Then I’d venture to guess chicken is one of your go-to protein sources.

One of the healthiest diets around — the Mediterranean diet — encourages people to get most of their protein from lean sources like chicken and fish. So, chicken finds its way onto the plates of health-conscious people.

The problem is, chicken isn’t just a healthy source of lean protein. It’s a breeding ground for bacteria.

You probably know that you have to be extra careful when handling raw chicken — even more cautious than when you handle other types of meat.

Part of the reason is that dangerous bacteria like Salmonella, Campylobacter and E. coli are present in chicken while they’re alive, and stick around even after the bird is processed for sale in a supermarket.

If chicken is cooked at a high enough temperature, that should be enough to ensure your chicken is safe to eat.

However, it appears that even if you think you’re cooking your chicken thoroughly and don’t end up with food poisoning, these dangerous bacteria can still find their way into your body and cause an extremely uncomfortable, and often resistant, health problem…

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E.coli: The cause of resistant and recurrent urinary tract infections

A few years ago, researchers from the University of California, Berkeley and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had a nagging suspicion about the poultry on our plates.

They thought it could be bringing dangerous bacteria into our bodies that eventually end up in the urinary tract and potentially the bladder, too.

They first began piecing together the connection between chicken and urinary tract infections (UTIs) after noticing that, in previous research, antibiotic-resistant UTIs were typically caused by a particular strain of E. coli related to the E. coli found in chicken.

“When we compared the fingerprints of the E. coli from the poultry and the human UTI cases, we found there’s an overlap of some genotypes,” said study author Dr. Lee Riley, a professor of infectious disease at Berkeley’s School of Public Health.

Since those findings in 2017, the treatment of UTIs has become complicated. Today, many of the E. coli strains behind UTIs have become resistant to multiple drugs, including fluoroquinolones like ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin.

A 2024 study found that patients with recurrent UTIs had higher rates of resistance and noted that resistance increases with subsequent infections.

It’s an uncomfortable and dangerous situation… one that could put your life in jeopardy. An untreated UTI, after all, can spread to your kidneys and even your bloodstream.

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How E. coli infects the urinary tract, and how to avoid it

It’s not an uncomfortable conversation, but we need to talk about how E. coli from chicken can make it into someone’s urinary tract.

They suspect that people who end up with these infections are either eating chicken that hasn’t been handled correctly in the kitchen or cooked thoroughly enough to kill the bacteria.

Of course, washing hands is paramount before cooking or handling food, but washing them after handling raw meat is just as important. When cooking chicken, ensure the meat has no pink tint (use a food thermometer to verify the chicken’s internal temperature is at least 165°F).

Still, how does the E. coli make it to the urinary tract?

Anatomy is the reason women are more prone to UTIs — though men have plenty of ways to end up with painful UTIs, too. But in women, the urethra, which carries urine from the bladder to exit the body, is typically shorter — and it’s in very close proximity to the anus.

This is the reason women grow up hearing the mantra “wipe front to back.” If you don’t wipe front to back, and you’ve ingested E. coli, it’s possible to bring the bacteria up from the anus to the urethra, where they can invade the urinary tract.

Prevention is the best medicine when it comes to antibiotic-resistant infections. Cranberry juice, already popular as a remedy, recently had its credibility backed by science. That’s why it’s included in this three-part system my friend Dr. Adria Schmedhorst shared, that could help you keep the threat of recurrent UTIs at bay.

The post The food that may give you an antibiotic-resistant UTI appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

There are “good” and “bad” bacteria, and most of the time, the good bacteria are able to keep the bad ones in line.

But you may be surprised to know just how easily that perfect balance can go out the window…

You’re probably well aware that antibiotics can cause dysbiosis, but so can many common prescriptions.

Even if you have indigestion on occasion or eat contaminated food (hey, it happens) or suffer from inflammation (it’s way more common than you think) — you could be at risk of serious infection from harmful bacteria, including E.coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Both E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae are known culprits in a variety of infections, including urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections and pneumonia. 

E. coli is also a common cause of gastrointestinal infections like diarrhea, while Klebsiella can lead to more severe infections like meningitis and liver abscesses.

These two nasty bacterial strains are usually present in the gut in low numbers, and as long as they stay that way, all is well. But you can see how easily things can go south.

If you’d like a little “insurance” to ensure that doesn’t happen, we’ve some encouraging news for you…

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How fiber can reduce your risk of infection

An international group of medical researchers has shown that dietary fiber plays a crucial role in preventing the overgrowth of harmful gut bacteria.

The researchers analyzed gut microbiome data from over 12,000 people across 45 countries, trying to identify patterns that predict the gut’s susceptibility to being overrun by harmful Enterobacteriaceae bacteria, including E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.

The good news is that 135 microbial species commonly found in healthy guts seem to protect against “bad” bacteria.

One of these species, known as Faecalibacterium, stood out for its ability to protect the gut by producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that play a critical role in making the gut inhospitable to harmful bacteria.

And how exactly do they produce SCFAs? By breaking down dietary fiber.

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Lots of doctors recommend probiotics to manage “bad” gut bacteria, but these researchers challenge that notion.

