Bladder infection is more common than you think and can cause great discomfort and pain during urination. Home remedies are common methods for treating and preventing bladder infections. We have listed 5 home remedies for you.
- Get your vitamin C daily
Studies have found enough evidence to suggest that a regular intake of vitamin C can help prevent UTIs. The science behind that is quite fascinating but easy to grasp, too.
Basically, we all already know that it is the acidity of the urinary tract that kills off bacteria and keep the spread of yeast in check. So, this is where vitamin C comes to the rescue.
It is because vitamin C increases the acidity of your urinary tract, thus automatically killing off bacteria that could have caused UTIs. For women, some 100mg of vitamin C daily is good enough, which is not difficult at all to achieve.
In fact, many healthy drinks already support 1000mg of vitamin C in one serving, which, although not all of that will be absorbed by the body, there is still quite a lot to be used by the body to maintain its health.
- Cranberry juice without refined sugar
Pure cranberry juice has been studied for its relation to the prevention of UTIs.
Study results are varied by quite a lot, but there is plenty of evidence to suggest that drinking just 240ml of pure, unsweetened cranberry juice can have a positive impact in reducing the occurrence of UTIs.
Also, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, the 2008 Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews featured ten randomized trials involving a total of 1,049 patients focused on UTI prevention. The findings indicated that there is some evidence suggesting that pure cranberry juice might be effective in reducing the occurrence of symptomatic UTIs over a 12-month period.
This is especially the case when seen in the diminishing of recurrent cases of UTIs. The main reason pure cranberry juice is beneficial in this regard is that plenty of this substance in the body prevents bacteria from attaching themselves to the linings of the urinary tract.
With that said, regular consumption of unsweetened cranberry juice topped with an adequate intake of water should be an effective remedy for UTIs. This should also prevent them from coming back in the future.
In the meantime, if it’s difficult to get pure cranberry juice, you could also benefit from cranberry supplements.
- Take probiotic supplements
In recent decades, we have heard plenty of good things said about the health benefits of probiotics. It is true: probiotics help your body to keep good bacteria in the guts whilst fighting off bad bacteria.
In terms of preventing a bladder infection, an increased intake of probiotic drinks or foods can also significantly prevent such infections from plaguing your life.
It is the bacteria called Lactobacillus that are responsible for a healthy gut, as well as a healthy urinary tract.
There are plenty of probiotic drinks that are readily available in the market, but a lot of ready to drink probiotic beverages can have a ton of refined sugar in them.
Fret not, as there are also probiotic supplements that can help those of you who can’t consume too much sugar. In terms of food items, fermented foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, and natto are good sources of probiotics.
- Drink plenty of purified water
Drinking plenty of liquid is also important in the prevention of UTI. This is because a lot of liquid will help you urinate, automatically emptying your bladder of any bodily waste.
This is important to do as many studies have concluded that infrequent urination, which is often caused by a lack of liquid intake, has a strong connection with recurrent UTIs.
As reported in a randomized controlled study published in JAMA Internal Medicine in October 2018, which was also mentioned on the Harvard University website, the research demonstrated that increasing daily water intake resulted in fewer instances of recurrent cystitis and reduced dependence on antibiotics. Furthermore, the study revealed that consuming an additional 1.5 liters of water daily can decrease the frequency of recurring bladder infections in premenopausal women by nearly half. This finding emerged from a yearlong study involving otherwise healthy women with a history of repeated infections.
Therefore, making sure you drink plenty of water, to help you urinate, is a good habit to embody. Also, drinking purified water is more recommended than drinking tap water as it is generally cleaner and healthier.
On top of the water, liquid intake from other beverages like tea and coffee is also beneficial. Watery foods like soup, and even fruits, are also good sources of liquid.
However, simple, plain, purified water still tops the list of important liquids to consume on a regular basis.
- Wash regularly and thoroughly
As you already know now, a bladder infection is mostly caused by a bacteria spread. With that said, it is also important to regularly wash and clean your private parts.
Doing so will remove a lot of those bacteria from your skin and slow down their spread. When it comes to cleaning your private parts, just a simple but thorough cleaning with warm water is most recommended.
However, mild soap is also needed by the outer parts of your skin, just to really wash off bacteria from the surface of your skin. In the case of a vagina, it is not recommended to wash the inner part of the sex organ with soap.
