What Foods Promote A Healthy Urinary Tract System?

Your urinary system produces a quart and a half of urine each day, with nighttime production falling to half that during the day. Urine is sterile -- contains no bacteria, viruses or fungi -- until it leaves your body. You can promote optimal health of your urinary system by choosing certain foods with proven ability to promote urinary system function.

Purple-Colored Foods

Purple and blue fruits and vegetables, such as blueberries, plums, figs, eggplants and purple cabbage, are high phenolic antioxidants and also high in a type of antioxidant known as anthocyanin, a pigment that gives them their dark colors. These compounds reduce inflammation and improve urinary tract health. A study published in the June 2007 issue of the journal "Molecular Nutrition and Food Research" found that cranberries, also high in anthocyanins, prevented viral infections in the kidneys of laboratory animals. Researchers noted that the cranberry extract most likely had its effect by preventing attachment of the virus to the cells that line the kidney's tubular structures.

Probiotics

Probiotic bacteria in foods such as yogurt and sauerkraut can help prevent urinary tract infections by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria and inhibiting overgrowth or infection by pathogens. Probiotics have been found to decrease the incidence of bowel conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome, inhibit urinary tract infections and boost the immune system, according to nutrition professor Gail C. Frank, author of the book "Community Nutrition: Applying Epidemiology to Contemporary Practice." Along the same lines, prebiotic foods contain compounds, such as inulin and fructooligosaccharide, types of sugar molecules, that feed the good bacteria. Inulin can be found in many foods, including leeks, asparagus, onions, garlic and bananas.

Coriander

Coriander, the seeds of the cilantro plant, have a cooling effect that alleviates irritation from urinary tract infections, notes David N. Russel, Ph.D., M.F.A., author of the book "Healthy Solutions: A Guide to Simple Healing and Healthy Wisdom." Allergies, rashes and stomach irritation also respond well to coriander.

Garlic

A study published in the January 2010 issue of the journal "Renal Failure" found that garlic improved symptoms associated with kidney injury caused by temporarily decreased blood and oxygen supply. In the laboratory animal study, markers of kidney stress were significantly diminished by garlic supplementation. Antioxidant activity also improved significantly with garlic supplementation. Researchers concluded that garlic decreased kidney damage from decreased blood supply.

Diuretic Foods

Foods that promote the production of urine, called diuretics, benefit urinary system health by flushing the kidneys and encouraging elimination of toxins. Most fruits and vegetables have diuretic properties, however, some, such as celery, eggplant, watermelon, leeks and asparagus, are particularly effective, according to George Pamplona-Roger, M.D., author of the book "Foods that Heal."