Their study revealed that 172 microbial species coexist with these pathogens, competing for the same nutrients.

“Taking probiotics that compete for the same nutrients with the bad bacteria to try and starve them out isn’t going to work,” explained Dr. Alexandre Almeida, senior author of the study.

Instead, he says that altering the gut environment through dietary adjustments offers a more effective strategy.

This is why getting a good amount of fiber in your daily diet is crucial. It’s not just to keep your bowels regular; it’s so that your gut can stay in balance and not be susceptible to E. coli and other bacteria that cause infection, inflammation and disease.

Too little fiber also can lead to a deadly case of sepsis. Sepsis occurs when your immune system releases chemicals into the bloodstream to fight an infection somewhere in your body, such as those mentioned above. However, the immune system goes into overdrive, triggering body-wide inflammation and a significant risk of organ failure and death.

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Fiber: No longer just for regularity

A diet rich in plant-based foods and fiber is crucial for supporting the gut bacteria that produce these beneficial SCFAs. But even if you eat well, the vast majority of Americans get woefully insufficient amounts of dietary fiber.

Here’s some research on how fiber fights heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, along with a comprehensive list of foods and amounts to add to your diet, gradually, so that you’re getting your ideal amount of fiber.

Inulin fiber is especially known for producing SCFAs. You can find a list of foods that provide inulin here.

And if you want to follow a well-rounded diet to up your fiber intake, there’s nothing better than the Mediterranean diet. Here’s the quick and easy version of why this diet is so good for your gut, and how to get started.

Believe me, your taste buds and your gut will thank me!

Sources:

Feeding Good Gut Bacteria Through Diet May Help Prevent Infections — Integrative Practitioner

Ecological dynamics of Enterobacteriaceae in the human gut microbiome across global populations — Nature Microbiology

The post From UTIs to sepsis: Eat this to reduce infection risk appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

In fact, 12% of men will be affected by a UTI — a problem that can become chronic.

And some men are more susceptible than others, leaving them open to the extreme pain, bleeding and sepsis these infections can cause.

Here are the six most common causes behind this increased susceptibility…

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6 ways men get UTIs

#1 – BPH

Benign prostatic hypertrophy, or BPH, is one of the leading causes of UTIs in men.

That’s because when the prostate enlarges, it compresses the urethra, blocking the flow of urine. This can increase the chances of bacteria building up and lead to a UTI.

#2 – Kidney stones

As with BPH, kidney stones can cause a blockage in the urinary tract that leads to a buildup of urine in the bladder. When this happens, bacteria can multiply and take over, resulting in a UTI.

Additionally, as kidney stones pass through the tiny tubes of the urinary tract, they scrape and irritate the sides, leaving a pathway open for those bad bacteria.

#3 – Diabetes

Because diabetes can negatively affect your immune system, it can leave you open to a wide variety of infections, including UTIs.

Research has also revealed that the high blood glucose levels associated with diabetes result in a decrease in psoriasin, an important natural antibiotic that protects against urinary tract infections.

#4 – Age

Like with many medical conditions, UTIs become more common in men with age. In fact, while younger men rarely experience a UTI, men older than 50 tend to get more infections.

This can be due to the increased likelihood of prostate enlargement, which prevents full emptying of the bladder. Other issues that are more likely to be seen with age that can cause problems with bladder emptying may include nerve damage from stroke or injury to the spine.

#5 – Medical procedures/catheter use

Surgeries or exams of the urinary tract can also increase a man’s chances of suffering a UTI.

Catheters, which are thin tubes inserted into the urethra to reach the bladder to assist emptying it in people who can’t urinate on their own, are another known UTI risk.

#6 – Anatomical abnormalities

Structural deformities of the urinary tract, including abnormal narrowing, can prevent urine from leaving the body normally and lead to bacterial growth.

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6 steps to avoid UTIs

The good news is that while these six issues can make men more likely to end up with a painful UTI, there are easy steps that can be taken to prevent these bacterial takeovers.

The first is to empty the bladder often. After all, as urine builds up, so can bacteria.

Next, be sure to drink plenty of liquids, especially water.

It’s also wise to avoid bladder irritants when possible, like sugary foods and carbonated or caffeinated drinks.

I also recommend taking D-mannose and probiotics regularly to keep UTIs at bay.

D-mannose is a natural fruit sugar that helps prevent certain bacteria from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract. And it’s been shown to be effective at keeping recurrent UTIs at bay.

And of course, probiotics are beneficial bacteria that help keep your body’s microbiome in balance to prevent bad bacteria from taking over your urinary tract.

Finally, don’t throw out the old wisdom for the new…

Cranberries are still a great, natural option for UTI prevention and are now research-backed.

Studies have shown that cranberry products (like juices and supplements) are linked to a lower risk of recurring UTIs. And they’ve proven that the polyphenols in cranberries work by keeping E. coli (the bacteria behind most UTIs) from sticking to the urinary tract lining.