This may actually disrupt the natural pH level of the vagina and cause the bacteria spread to accelerate. So, for both sexes, soap is really only needed a little and only for the outer parts of the genital.
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- Take lemon water
Though taking water is perfect for bladder infection prevention, lemon water is even better. Taking water may be too much blunt.
Hence you may spike your drink a bit. And citric water works well in some instances. Just a slice of lemon does the trick.
Besides adding flavor to your drinking routine, lemon can also improve the pH level, thus preventing bacteria from invading your bladder.
Lemon contains vitamin C, which is excellent in combating colds and flu. It’s also an antioxidant powerhouse, boosting your immune levels.
Lemon neutralizes uric acids in joints, thus eliminating inflammation. Further, it supports the secretion of bicarbonates, a digestive juice that lowers acidity in the body.
The citric environment it creates in the mouth helps to kill bacteria right at the source, reducing those that find their way to your bladder.
As per the study featured by Healthline Media, a 2003 research involving 324 women revealed a connection between regular consumption of freshly squeezed, 100% lemon juice and a reduced risk of UTI occurrence. Furthermore, another study involving 4,145 male and female participants demonstrated that intake of citrus juice was associated with a 50% decrease in lower urinary tract symptoms in men.
If you take lime water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, the lemon helps improve your metabolism. Thus, it regulates your weight, which is perfect for your bladder function.
- Frequent urination
Going to the loo most of the time is enough to reduce urinary tract infections. You shouldn’t wait till your bladder is full to relieve it.
Bacteria flourish in an environment packed with residues and wastes. And since the bladder is the pouch of holding liquid waste, it offers an ideal breeding ground.
When you clear this organ of waste frequently, you eliminate this incentive. The longer you take visiting the toilets, the more time you allow bacteria to propagate at this location.
Another way to get bacterial transfer is through sex. Even though you use protection, still, you push the micro orgasms deeper into the urethra through penetrative sex.
And a rich transfer and cross-exchange of these parasites occur between the parties involved.
This action gives bacteria faster access to your bladder. And when they get there, they multiply quickly.
To avoid rapid infestation of your bladder, empty it as soon as you finish sex.
In conclusion, we provided five home remedies that can help people treat and prevent bladder infections. We hope we provided enough evidence to support our findings, and now you can make better health decisions to avoid getting infected with bladder infections.
SIMILAR QUESTION
What Foods Stop Bladder Infection?
Introduction
Bladder infections, also known as urinary tract infections (UTIs), affect millions of people each year. They can be painful, uncomfortable, and even lead to serious health complications if not treated quickly. Fortunately, there are a variety of foods that can help stop bladder infections and even prevent them from occurring in the future. In this paper, we will discuss the foods that can help stop bladder infections and how they can help alleviate symptoms and improve overall urinary health.
What Causes Bladder Infections?
Bladder infections are caused by bacteria that enter the urinary tract and multiply, causing inflammation and infection. The most common cause of bladder infections is the presence of the bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) in the urinary tract. Other bacteria, such as Staphylococcus saprophyticus, can also cause bladder infections, but E. coli is the most common cause.
Foods that Stop Bladder Infections
There are several foods that can help stop bladder infections and provide relief from symptoms. These include:
- Cranberry juice: Cranberry juice contains compounds called proanthocyanidins that can help prevent E. coli from sticking to the walls of the bladder and urethra, thus preventing bladder infections.
- Vitamin C-rich foods: Vitamin C helps to boost the immune system, which can help fight off infections. Foods rich in Vitamin C include citrus fruits, bell peppers, broccoli, and tomatoes.
- Water: Drinking plenty of water helps flush out bacteria from the urinary tract, preventing infection. It is recommended to drink at least 8 glasses of water per day.
- Probiotics: Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that can help fight off harmful bacteria in the urinary tract. Yogurt and other fermented foods are good sources of probiotics.
- Garlic: Garlic contains compounds that can help fight off infection-causing bacteria. It can be added to food or taken in supplement form.
Conclusion
Bladder infections can be painful and uncomfortable, but they can be prevented and treated with the right dietary changes. Eating foods that are rich in Vitamin C, probiotics, and garlic can help stop bladder infections and reduce symptoms. Additionally, drinking plenty of water and cranberry juice can help flush out bacteria and reduce the risk of urinary tract infections. By making dietary changes, people can help reduce their risk of developing bladder infections and improve their overall urinary health.
