Bacterial infections of the urinary tract occur 10 times more frequently in women than in men owing to anatomical variations that make women more vulnerable to bacterial colonization. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, more than half of all women will experience a urinary tract infection, or UTI, at least once in their lives. These infections can cause pain during urination, blood in the urine, fever, pain and nausea. Antibiotic treatment is necessary for most UTIs, but certain foods may help prevent this condition.
Cranberry
Cranberries contain substances that can help stave off urinary tract infections. According to the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, this popular home remedy is gaining respect in conventional medicine because research vouches for its effectiveness. Substances found in cranberries, including polyphenols and proanthocyanidins, may help prevent UTIs by interfering with a bacteria's ability to adhere to the lining of the bladder. These compounds may also bind to iron, making it inaccessible to bacteria and thus thwarting their ability to use iron to grow and multiply. Drink unsweetened cranberry juice regularly to maximize your resistance to UTIs.
Probiotics
Probiotics are naturally beneficial bacteria and yeast cells that you can consume live. These microorganisms exist naturally in your gastrointestinal system, where they inhabit space that might otherwise be colonized by harmful pathogens. According to the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, these microbes help with digestive problems such as lactose intolerance, gastric ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome, and they may be helpful in fighting urinary tract infections, too. Probiotic bacteria are present in yogurt and kefir as well as in supplements sold in natural foods stores. An article in the "Indian Journal of Urology" has called probiotics "the single most powerful alternative option under clinical development for the prevention and treatment of chronic infection."
Other Berry Juices
Cranberries may not be the only berry that supports urinary tract health. A 2003 study published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found a link between frequent berry juice consumption and lower risk of recurring UTI. Tero Kontiokari and colleagues in the department of pediatrics of the University of Oulu in Finland surveyed 324 women about their juice consumption and incidence of UTI. They found that those who frequently drank juice from berries such as strawberries, raspberries and lingonberries had a reduced frequency of UTIs. The researchers surmise that this effect may be due to substances called flavonols that are present in berries and that plants produce in response to microbial infections.
References
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition": Dietary Factors Protecting Women from Urinary Tract Infection; Tero Kontiokari, et al.: 2003
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Urinary Tract Infection in Women
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: The Art and Science of Natural Products
- "Indian Journal of Urology": Prevention and Treatment of Urinary Tract Infection With Probiotics: Review and Research Perspective; D. Borchert, et al.; 2008
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: An Introduction to Probiotics
