Urinary tract infections are the second most common type of infection in the body and 50% of women will have a UTI within their lifetime, according to the Irish Independent’s health columnist Dr. Nina.
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Symptoms include an increased urge to urinate, even though only a small amount may be passed each time; pain or burning when passing urine; cloudy, foul smelling or blood-tinged urine; pressure or pain in the lower stomach; and back pain, fever or nausea.
UTIs are among the most common types of infection that many people complain of, accounting for 25% of all bacterial infections. Men can get UTIs, but infants, young women and the elderly are most at risk of this infection. Women are 30 times more likely to have a UTI compared to males.
An infection that recurs multiple times is known as a recurring or chronic UTI. The infection may occur in your ureter or kidneys, but in most cases will be in the lower urinary tract, the bladder and the urethra.
Antibiotics are usually prescribed for a UTI; however, research supports the healing components of cranberries. Elderly adults in long-term care facilities were given cranberry capsules twice daily and the incidence of UTI decreased by 26% compared to those who only received a placebo.
Cranberry juice is renowned for its effectiveness in UTIs because it inhibits bacteria from attaching to the bladder and urethra. Research has shown that cranberries also protect against cancer, particularly breast cancer, due in part to potent antioxidant polyphenols.
Fresh cranberries contain the most antioxidants with dried cranberries coming in second. Bottled cranberry juice contains the least. If you have a UTI, you can take cranberry pills, eat cranberries or drink cranberry juice, but make sure they don’t have added sugars and that you take the juice or fresh berries in moderate amounts, due to the amount of fructose in them.
You can also use essential oils — which have antibacterial effects — for treating urinary tract infections. Recommended oils for UTIs include clove, oregano, lavender, cinnamon, eucalyptus, cumin and coriander.
Mix a few drops in a bath and then soak in it or add them to a sitz bath. But, remember to use only high-quality essential oils and to dilute them in a safe carrier oil before using directly on your body. Make sure to do a skin patch test prior to using any essential oil.
As a preventive, there is evidence showing apple cider vinegar may help eliminate E. coli and other types of pathogenic bacteria that lead to UTIs.
What you eat matters, especially if you're dealing with a UTI. Foods that may help boost your immunity and help fight UTIs include yogurt, fermented foods, fresh fruit and vegetables, oysters, garlic, onions and beta-carotene-containing foods like pumpkins, carrots and sweet potatoes.
Foods to avoid if you have a UTI include processed and fast foods, preservatives, sugar and food dyes.
UTIs also may be a foodborne illness caused by eating chicken contaminated with certain strains of E. coli. You should choose organic, free-range chicken as opposed to those in concentrated animal feeding operations because the E. coli bacteria that cause most UTIs is also in CAFO chicken.
A study of chicken, pork and turkey samples from retail stores found nearly 80% contained E. coli. The same strain of E. coli showed up in both the meat samples, particularly poultry, and the human UTI samples.