Sources:

Urinary tract infections in men: Here are 10 things to know — CNN

All you need to know about UTIs in men — MedicalNewsToday

How Does a Male Get a UTI? Causes of UTIs in Men — MedicineNet

UTIs in Men: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment — WebMD

Why people with diabetes have more UTIs and how to prevent infections — MedicalNewsToday

3 steps to avoid recurrent urinary tract infections — Easy Health Options

The post 6 conditions that increase UTIs in men appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

In this condition, the muscles and connective tissues of the pelvic floor weaken and allow the organs they usually hold in place — like the bladder and uterus — to shift downward and press against the vaginal wall.

POP is usually a result of pregnancy, childbirth or menopause and typically results in pelvic pressure and the feeling of tissue bulging from the vagina.

If that weren’t “uncomfortable” enough, POP presents a double whammy when it comes to urinary tract infection…

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UTI and POP: A problem before and after

During prolapse, pressure on the bladder can keep it from emptying completely, causing urine stagnation and bacterial growth (this is similar to what happens in men with an enlarged prostate). This is why women experiencing prolapse are known to get frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs).

If a woman’s quality of life is impacted enough by pain and bowel and bladder problems, surgery may be required to put pelvic organs back in place. More than 12 percent of American women will have POP surgery in their lifetime.

But for some, even if other symptoms are alleviated by surgery, post-surgical UTIs and other complications can persist…

Researchers at Mayo Clinic looking to head off these post-surgical complications analyzed vaginal microbiome samples from postmenopausal women undergoing a vaginal hysterectomy with pelvic reconstruction.

The samples were collected at five stages, including before surgery, immediately after and during recovery. They then used advanced sequencing techniques to map the genetic material of the microbes and identify changes in the microbial communities.

They made some fascinating discoveries…

Key bacteria involved in disruption

Women with lower levels of the protective bacterial species Lactobacillus in the vaginal microbiome were more likely to develop a UTI post-POP surgery.

In addition, higher levels of the bacteria types Prevotella and Gardnerella — both linked to inflammation and infection — were associated with a greater risk of postoperative UTI.

Then, samples taken after surgery showed lower microbial diversity in both the vaginal and urinary microbiomes. It’s a known fact that the diversity of bacterial strains is essential for healthy microbiomes. The researchers suggest that preoperative antibiotics (which can contribute to dysbiosis) and vaginal cleansing before surgery, and the surgery itself, could be to blame for the imbalanced microbiomes.

By identifying these patterns, the researchers hope they have found a way to potentially predict who will develop a post-surgical UTI before surgery even begins.

“Our ability to detect these microbiome patterns provides a potential opportunity to personalize treatment strategies and improve outcomes,” says Dr. Marina Walther-Antonio, a microbiome researcher at the Mayo Clinic.

“Understanding the microbiome’s role in post-surgical infections gives us a unique opportunity to possibly prevent these complications altogether,” says Dr. John Occhino, a Mayo Clinic urogynecologic surgeon.

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It’s all about diversity

UTIs can be especially challenging for women, with or without POP. Staying ahead of the game by supporting your microbiomes with probiotics is a simple and effective way to reduce your risk of these annoying infections.

Probiotic suppositories that can be vaginally inserted are on the market, though the research has not quite caught up with how effective they are. However, I did come across a study where women who took oral Lactobacillus saw a significant increase in the numbers of their vaginal lactobacilli.

You might be excited to learn that previous research shows probiotics in the Lactobacillus family are particularly effective when it comes to weight loss.

But most importantly, taking a probiotic could not only help build up a healthy microbiome before surgery, but it may also prevent the disruption to the microbiome that the researcher saw occur from surgery.

Here are more supplements known to help reduce the risk of UTI…

• D-mannose: This glucose-related sugar can prevent certain bacteria from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract. In at least one study, it has been found to be more effective than antibiotics at getting rid of recurrent UTIs.
• Cranberry extract: Research has shown that consuming cranberry products in juice, tablet or capsule form was strongly associated with reduced risk of UTI in women with recurrent infections. Other studies indicate that proanthocyanidins (a type of polyphenol) could keep E. coli, the bacteria behind most UTIs, from sticking to the urinary tract lining.

If you plan to undergo POP, you may want to talk to your doctor leading up to surgery for best practices to avoid post-surgical UTI, and be sure he is aware of any supplements you’re taking in case he wants you to stop for a brief period before surgery.

Sources:

Vaginal microbiome may predict post-surgery urinary tract infections — Mayo Clinic

Preoperative vaginal microbiome as a predictor of postoperative urinary tract infection — Scientific Reports

Pelvic organ prolapse — Mayo Clinic

Demystifying pelvic organ prolapse — UChicagoMedicine

Are My Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections Caused by Prolapse? — Austin Urogynecology

Vaginal microbiome following orally administered probiotic — Journal of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology

The post What women should know about pelvic organ prolapse and UTI appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

You see, for a couple of years, mom had suffered from recurrent UTIs.

As you probably know, UTIs are becoming increasingly difficult to treat. Especially since the bacterium that causes them, in most cases, is becoming resistant to antibiotic treatment.

