Use these Nutrition Tips to Help Prevent UTIs

UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) is a common infection in the urinary tract, and it can be painful and annoying. 

UTIs can be caused by many different things, from bacteria in the bladder, food poisoning, diabetes, and even kidney stones. Women are more prone to UTIs than men because their urethra is shorter, making it easier for bacteria to travel up the urinary tract. Women tend to hold urine in their bladder longer, leading to UTI symptoms.

Symptoms of UTI include a constant urge to pee, pain or burning during urination, cloudy urine, smelly urine, fever or chills. If you have any of these symptoms, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. UTI is usually caused by bacteria or virus, so medical treatment may vary depending on its cause.

If you find that you are prone to developing UTIs, nutrition can play a part in helping to prevent UTIs from occurring. Let's check these out now. 

Cranberries

Consuming cranberries (juice, whole or supplements) have long been thought to be a way to prevent urinary tract infections (UTI). 

This is due to little compounds in cranberries known as proanthocyanidins that may reduce bacteria adhering to the urinary tract.

Interestingly, the evidence surrounding the benefits of Cranberry for UTI prevention is mixed depending on your circumstances. So it's worthwhile chatting with your dietitian to determine if there would be any benefits for you. 

One of the side effects of drinking a lot of cranberry juice is reflux, so if you're prone to reflux, it's another consideration when weighing up the benefits. 

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Stay Hydrated

A good way to avoid UTIs is by drinking plenty of water and other fluids to stay hydrated. Fluids help to flush out the bladder and prevent a build-up of bacteria. 

Signs that you might be dehydrated are the dark colour of urine, so have a quick check when you go to the loo. 

Avoid Constipation

Constipation can lead to UTI because it can make it harder to empty your bladder fully when you're constipated. Strategies to relieve constipation warrant a whole article on its own. But the essence, you need to consider fibre and fluid intake.

Increasing the amount of fibre you eat is a delicate process. You don't want to go full-boar into increasing fibre intake as your just body might rebel a little. If constipation is something you have an ongoing struggle with, chat to a dietitian. They're a wealth of knowledge in this area.  

Probiotics

Much like cranberries, the effectiveness of probiotics for the prevention of UTIs is mixed. There is some promising research showing benefits for those with recurrent bacterial UTIs.

The theory behind the benefits of probiotics is that gut bacteria is important for urinary tract health and helps maintain the natural balance of good and bad bacteria in the body.

While we can't give firm recommendations, probiotics are generally well-tolerated, and a diet rich in probiotic foods is excellent for overall health and wellbeing. 

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