feeding instructions on the package to give your dog 1 to 3 chews a day. Its that simple!

The Basics About Urinary Tract Health in Dogs

Aside from the territorial aspect of it, peeing is a normal behavior for dogs. When you notice changes in your dogs urinary habits, it should be cause for concern.

Here are some of the most common things that can affect urinary tract health for dogs:

Urinary habits vary greatly from one dog to another, so just because your dog only pees twice a day doesnt necessarily mean something is wrong.

Here are some other warning signs that your dog might have a urinary health issue:

Home Remedies For Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms

In addition to antibiotics, many people seek natural, at-home remedies to help UTIs. A heating pad can relieve pressure and pain, and wearing loose cotton clothing is recommended. For those with recurrent UTIs, modifying certain habits may help: Choose fragrance-free personal care products to reduce the risk of irritation, and cut back on foods that can irritate the bladder caffeine, alcohol, spicy food, raw onions, citrus fruits, carbonated drinks, and artificial sweeteners.

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Avoid Insufficient Water Intake

Depleting your body of water leads to dehydration. When the body is dehydrated, bacteria can grow in the bladder. Additionally, not drinking sufficient amounts of water can keep your medication from penetrating into your kidneys and bladder. Drinking abundant amounts of water flushes the kidneys and bladder, helps deliver the antibiotic to the urinary tract, prevents dehydration, and, additionally, reduces risk of developing kidney stones.

Uti Causes And Symptoms

UTIs are mostly caused by bacteria that enters the urinary tract. Two strains of bacteria, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus saprophyticus, are the cause of about 80% of UTIs. An infection most often affects the bladder, but can spread to any part of the urinary tract, including the kidneys, ureters or urethra. Its important to do something about a UTI the moment you start to have symptoms. Though a very mild UTI may go away on its own after a few days, an untreated infection could get worse and spread to the kidneys, causing long-term complications. Though rare, if the infection spreads further to your blood, causing sepsis, it could be deadly. Symptoms of a UTI can include:

• Persistent urge to urinate, even if only a small amount of urine comes out
• Pain in the abdomen, lower back, around the pubic bone or center of the pelvis
• A burning sensation while urinating
• Urine that is cloudy
• Urine that is pink, red or brown, which is a sign of blood in the urine
• Strong or off-smelling urine

Antibiotics are the main treatment for a UTI, but it helps to take preventative measures whether youve never had a UTI or get them often. In addition to some lifestyle changes, what you eat and drink can have an impact on how UTIs are treated and prevented.

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Symptoms Of Urinary Tract Infections

How do you know if you have a UTI? Well, sometimes there are actually no symptoms at all and other times you will experience some pretty noticeable signs.

The most common symptoms associated with UTIs are:

• Strong, persistent need to urinate
• Burning sensation when urinating
• Urine with a strong odor
• Urinating small amounts frequently
• Pain in the pelvic area, particularly for women

If the infection has made it to your kidneys, you might have one or more of these symptoms:

• Fever
• Vomiting
• Pain located below the ribs in your back or side

If you think you have a UTI, especially if you think that its become a kidney infection, its important to see your doctor. They can rule out the cause and prescribe you antibacterial or antibiotic drugs to kill off the bacteria.

Foods That Will Help Prevent Urinary Problems

It can be tough to get your cat to drink a great deal of water, as cats are naturally thirst-tolerant animals. Some strategies for increasing your catâs water intake include purchasing a âkitty fountainâ or providing plenty of fresh water in multiple bowls. Kitty fountains are particularly effective because many cats prefer drinking running water.

In general, good quality canned cat foods are better for urinary health than dry foods. That said, however, there are some dry foods that have been carefully pH balanced. Even if you choose a high-quality dry food, however, canned food and water remain your catâs most important weapons against urinary crystals or stones.

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What Studies Say About Urinary Tract Infections

Okay, before we get to this amazing find, lets review what we know about UTIs. According to the National Institute of Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse , a UTI is the second-most common infection in the human body. Anyone can get one, but women seem to be more at risk.

