Natural Relief: Effective Home Remedies for Urinary Tract Infections

The most effective way to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs) is antibiotics. This is something every physician will tell you. However, UTIs are a common type of bladder infection and they can often be occasional or mild.

If this sort of occasional UTIs happen to you often, you might be inclined to make them go away on your own. If that’s the case, you should know about all the most effective home remedies for UTIs.

It’s crucial to know that home remedies can’t replace antibiotics, but they can relieve symptoms and help your body fight and prevent infections.

When to treat UTIs with antibiotics?

Antibiotics will treat most bacterial infections. UTI is no different since it’s caused by bacteria. The best way to kill the bacteria and clear the infection is with antibiotics.

Antibiotics are the best way to treat severe cases of UTIs. Similarly, people who are at risk of developing a severe case of UTI should opt for antibiotics instead.

Immunocompromised people, pregnant women, and people with diabetes are at greater risk. Then, people with AIDS, people who have had a kidney transplant or kidney failure, and finally people who have recurrent UTIs should always treat UTIs with antibiotics.

Home remedies for UTIs

If you have a mild UTI, you might want to try and relieve the symptoms with some of the most effective home remedies. Let’s see what they are.

• Increase the fluid intake

Drinking plenty of water can flush harmful bacteria out of your system and help your body fight the infection. To fight the infection, drink at least 2 liters of water per day and also include foods that have a high water count.

Water intake is also a great way to prevent UTIs. Dehydration can increase the chances of infection. Drinking water aids urination which is necessary because urinating regularly can flush bacteria from the urinary tract as mentioned before.

• Practice healthy hygiene habits

A great way to prevent UTIs requires practicing healthy hygiene habits. Start by going to the bathroom regularly, and avoid retaining urine for extended periods. Doing so can foster bacterial accumulation, potentially leading to infection.

UTIs tend to happen when bacteria from the rectum or feces gain access to the urethra, a narrow passage through which urine exits the body. This often happens when you use the toilet paper inappropriately. Wiping back to the front will cause the bacteria to move to the urethra. So, instead, start wiping the other way around.

Ideally, you would want to invest in a bidet seat attachment. Using a bidet seat to clean yourself is better than wiping with toilet paper. Bidets are more sanitary and the chances of getting a UTI are much lower.

• Take probiotics

Probiotics can be good for your overall health not just as a prevention of UTIs. Probiotics are live microorganisms that can be ingested through food or supplements. They are supposed to maintain the normal microflora in our bodies.

Research indicates that probiotics can hinder the growth of detrimental bacteria in the urinary tract by modulating the pH of urine. In turn, this creates an unfavorable environment for bacteria.

• Consume cranberry juice or supplements

Either unsweetened cranberry juice or cranberry supplements can help you prevent and decrease the risk of UITs. This is because cranberries contain a substance that can prevent bacteria from attaching to the bladder walls. Cranberries are also full of antioxidants that feature antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

So, drinking cranberry juice or consuming cranberry supplements can be an effective way to prevent UTIs from developing. However, keep in mind that its efficacy can vary depending on the individual.

• Increase vitamin C intake

Vitamin C is yet another antioxidant that might help protect against UTIs. It improves the immune system functions, but it also kills bacteria in urine. And just like probiotics, vitamin C can modulate the pH of urine, reducing the likelihood of bacterial survival.

However, there are still very few studies that prove that vitamin C can actually reduce the chances of UTIs.

Still, increasing the intake of vitamin C through food way to improve your immune system, protect your cells, and keep them healthy.

• Avoid certain foods

Some foods can aggravate our urinary tract and bladder. Those foods often include alcohol, fizzy drinks, artificial sweeteners, caffeine, and acidic foods. Try avoiding these foods to see if your symptoms will improve.

Without these foods, your body might be able to naturally regulate the balance of bacteria in the urinary tract system. If you do notice the improvement, you might need to change your eating habits. Also, changing eating habits doesn’t mean that you’ll never be able to have some of these foods, just that you’ll have to eat them less often.

• Add garlic to your diet

Garlic and garlic extracts can affect the growth of bacteria and in that way prevent UTIs. Garlic is well known for its antimicrobial properties and consuming raw garlic or garlic supplements can help you decrease the chances of developing UTI.

However, while most people can eat raw garlic, those who take blood thinners and who have irritable digestive tract shouldn’t risk consuming it raw.

Conclusion

UTIs are some of the most common urologic ailments. If you notice the symptoms of a UTI, make sure you consult with your doctor immediately. Natural and home remedies can help with mild cases of UTI, but only a doctor can prescribe you antibiotics in case of a severe infection.