Green tea is a popular drink, known for its calming effect and mild taste. Generally, when you have a problem with your bladder, it's recommended that you forgo all drinks other than water. Even so, green tea may actually be beneficial for bladder health. Be advised, however, that green tea is not a treatment for any bladder-related condition, and you should always seek guidance from a health care professional once you suspect you have a problem.
About the Bladder
The bladder is really just one part of the urinary tract. According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, the bladder is a sac that stores urine before it is excreted from the body. Prior to this, the kidneys filter blood and send waste through the ureters to the bladder. One of the most common ailments that affects the bladder is a urinary tract infection, or UTI.
Green Tea Function
Green tea is an antioxidant and, as such, is capable of boosting the immune system, says Christine Horner, M.D. in her book, "Waking the Warrior Goddess: Dr. Christine Horner's Program to Protect Against & Fight Breast Cancer." In fact, Horner asserts that green tea can actually kill bacteria, stave off bladder infections and reduce your likelihood of getting an infection by 40 percent.
Cancer Risk Reduction
Green tea may also help to prevent the development of urinary tract and bladder cancer. According to "The Green Tea Book," by Lester A. Mitscher, Ph.D., those who drink green tea are less likely to develop urinary tract cancer due to an improved immune system.
Not a Suitable Treatment
Despite these claims regarding green tea's effect on the bladder and its ability to reduce irritation, you should never use it as a substitute for conventional treatments. If you think you have a urinary tract infection, see a doctor, as the only cure is antibiotics -- without which you could develop a kidney infection or sepsis, according to MayoClinic.com. Green tea may be incorporated into your diet as a bladder irritation and infection preventative, but nothing more than that.
References
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse; Imaging of the Urinary Tract; September 2010
- "Waking the Warrior Goddess: Dr. Christine Horner's Program to Protect Against & Fight Breast Cancer"; Christine Horner, M.D.; 2009
- "The Green Tea Book"; Lester A. Mitscher, Ph.D.; 2008
- MayoClinic.com; Urinary Tract Infection (UTI); June 2010
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