"UTI" has become an infamous acronym for something that is all too familiar for many women and girls. Urinary Tract Infections are a large reason why many young girls and women have to visit the doctor's office. They can be painful when left untreated, and can easily spread to the kidneys, resulting in further pain and damage.
Many times, the prescription of choice will be antibiotics. However, antibiotics actually don't work on all UTI's, and taking antibiotics repeatedly is not a good idea as one can develop a tolerance. Frequent use of antibiotics can also, in and of themselves, cause other uncomfortable issues such as yeast imbalances.
Instead of going to the doctor, there are ways you can treat and prevent UTI's with simple lifestyle and diet changes. After all, the best way to treat any type of illness is preferably the natural way.
Excessive medication and intervention is something that many people are starting to realize does not benefit them. There are of course cases where professional intervention would be needed, but many times infrequent infections can be treated as well as prevented, fairly easily.
One of the first rules to prevent UTI's is to drink plenty of pure water. This dilutes the concentration of the urine, and helps to keep the kidneys and the urinary tract healthy by constantly flushing them out. Drinking too much coffee, tea, soda, and other beverages that contain additives is not recommended.
When you feel the urge to urinate, try to go to the bathroom before it feels "urgent' or you feel uncomfortable. Urinating frequently, when you feel the urge, is another way to ensure the urinary tract will not become infected or irritated. When you are ridding your body of urine quickly, it gives it less time to sit in the bladder and collect bacteria.
As with yeast infections, a recommendation for avoiding UTI's is to wear only cotton "breathable" underwear. This will help prevent moisture, which keeps bacterial breeding at bay. Also avoid irritating douches and sprays, as these can cause irritation and increase the risk of infection.
Various sexual positions have been linked to an increase in urinary tract infections. If you notice you are getting a UTI every time you are in certain positions, try different ones. Also, you may want to consider cleansing your genital area after sex to help avoid infection.
A great way to reduce likelihood of infection is to increase your intake of vitamin C, or take vitamin C supplements, both if you have an active infection, or as a preventive measure. The acidity of the vitamin C helps to make your urine a more harsh environment for the bacteria that typically cause UTI's. This makes it harder for the bacteria to breed and cause issues.
You've definitely heard the whole cranberry juice cure before as well, I'm sure. There is some truth to this, as cranberries contain a specific compound that kills bacteria in the urinary tract. However, you must be sure you are drinking pure cranberry juice instead of a "juice cocktail" which is often mostly sugar and watered down cranberry juice.
There are also other types of juices that are lesser known as a UTI remedy, but that also work against it. These juices are peach, apple, and blueberry juice. Of course, the concern with all of these juices is that they can be very sugary. But there are also some supplements available that can help fight UTI's, which contain the active compounds without all the sugars associated with these juices.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/6270606
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