UTIs can be a serious problem. According to recent research, women with UTI infections are at a higher risk of dying or having complications if they develop bladder cancer. Symptoms are often believed to be due to the UTI and the bladder cancer is not diagnosed until it is too late.

However, other studies have some good news. One study of over 28,000 women found that if women with recurrent UTIs could find out the cause of their UTIs, they can simply eliminate whatever is causing the UTIs and easily avoid antibiotic-use or expensive medical care. The studys findings are good news, as they mean that women do not have to suffer with repeated hospital visits or frequent UTIs.

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Can Drinking Liquid Help Prevent Or Relieve Bladder Infections

Yes. Drink six to eight, 8-ounce glasses of liquid a day. Talk with a health care professional if you cant drink this amount due to other health problems, such as urinary incontinence, urinary frequency, or kidney failure. The amount of liquid you need to drink depends on the weather and your activity level. If you live, work, or exercise in hot weather, you may need more liquid to replace the fluid you lose through sweat.

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Preventing Future Urinary Tract Infections

BATHING AND HYGIENE

To prevent future urinary tract infections, you should:

• Choose sanitary pads instead of tampons, which some doctors believe make infections more likely. Change your pad each time you use the bathroom.
• Do not douche or use feminine hygiene sprays or powders. As a general rule, do not use any product containing perfumes in the genital area.
• Take showers instead of baths. Avoid bath oils.
• Keep your genital area clean. Clean your genital and anal areas before and after sexual activity.
• Urinate before and after sexual activity. Drinking 2 glasses of water after sexual activity may help promote urination.
• Wipe from front to back after using the bathroom.
• Avoid tight-fitting pants. Wear cotton-cloth underwear and pantyhose, and change both at least once a day.

DIET

The following improvements to your diet may prevent future urinary tract infections:

• Drink plenty of fluids, 2 to 4 quarts each day.
• Do not drink fluids that irritate the bladder, such as alcohol and caffeine.

RECURRING INFECTIONS

Some women have repeated bladder infections. Your provider may suggest that you:

• Use vaginal estrogen cream if you have dryness caused by menopause.
• Take a single dose of an antibiotic after sexual contact.
• Take a cranberry supplement pill after sexual contact.
• Have a 3-day course of antibiotics at home to use if you develop an infection.
• Take a single, daily dose of an antibiotic to prevent infections.

What Are The Symptoms Of A Urinary Tract Infection

These are the most common symptoms of a UTI:

• Frequent urination
• Despite an strong urge to urinate, only a small amount of urine is passed
• Women may feel an uncomfortable pressure above the pubic bone

The symptoms of UTI may look like other conditions or medical problems. Always see a health care provider for a diagnosis.

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Foods Your Bladder Will Fall In Love With

If you have a sensitive bladder, you will not have to miss out on tasty foods this fall. The key is to know which foods are more likely to irritate your bladder and which ones are more likely to soothe. In general, you will want to avoid coffee, alcohol, citrus fruits, tomato-based products, artificial sweeteners and spicy foods. Read on to learn about 10 bladder-friendly foods.

What To Do If You Have A Uti

DO drink lots of water. Drinking water is one of the best ways to help your body to get rid of your UTI. Keep hydrated with at least six to eight glasses of water a day to flush out the bacteria in your urethra.

DO take a cranberry supplement. Cranberry has been proven to help with UTIs. Either a cranberry supplement or cranberry juice is effective in curing and preventing UTIs. However, if you go with the juice, make sure you get the bottle marked 100% juice. Any added sugar can worsen your symptoms.

DO empty your bladder. If you have to pee, then pee. Even if it is only a small amount, every time you urinate bacteria is flushed out.

DO take probiotics. Beat the bad bacteria with good bacteria. Probiotics will help fight off the infection by getting rid of the bad bacteria and replacing it with your bodys natural, healthy bacteria. Yogurt is a natural source of probiotics, so its essential to eat it when dealing with a UTI.

DO see your physician. While natural home remedies can help, seeing a physician is the best way to deal with your UTI. Theyll be able to prescribe you with antibiotics to prevent the infection from spreading.

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