And taking more potent and stronger antibiotics for each urinary tract infection had begun to take a toll on mom…

At one point, she was even hospitalized with a severe C. diff infection (resulting from antibiotic overuse). After that, we knew we had to do something differently to help her, so I began researching…

I devised a plan of action: Instead of fighting infection after infection, we’d help mom avoid them in the first place.

I gave her the three-part system I found to help finally clear those recurrent UTIs — the same one I will give you right now. Mom makes these three supplements part of her routine, and it seems to have done the trick…

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Step #1: D-Mannose

D-mannose is a type of sugar. It’s related to glucose. Now, it may sound strange that I would recommend sugar to get rid of a UTI since you’re usually told to avoid sugar, but stick with me.

The secret behind D-mannose is that it can prevent certain bacteria from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract. And it’s been shown to be more effective than antibiotics at getting rid of recurrent UTIs.

In fact, a 2014 study divided 308 women with a history of recurrent UTIs into three groups. One group took D-mannose powder in water for six months. The second group was given a daily antibiotic. The third group received no treatment at all.

By the end of the study, only 98 women still had a recurrent UTI: 15 in the D-mannose group, 21 in the antibiotic group and the rest had received no treatment. Not only did D-mannose beat the antibiotic, it did it without side effects, unlike the prescription drug.

Step #2: Cranberries (and vitamin C)

The next step is cranberries. Women have known these little berries had a powerful action against UTIs for decades. And research has slowly caught up…

In 2023, using data from a review of 50 studies with 8,857 participants, researchers analyzed results from trials where cranberry products were compared with placebos, with antibiotics or probiotics and with no treatment at all.

They found that consuming cranberry products (in juice, tablet or capsule form) was strongly associated with reduced risk of UTIs in women with recurrent infections.

Earlier research has shown that it could be the proanthocyanidins (a type of polyphenol) in cranberries that do the job by keeping E. coli (the bacteria behind most UTIs) from sticking to the urinary tract lining.

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But that’s not all. Cranberries are a good source of vitamin C.

This potential little vitamin does three things: It boosts your immune system, makes your urine more acidic and also helps stop the growth of E. coli).

In 2007, researchers found that a daily dose of just 100 milligrams of vitamin C for three months significantly reduced urinary tract infections.

Step #3: Probiotics

The final step in the three-part plan to get rid of recurrent UTIs is to take probiotics.

That’s because good flora, like what you get in probiotics, helps to prevent the bad bacteria from taking over your urinary tract.

A great way to get more probiotics in your system is to eat fermented foods. These include foods like sauerkraut, kombucha, kefir, yogurt and kimchi. But a high-quality probiotic pill is a super easy way.

The key strain here is Lactobacillus rhamnosus, which is often added to dairy products like yogurt, milk and cheeses to help them ripen.

And, there you have it… a three-part plan to kiss those constant UTIs goodbye for good. Start using the power of D-mannose, cranberries and probiotics today to get rid of the harmful bacteria, boost your immune system and restore your normal flora.

It’s important to remember that men can also suffer from UTIs, and the steps outlined here can be beneficial for them, too.

Sources:

Effectiveness of a Combination of Cranberries, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and Vitamin C for the Management of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections in Women: Results of a Pilot Study — European Urology

The post 3 steps to avoid recurrent urinary tract infections appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Men get them, too. But a whopping 60% of women will experience the discomfort and pain of a UTI at some point in their life.

And if you’re one of the really unfortunate women out there, UTIs can become a chronic problem. You go from one infection to the next, and if things get bad enough, your doctor will put you on long-term antibiotics just to head off the next one.

But antibiotic resistance is fueled by just such constant use of these drugs.

In fact, the World Health Organization found that one of the antibiotics most widely used to treat UTIs already has a 50% resistance rate— which means this antibiotic is now ineffective for half of all people who try it.

Fortunately, there are natural alternatives to antibiotics (more about that in a minute).

And now, a discovery about where the bacteria that cause UTIs actually live promises to reduce the need to overuse the antibiotics that treat these infections.

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Treat the bladder AND the vagina to end the loop

Until lately, it’s been widely assumed that these infection-causing bacteria live only in a woman’s bladder — in fact, UTIs are also associated with bladder infections. But a recent study has proven otherwise…

A team led by Dr. Takanori Sekito of Okayama University’s Graduate School of Medicine analyzed samples taken from both the bladder and the vagina of infected women. They found that the bacteria in both places were genetically identical.

And, as the bacteria get passed back and forth between the vagina and the bladder, they create infections that are almost impossible to treat.

As Dr. Sekito explains, “The vagina can serve as a reservoir of enteric bacteria, including E. coli, and cystitis can become intractable.” In other words, with the bacteria causing infection in both places, it becomes a recurring loop of agony for many women.

This discovery opens the door to more effective treatment and prevention that doesn’t involve antibiotics.

I’ll let Dr. Sekito explain:

“We are developing Lactobacillus vaginal suppositories, as a means of prevention and treatment of recurrent cystitis. This new ‘non-antimicrobial’ prevention will reduce the unnecessary administration of antimicrobials and the consequent emergence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. The Lactobacillus suppositories will effectively regulate the vaginal environment and reduce the virulence of E. coli.”

