If you're prone to urinary tract infections, you'd probably do just about anything to prevent the next one. Could a dietary supplement be the key to keeping you infection-free? Maybe, says Charles M. Kodner, MD, associate professor of family and geriatric medicine at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. "Most people who get a UTI just have one very occasionally, so it isn't worth taking supplements every day to try and prevent another infection," says Kodner. But if your problem is chronic—meaning it never seems to go away, or you're getting a UTI at least three times a year—then using supplements may be a smart proactive measure. You might be in this unlucky group if you use a catheter, are pregnant, have kidney stones or an enlarged prostate, or use a diaphragm or if you have a condition that affects the nerves that control your bladder, like Parkinson's, diabetes, or multiple sclerosis. Even if you fall into one of these categories, Kodner says to remember that supplements are just one part of a complete prevention toolkit.
Some people whose UTIs are relentless may need to be on antibiotics for 6 months to a year, whether or not they opt to add a supplement to the mix. (Always check with your doc to make sure it's OK to combine a supplement with your meds.) Kodner also warns that the evidence on supplements for UTIs is limited, yet they may be expensive and you need to be take them regularly for them to have a chance to work. "People should limit their supplement use to the ones that they truly think are effective at improving their symptoms, and they should definitely tell their physicians about all of the supplements they take," he says. Once you get the green light from your doctor, here are three you might seek out in the supplement aisle. (Want to pick up some healthier habits? Sign up to get healthy living tips, weight loss inspiration, slimming recipes, and more delivered straight to your inbox!)Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, can develop in both men and women, but you're 10 times more likely to have one if you're female, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
You may be tempted to handle this common health condition using home remedies, such as vitamin C supplements or cranberry juice. Although these alternative methods may offer some benefits for treating UTIs, it's probable that you will need medical treatment to get rid of the infection. UTIs develop when bacteria flourish in the urethra or the bladder. This typically occurs when bacteria from the anal area makes its way into the urinary system. The bacteria Escherichia coli, or E. coli, causes the majority of UTIs; however, sexually transmitted infections can also contribute to their development. Although symptoms are not always present, things to be on the lookout for include cloudy, pink or dark urine; urine with a strong odor; and burning during urination. You may also have a frequent need to urinate. Pelvic pain is common in women whereas pain in the rectal area is associated with UTIs in men. Vitamin C supports the body in several ways, one of which is its role in immune function.
Making sure your vitamin C intake is adequate may help prevent infection, according to Huntington College of Health Science's Gene Bruno, MS, MHS. In addition, Bruno reports that vitamin C is effective at halting growth of E. coli, since certain bacteria are not able to thrive in acidic environments. A daily intake of 4,000 mg of vitamin C lowers the pH of urine, thereby making it more acidic and less habitable; however, this amount is 2,000 mg over the upper tolerable limit for adults and may cause health problems over the long term, according to the Food and Nutrition Board. Cranberry juice, an excellent source of vitamin C, is perhaps the most well-known home remedy for UTIs. A study published in January 2011 in the journal "Clinical Infectious Diseases," however, provides a blow to the validity of cranberry as an effective treatment. Researchers found that consuming a cup of cranberry juice twice a day did not prevent UTIs from reoccurring in women who had previously developed an infection.
