Diet for Urinary Tract Infections

When you’re doubled over from the pain of a urinary tract infection (UTI), it’s good to know that you have options. While antibiotic drugs can bring relief from pain and other UTI symptoms, certain UTI home remedies can help, too. And what better place to look for relief than in your own kitchen? Food remedies like cranberry juice and yogurt — even garlic and onions — all have a place in your UTI treatment plan

Drink Water

One of the most important things you can do when you have a urinary tract infection is to drink water. It helps flush the bacteria away. It cleanses your body by diluting and flushing out the unwanted substance.

You Can Count On Cranberries!

Cranberries contain hippuric acid, which helps prevent bacteria from clinging to the urethra. If drinking unsweetened juice doesn’t appeal to you, try taking 400 milligrams of a cranberry supplement each day, she suggests.

Pick Yogurt With Probiotics

All yogurt starts out with healthy bacteria, but some yogurts contain extra bacteria that are beneficial for the gut. Eat yogurt regularly and start taking a probiotic supplement twice a day for 30 days as soon as you start to feel UTI symptoms coming on.

Get More Garlic and Onions

Although there haven’t been studies to back it up, garlic and onions are thought to helpfight urinary tract infection because of their antimicrobial activity, which means they could help to kill bacteria and other microorganisms and prevent them from growing in the body.

The Power of Vitamin C

As an antioxidant, vitamin C keeps your bladder and urethra healthy and working well. But it also makes your urine more acidic, which helps to prevent bacteria from growing and causing UTIs. The highest recommended dose for adults is 2000 milligrams (mg) per day, but for an acute UTI, your doctor may recommend higher doses for a few days. Because of potential side effects of high doses of vitamin C, it's important to check with your doctor before you try higher doses.

Bring On the Blueberries

Blueberries are cousins of cranberries and another strong antioxidant that can help keep your body healthy and free of infection. It’s helpful to eat blueberries regularly — but when you’re looking for a medicinal effect, you need to consume even more.

Consume Fermented foods:

• Women who consume fermented milk products three or more times a week were less likely to develop a UTI compared with those who consumed such products less than once a week. This is because of the lactobacilli present in the fermented foods.

Avoid irritant foods:

• A diet, which consists of processed food like cheese, chocolate, dairy products, should be avoided.

• You should also avoid spicy food, caffeine, alcohol and cigarettes.

• Avoid carbonated drinks like beer, soda or any other drink with fizz.