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Cutting down on UTIs

A vaginal suppository that could short-circuit the cycle of recurring UTIs would be a game-changer for women.

But until those suppositories are on the market, there’s no need to suffer. There is a lot of science behind other natural ways to attack these nasty infections, including traditional sources or probiotics…

Probiotics. Strains of lactobacillus, the bacterial family found in probiotic foods such as sauerkraut, pickles, yogurt, and probiotic supplements, have been found to cling to the vaginal walls and to be active against the main pathogens responsible for UTIs. Probiotics specifically branded for women to support urinary health are already on the market and feature Lactobacillus strains.

But you must also feed those good bacteria prebiotics to sustain the balance of good bacteria. That’s easy enough — prebiotics are found in bananas, oats, asparagus, flax seeds, apples and of course supplements.

Cranberries. It’s been anecdotal for decades, but research has finally shown that cranberries can keep UTIs away.The proanthocyanidins (a type of polyphenol) they contain keep E. coli from sticking to the urinary tract lining.

Manuka honey. Produced by bees that pollinate the Manuka tree, native to New Zealand, Manuka honey can stop the growth of urinary tract-causing bacteria and prevent them from forming biofilms (a thin layer of bacteria that adhere to your bladder and cause chronic or recurring bladder infections). Antibiotics typically can’t touch these biofilms because the bacteria in them are notoriously antibiotic-resistant.

In addition, wearing loose-fitting clothing, drinking plenty of water, fully emptying your bladder when you urinate and taking vitamin C can help.

Sources:

A tale of two “niches”: The microbial connection between urinary bladder and vagina — Eureka Alert

Are probiotics good for vaginal health? — Cleveland Clinic

Homology of Escherichia coli isolated from urine and vagina and their antimicrobial susceptibility in postmenopausal women with recurrent cystitis — Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy

The post Stopping ‘recurring loop of infection’ can end chronic UTI appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

As we age, the elastic tissue of the bladder can become tough and less stretchy, leading to a bladder that doesn’t hold as much urine as before. That means we’re running to the bathroom more often than we used to.

Also, the bladder wall and pelvic floor muscles often begin to weaken, making it harder to fully empty your bladder — or worse, causing urinary incontinence (UI).

This type of leakage isn’t an uncommon problem, especially for older women. While roughly 17 percent of American women ages 20 and older suffer from UI, that number skyrockets to 38 percent of women ages 60 and up, or a little over 1 in 3 women.

While there’s nothing you can do about getting older, there are some steps you can take to try to preserve as much of your bladder health as possible…

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Tips for a healthy bladder

1. Don’t wait to go. Trying to hold urine in for too long can weaken your bladder muscles and lead to a urinary infection. Make sure you urinate at least once every 3 to 4 hours.
2. Relax and take your time. If you rush when you urinate, you may not fully empty your bladder, a situation that can lead to infection. You may even want to try what is known as double voiding, where you stand up after urinating, and then sit down again to completely empty your bladder. And women, you need to sit on the toilet seat, since hovering over it may make it hard to relax the muscles around the bladder, which you need to do to fully empty it.
3. Wipe front to back. This step is most important after a bowel movement, but regardless, women should always wipe from front to back to keep gut bacteria from getting into the urethra (urinary tract) and causing infection.
4. Urinate shortly after sex. This goes for women and men since sexual activity can move bacteria from the bowel or vagina to the opening of the urethra.
5. Do Kegel exercises. These pelvic floor muscle exercises can help with bladder help in several ways. They can help hold urine in the bladder, keeping you from leaking urine. And by strengthening the muscles that help empty the bladder, they can help you avoid infection. And guess what? Kegels help men too in numerous ways!
6. Wear cotton underwear and loose-fitting clothes. Wearing loose, cotton clothing helps keep the area around the urethra dry, while wearing tight-fitting pants and nylon underwear can trap moisture and help bacteria grow.
7. Maintain a healthy weight. Overweight people have a higher risk of UI.
8. Exercise regularly. Physical activity can help prevent bladder problems as well as support healthy weight management.
9. Watch what you eat and drink. Some foods and drinks, including sodas, alcohol, artificial sweeteners, spicy foods, citrus fruits and juices and tomato-based foods, can make bladder problems worse. Caffeinated drinks like coffee and tea can also irritate the bladder and increase the frequent or urgent need to urinate.
10. Drink enough fluids (especially water). How much water you need varies based on your size, activity level, health conditions and the climate you live in. A good rule of thumb is to drink enough fluids so you need to urinate every few hours. However, it’s best to discuss your fluid needs with your doctor if you have a pre-existing health condition like kidney failure or heart disease. Remember cranberry juice is great for hydration and for helping keep UTIs away.
11. Avoid constipation. Allowing too much stool to build up in the colon puts pressure on the bladder and keeps it from expanding. You can help prevent constipation by eating more fruits and vegetables, drinking enough water and staying physically active. If you still need help, try natural helpers to make “going” easier.
12. If you smoke, quit. Bladder problems are more common in smokers, and smoking also increases the risk of bladder cancer.
13. Check your medications. Some medications could make bladder leakage more likely, such as medications that help you sleep or relax.