Still, cranberry juice may be beneficial as a preventative method rather than a treatment. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that cranberries can prevent bacteria from binding to the urinary tract, although it is not as effective if bacteria has already attached to cells in this area. Drinking large amounts of cranberry juice does not offer additional benefits for your urinary health and may cause an upset stomach. You should also talk with your doctor if you take aspirin, blood-thinning medications or liver-affecting drugs, as cranberries may interact with them, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Consulting your doctor is highly recommended if you have a UTI because you likely need an antibiotic to clear up the infection. Dosage of Cranberry Extract for UTIs Is Cranberry Juice Safe to Drink While Pregnant? Does Cranberry Juice Treat Kidney Infection? Can Coffee Give You a Urinary Tract Infection? Cranberry Juice & Pregnancy
How Much Cranberry Juice for a UTI? Baking Soda & Water for Urinary Tract Infections Ways to Prevent Urinary Tract Infections Can I Take Cranberry Pills While Pregnant? Is it Good to Drink Cranberry Juice If You Are Six Weeks Pregnant? The Daily Dosage of Cranberry Pills Can Too Much Cranberry Juice Give You Diarrhea? Can Drinking Cranberry Juice Bring on a Gout Attack? What Are the Health Benefits of Cranberry Pills? Why Is Cranberry Juice Good for Bladder Infections? Kidney Infections & Orange Juice What Are the Causes of Frequent UTI? Is D-mannose Better Than Cranberry for UTI?Whenever a patient tells me about calling her doctor with symptoms of a urinary tract infection and being refused an antibiotic because he “never” prescribes one without a urine culture, I know the doctor has never experienced a UTI himself. Let’s face it….bladder infections are a girl thing, and most doctors are, well, male. So they haven’t experienced constantly racing to the john with this uncontrollable urge to pee, then managing to squeeze out a few drops of seemingly liquid fire.
Now, of course, the “correct” thing to do is try to get an appointment with your doctor. Problem is, bladder infections do begin in the middle of the night, and often on weekends, and oftener when you’re on vacation. So rather than suffer needlessly, begin some of the treatments that we recommend at WholeHealth Chicago, and you just might save yourself a trip to the emergency room. Certainly if things get worse, call the doctor. But you should be able to make significant progress during the first 36 hours, especially if you have all the appropriate supplies handy. What are Urinary Tract Infections? A urinary tract infection (UTI) can occur anywhere in the urinary system: kidneys, bladder, urethra. Infections are divided into “upper,” when the kidneys are infected, and “lower,” affecting the bladder and the urethra, the tube that channels urine from the bladder. When the kidney is involved, the infection is also called “acute pyelonephritis.” Lower infections are called “cystitis”or simply “bladder infections.”
UTIs are usually a female problem because women have a short urethra, which allows bacteria from the vaginal and rectal area to migrate up into the bladder. Men, protected by a longer urethra that is basically the length of the penis, and then some, rarely get bladder infections. Normally, copious urine flow will wash out these bacteria, but sometimes they continue to proliferate. Left untreated, the bacteria can migrate still further up the ureters (two tubes connecting the bladder with the kidneys) and settle into the kidneys themselves. This produces the far more serious acute pyelonephritis. Once in the kidneys, the bacteria are usually picked up by the bloodstream and the infection spreads systemically (“blood poisoning”), producing a high fever, chills, and profound exhaustion. Acute pyelonephritis always requires high doses of antibiotics, which are usually given intravenously. What Causes Urinary Tract Infections? The urinary tract is particularly vulnerable to attack by bacteria.
Although urine is sterile (germ free) when it’s manufactured by the kidneys and enters the bladder, nevertheless bacteria from the vaginal and rectal area can migrate up the urethra. Once bacteria are present in the bladder, they can affix themselves to the bladder wall, begin an inflammation, and start proliferating. Making the bladder environment as uncomfortable as possible for bacteria, such as by drinking copious amounts of fluid to wash its walls, or making the urine acidic, can initiate a self-healing process. Risk factors for allowing bacteria to gain a foothold into the bladder include: ignoring an urge to urinate, drinking an insufficient amount of fluid, improper wiping after urinating or moving your bowels (you should always wipe away from the urethral opening, from front to back), sexual activity (especially with a new partner, the so-called ‘honeymoon cystitis’) and pregnancy. An everyday urinary tract infection can easily bloom into a more dangerous kidney infection, so it’s unwise to use natural therapies for more than 36 hours before getting a physician’s advice.
