The urinary tract includes your bladder, kidneys, prostate, ureters and urethra. Infection in any part of the urinary tract can be painful, and in some cases, serious, but the condition is treatable with prescription medications. Infection in the bladder, or cystitis, particularly requires medical intervention to prevent the infection from spreading to your kidneys and causing permanent damage. Pomegranate may help as a supplemental treatment to prevent recurrent bladder infections. As with any complementary treatment, ask your doctor if it's OK to use pomegranate for a bladder infection.
About Bladder Infection
The bladder, located in the lower pelvic region, is attached to your kidneys by ureters, or urine transporting tubules. When your kidneys empty of urine the bladder stores the urine until it is full, and then the urethra tube carries urine out of your bladder for elimination. Bacteria can enter your body through the urethra and multiply up into the rest of your urinary tract. Normally, your bladder secretes a protective coating to prevent bacteria from attaching to it, but if your immune system is compromised or too much bacteria exists, an infection can occur. Antibiotic medications are the first line of treatment for bladder infection, but recurrence is a risk, requiring preventive measures with lifestyle changes.
Antibacterial Activity of Pomegranate
The pomegranate fruit contains biochemical constituents with antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that may help prevent recurrent bladder infections. Antioxidants are protective substances that neutralize harmful molecules that can cause disease in your body. The anti-inflammatory properties of pomegranate protects your kidneys from damage that may result from newly formed bacterial infection. The antibacterial constituents in pomegranate may help minimize bad bacteria that enters your urinary tract from binding to the walls of your bladder. A 2010 press release from the American Nephrology Society indicates that pomegranate may have far greater health benefits for your kidneys and urinary tract than previously known but research is ongoing.
Pomegranate Sources and Intake
Pomegranate fruit is readily available in the produce aisle of your local market. You can also find it as a juice or supplemental extract in health food stores. No standard recommended dose for pomegranate exists and research is ongoing to determine how much is needed to prevent bladder infections. The University of Maryland Medical Center suggests eating the fruit or drinking the juice as part of a healthy daily diet, and for urinary health, to consume 8 oz. of juice per day.
Bladder Infection Prevention and Care
You may not be able to eliminate all your risk factors for bladder infection but taking special hygiene care measures may help. Drink plenty of fluids like water, pomegranate or cranberry juice daily to flush bacteria from your urinary system. Avoid delaying the urge to urinate because this can harbor bacteria, causing it to multiply. Avoid using irritating hygiene products with perfumes and dyes in the genital area and urinate before and after intercourse to prevent bacteria growth in the urinary canal. If you get a bladder infection, follow your physician's recommendations thoroughly and take all medications as advised.
References
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse: What I Need to Know About Urinary Tract Infections
- American Society of Nephrology; Pomegranate Juice; Beyond Antioxidants, Potential Benefits for Dialysis Patients; 2010
- MayoClinic.com; Cystitis; March 2010
- University of Michigan Health System; Urinary Tract Infection
- Alternative Medicine Review; Therapeutic Applications of Pomegranate (Punica Granatum L.); A Review; Julie Jurenka; 2008
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Pomegranate