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Supplements to try

If you’re already experiencing mild bladder issues, you may want to try adding these natural supplements to your daily routine:

• Pumpkin seed extract. Research has shown pumpkin seed extract can have a positive effect on bladder symptoms, with one study showing decreased daytime and nighttime frequency and decreased urgency.
• Kohki tea. This sweet tea has high levels of antioxidants and has demonstrated a protective effect on bladder function.
• Phytoestrogens. Some studies have found this natural estrogen compound found in foods like soy, sesame seeds, lentils, oats and berries to be connected with improved pelvic floor muscles.

Source:

15 Tips To Keep Your Bladder Healthy — National Institute on Aging

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That’s what Dr. Gabrielle Williams had to say about recent findings regarding the effectiveness of cranberry juice to avoid urinary tract infections (UTIs) in people who are susceptible to them, and who suffer from repeated episodes of these painful infections.

Centuries ago, Native Americans valued cranberries for bladder problems. And like me, you probably grew up with a mom who suggested drinking cranberry juice to avoid this painful condition.

But science has often scoffed at this anecdotal evidence, chalking it up to an old wives’ tale. That is, until now…

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Proof cranberry products prevent UTIs

Dr. Gabrielle Williams, a clinical researcher and epidemiologist at the University of Sydney, led a research review that looked for evidence to back up the apparent effectiveness of cranberry juice in preventing UTIs.

Even though cranberry juice and supplements with cranberry have long been promoted as good prevention against UTIs — and even though lots of women swear by that — the most recent review of 24 clinical trials in 2012 said otherwise.

Thankfully, scientists from Flinders University and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead sought to update these findings…

After adding 26 new studies to the 2012 review, bringing the total number of studies to 50 with 8,857 participants — they analyzed results from trials of cranberry products compared with placebos, with antibiotics or probiotics and with no treatment at all.

Results showed that consuming cranberry products (in juice, tablet, or capsule form) was strongly associated with reduced risk of UTIs in women with recurrent infections.

There was a significant protective benefit noted among children, and among people at risk of UTIs due to interventions such as bladder radiotherapy. No significant benefit was noted for elderly subjects in particular.

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Why does it work?

It’s estimated that about 90 percent of UTIs are caused by the bacterium E. coli.

Earlier research has shown that it could be the proanthocyanidins (a type of polyphenol) in cranberries that do the job, by keeping E. coli bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract lining. Cranberries, along with blueberries and chokeberries (Aronia berries) are among the few sources of this powerful polyphenol compound.

Preventing UTIs means less reliance on antibiotics

Antibiotics have their place. If a UTI goes untreated it can move to the kidneys and cause complications, including sepsis in very severe cases. But for women with recurrent infections, antibiotics can pose other problems…

E. coli is becoming resistant to our best antibiotic treatments. That’s one very important reason why prevention is so important.

There are a few other tips to help cut down on UTI risk…

First, get in the habit of urinating when you have the urge, rather than holding it in (yes, even at night). Studies have found that holding your urine in for a long time allows bacteria to multiply in your urinary tract, resulting in a urinary tract infection.

Next, wear loose-fitting, dry clothing. Loose-fitting clothes and underwear allow airflow that can help keep unnecessary moisture away to keep the urethra dry.

Sources:

A myth no more: Cranberry products can prevent urinary tract infections for women — Eureka Alert

It’s Official: Cranberries Can Reduce Risk of UTI by 50% in Certain People — Science Alert

Is cranberry juice really effective against urinary tract infections? — Medical News Today

Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections — Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

Cranberry products can prevent urinary tract infections — Flinders University

Cranberry Products Inhibit Adherence of P-Fimbriated Escherichia Coli to Primary Cultured Bladder and Vaginal Epithelial Cells — The Journal of Urology

The post It’s official: Cranberries keep urinary tract infections away appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

If you’re an older man, this scenario may be all too familiar. You’re experiencing what’s known as lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) such as weak stream and frequent nighttime urination, or nocturia.

LUTS is usually associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a condition in which the prostate becomes enlarged and makes it difficult to urinate or completely empty the bladder. However, age-related bladder changes, metabolic syndrome and vascular disease also can contribute to LUTS.

Moderate to severe LUTS has been linked to an increased risk of death in previous studies. But it was unclear whether improving these symptoms had any impact on that higher death risk — until now….

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The danger of lower urinary tract symptoms

Researchers analyzed data on 3,046 men aged 50 or older with moderate to severe LUTS from the Medical Treatment of Prostate Symptoms trial. The participants were randomly assigned to receive active treatment with LUTS medications or an inactive placebo. Medications used in the study were the alpha-1 blocker doxazosin, the 5-alpha reductase inhibitor finasteride or a combination of the two.

During the two-year follow-up period, the researchers used the AUA Symptom Score to rate the impact of LUTS symptoms on a scale of 0 to 35. Follow-up data were used to determine the connection between reduction in urinary symptoms and death risk after an average of six years.