If tests confirm a UTI, the doctor will probably prescribe antibiotics. Until that point is reached, though, there’s no reason not to try self-treatment. And, should you need to see the doctor, the self-treatment remedies are all compatible with the antibiotics that will very likely be prescribed. How Supplements Can Help Vitamin C–also known as ascorbic acid–serves a dual purpose in urinary tract infection treatment: It makes urine more acidic and therefore more hostile to bacteria, and it reinforces the body’s immune system. Cranberry keeps bacteria from clinging to the walls of the urinary tract and, like vitamin C, acidifies the urine (cranberry is rich in vitamin C). In one test, elderly women who drank cranberry juice daily had fewer UTIs than women who drank less. A little-known fact is that cranberry also helps to deodorize urine. The exact mechanism of the herb uva ursi is unknown, but this evergreen bush (also known as bearberry) contains substances that work well against UTI for some people.
Experts don’t recommend taking uva ursi together with vitamin C and cranberry because they weaken its effect. They also suggest that this potent natural remedy be taken no more than five times a year by most people, and not at all if you have kidney disease or are pregnant. Goldenseal, echinacea, and nettle teas can soothe inflamed tissues, and the extra liquid helps flush bacteria out of the urinary tract. Acidophilus is a good idea for those on antibiotics because it restores the decimated population of bacteria that defend the digestive and urinary tracts. Acidophilus is sometimes combined with another “good” bacterial source, bifidus. Use a home test, available in drugstores, to help you find out if you have a UTI. Drink a big glass of water once an hour or alternate with cranberry juice. Purchase the unsweetened form, then add a little honey or apple juice to reduce its tartness. Don’t buy cranberry “drinks,” which are heavily sugared. All this fluid increases the flow of urine, which then washes harmful bacteria out of your system.
Relieve pain with over-the-counter painkillers and a heating pad or hot water bottle. Don’t “hold” it when you have to urinate. Keep the genital and anal areas clean. Wash before and after intercourse; always wipe from front to back after defecation. Keep the genital and anal areas dry. Wear cotton underwear, which allows air to circulate; remove damp or wet clothing promptly after exercising or swimming. Swab the genital area with cool goldenseal or echinacea tea. These pleasant washes may help to prevent recurrences in women who are prone to bladder infections. Avoid feminine hygiene sprays and scented douches, which may irritate the urinary tract. Consider switching birth control methods. Spermicides containing nonoxynol-9 change the balance of bacteria in the vagina, allowing more dangerous ones to proliferate. When to Call a Doctor From David Edelberg, M.D. at WholeHealth Chicago: The supplements we recommend for urinary tract infections at WholeHealth Chicago should be taken as soon as you notice the key symptom of an infection–burning during urination.
At this point you should also be sure to drink plenty of water–at least one 8-ounce glass per hour. This helps flush out any harmful substances through increased urine flow. If you don’t notice any improvement in your symptoms within 24 to 36 hours of using the supplements, call your doctor, who can test you for an infection and, if necessary, prescribe antibiotics. You can continue taking the recommended supplements during the course of antibiotic treatment. How to Take the Supplements Begin by taking extra vitamin C, which acidifies the urine, and thereby helps to keep infectious bacteria in the urinary tract from flourishing. Cranberry, another acidifier, also makes it harder for bacteria to stick to the lining of the urinary tract. Having capsules of concentrated cranberry is obviously a lot easier than carrying around a jug of the juice, but both work equally well. You can certainly alternate them or use both together. Just remember that most grocery store cranberry juice is simply a cranberry-flavored sugar drink, which won’t be particularly effective.
Instead you need to look in a health-food store for a straight cranberry juice (sweeten with a little honey or apple juice) or a cranberry-apple juice blend. As an alternative to the vitamin C and cranberry, some people have found the herb uva ursi to be effective–though how it halts the infection isn’t clear. Don’t take this herb with vitamin C or cranberry, however, because the two acidifying supplements may cancel the uva ursi out. Also don’t use uva ursi for longer than a week, or more than five times a year. Also, herbal teas made from goldenseal, echinacea, and nettle can be very beneficial. Each of these herbs can be taken with the above supplements to enhance the immune system–and using them in a tea increases your fluid intake, helping to flush out bacteria. If you’re on antibiotics: If you do see your doctor and an infection is confirmed, you will probably be prescribed antibiotics to take. Since these drugs can kill off healthy bacteria along with those causing the infection, consider taking acidophiluswhile using antibiotics.