Results showed that for each one-point reduction in symptom score, the risk for death decreased by 4 percent. The more symptoms were reduced, the greater the reduction in death risk, with a 10-point reduction in LUTS symptoms correlating with a 35 percent decrease in death risk.

While the men assigned to all three active treatment groups showed significant reductions in mortality risk, the placebo group did not.

The researchers note that urinary symptoms are typically regarded as a “benign condition” that’s only treated when it becomes a problem for the patient.

“The findings suggest that we may need to view urinary symptoms differently, possibly with an emphasis on earlier treatment,” says lead author Dr. Blayne Welk of Western University and Lawson Health Research Institute in Canada.

The researchers stress that the study cannot determine a causal relationship between improved LUTS symptoms and subsequent death risk and that further study is needed. They also observe that the study did not evaluate the impact of other treatment options, including newer types of selective alpha blockers.

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Natural ways to keep your prostate healthy

If you decide to ask your doctor about medication for LUTS or BPH, you should know that studies have linked 5-alpha reductase inhibitors like finasteride with an elevated risk of diabetes. Your doctor will want to consider your health history before choosing that path.

There are other medications but they too have side effects to be weighed. For those reasons, some men choose a natural approach.

For instance, diet can influence prostate health. Some foods should be avoided, while other foods may help shrink the prostate.  Research shows that a diet rich in whole fruits, vegetables and healthy fats (sounds like the Mediterranean diet!) can improve prostate health and BPH.

Several supplements have a reputation for relieving LUTS as well, most notably saw palmetto. Studies have confirmed the effectiveness of saw palmetto in promoting prostate health, relieving the excessive need to urinate (especially at night) and enhancing urinary flow. Others include pygeum, stinging nettle and beta-sitosterol.

Consider drinking green and black tea regularly (but avoid drinking anything close to bedtime). A study conducted by researchers at Winthrop University Hospital in Garden City, New York, evaluated the impact of green and black tea on a small group of men (46) with LUTS. The men who had taken the tea mixture showed an improvement in LUTS (including improved urinary flow and reduced inflammation) and quality of life in as little as six weeks when compared with placebo.

And last but not least, regular exercise is also important for keeping your prostate healthy. The more active you are, the lower your risk of BPH or prostate problems.

Sources:                                                                                                        For older men, treating urinary symptoms may lead to lower mortality risk — EurekAlert!

The Reduction of Male Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Is Associated With a Decreased Risk of Death — The Journal of Urology

The post Ignoring these bathroom symptoms can cut your life short appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

It means protecting yourself from a range of complications that can harm so many other parts of your body — your brain, heart, eyes, feet, and kidneys, for starters.

Older people in particular need to protect against falls, since diabetes makes debilitating fractures far more likely, especially if your blood sugar is poorly controlled.

Diabetes also makes you more prone to infections of all sorts, including urinary tract and bladder infections. In fact, diabetics are 10 times more likely to suffer from UTIs than the general population.

A new study has explained why people with diabetes are subject to this particularly frustrating (and often painful) type of infection…

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Glucose gets in the way of preventing UTIs

Researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden have found the connection between diabetes and those troublesome UTIs.

Psoriasin (having nothing to do with psoriasis) is a naturally occurring antibiotic that is part of our innate immune system.

The adaptive immune system acts only in response to the presence of a foreign substance like a virus, attacking and destroying that particular substance, while the innate immune system stands ready to destroy or block all “invaders.”

When left to do its job, psoriasin ensures that the bladder lining remains intact and protects against infections.

High concentrations of glucose, however, block the action of psoriasin. But the Swedish research team has found a way to counteract this…

Estrogen could help prevent UTIs

Annelie Brauner, professor in the Division of Clinical Microbiology at the Karolinska Institute, headed the current study.

Previously, she and her team had shown that treating bladder cells with estrogen (in both mice and humans) allowed those cells to regain their protective abilities.

Could estrogen hold the key to controlling bladder infections for people with diabetes, they wondered?

It could, indeed. And psoriasin was the connection.

They found that the presence of estrogen boosts levels of psoriasin.

This means that estrogen treatment could be a simple and straightforward way to prevent the frequent UTIs experienced by people with diabetes.

More research is needed into the underlying mechanisms that cause frequent infections of all sorts in people with diabetes, according to Prof. Brauner and her team.

But the present findings hold great promise.

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Other infections that affect diabetics

In the meantime, we already have plenty of ways for people with diabetes to lower their risk of infections of all sorts.

Diabetic neuropathy is a form of nerve damage that can result from high blood sugar, a metabolic imbalance, or an infection. Tingling and pain in the feet, followed by sensitivity to touch and complete numbness are its hallmarks.

According to the CDC, the best ways for people with diabetes to prevent neuropathy are to maintain a healthy weight and blood pressure, limit alcohol, and get regular physical activity.

Diabetic kidney disease (also called diabetic nephropathy) keeps the kidneys from doing their job, which is to remove waste and excess fluids from the body.

When diabetes and blood pressure are poorly controlled, the delicate filtering system in the kidneys becomes damaged. Over time, if left unaddressed, this can lead to end-stage renal disease.

Studies show that eating vegetables that contain phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC),  especially broccoli, radishes, turnips and watercress, can help prevent and even reverse kidney problems that arise from diabetes.

The bottom line: if you have diabetes, stay on top of it. Visit your doctor regularly, eat a healthy, whole-food diet and quit smoking (or don’t start).

And if you don’t have diabetes, following this advice can keep you from going down that road.

Sources:

New study explains link between diabetes and UTIs — Science Daily

The post The link between diabetes, UTIs and the hormone that helps appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Each time you run to the bathroom, you burn and ache. And almost the second you’re done, the urge to go starts again.

So you head off to your doctor, who gives you a prescription for an antibiotic and lectures you about proper hygiene.

After all, most UTIs are caused by E. coli bacteria that get into the urinary tract. And far too many male doctors are not sympathetic to the frustrations women experience with a UTI.

Even worse, while the antibiotic may provide relief, it’s often only temporary. In fact, a quarter of women go on to develop a second UTI within just six months. And for some of us, the UTIs come back over and over, pushing us into a vicious cycle of taking antibiotics every few months.

Luckily, a study by researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine, Harvard and MIT may have found the answer to finally stopping the UTI cycle — and it starts in your gut…

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Your microbiome and your bladder

The bacteria behind most of these repeat infections is E. coli. While it’s in the gut, the body can keep it from causing too much trouble — a gut with a healthy microbial balance, that is.

However, when a woman visits the doctor, she’s often given round after round of antibiotics. But here’s the thing…

Scott J. Hultgren, PhD, is the Helen L. Stoever Professor of Molecular Microbiology at Washington University. “It’s not necessarily poor hygiene that’s causing this. The problem lies in the disease itself, in this connection between the gut and the bladder and levels of inflammation. Basically, physicians don’t know what to do with recurrent UTI. All they have is antibiotics, so they throw more antibiotics at the problem, which probably just makes things worse.”

That’s an understatement — and it’s absolutely true.

His research team studied 15 women with histories of recurrent UTIs and 16 without. Both groups carried E. coli strains in their guts capable of causing UTIs, and such strains occasionally spread to their bladders.

So what was the difference between the two groups of women? The women who experienced repeat UTIs (and took antibiotics to treat the infection each time) had less diversity among the microbes inhabiting their guts — in other words, an imbalance. And that’s an open door for disease-causing bacteria to grow their numbers and wreak havoc. They were particularly low on bacteria that produce butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid with anti-inflammatory effects.

Probiotic + prebiotic power

None of this is surprising if you’re a woman. And no matter what sex you are, by now, all of us know that antibiotic overuse only makes things worse.

And we know how to combat the problem. If the secret to stopping recurrent UTIs is keeping your microbiome healthy, it could be time to add more probiotics to your life.

You can find these beneficial bacteria in fermented foods, such as yogurt. However, many people don’t realize that getting probiotics into your gut is only half of the equation. The other half is feeding them prebiotics to help them thrive.

Sometimes antibiotics are necessary to take. As long as your microbiome is armed and ready, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.

Sources:

Urinary Tract Infection – Mayo Clinic

Recurrent UTIs linked to gut microbiome, chronic inflammation – ScienceDaily

The post Recurrent UTIs start in your gut — not your bladder appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

In fact, every year 150 million people suffer from an infection of the urinary tract or bladder, commonly called a UTI. And a whopping 60 percent of women are diagnosed with a UTI sometime during their lifetime, with many suffering again and again.

And while the pain and symptoms of the infection themselves are bad enough, according to a new study, having a urinary tract infection could be a signal of far worse to come…

Bladder cancer.

Toxin-induced DNA damage to bladder cells

Doctors say that approximately 80 percent (an overwhelming majority) of UTIs are caused by a bacteria known as Uropathogenic E. coli or UPEC. And now, a new study has shown that this bacteria is capable of producing a toxin known as colibactin, which has long been suspected of being involved in cancer.

The research, performed at the Université de Toulouse, analyzed urine samples from 223 patients with community-acquired UTIs. Out of those samples, they found that 55 of the patients (or close to 25 percent) showed evidence of colibactin synthesis.

Additionally, when the researchers isolated strains of the UPEC bacteria from these same patients, they found that the bacteria itself was producing that colibactin.

Now, here’s where it gets really scary…

In a mouse model of urinary tract infections, the team found that colibactin-producing bacteria were capable of producing extensive DNA damage in bladder cells.

Yup, DNA damage! That’s cancer folks.

As the researchers put it, their findings support the idea that UTIs may play a role in bladder cancer development.

And they conclude, “Our work suggests that there should be a more specific follow-up of patients regularly suffering from urinary tract infections, with a systematic search for colibactin markers in their urine, but also more proactive, by proposing therapeutic approaches aimed at modulating the composition of their intestinal microbiota, which represents the main reservoir of the E. coli bacteria involved in these urinary tract infections.”

A reservoir of E. coli bacteria

That last was a lot of scientific talk, but it came down to two very important points:

1. If you live with regular UTIs, you need to ask your doctor about getting checked for colibactin in your urine to gauge your future cancer risk.
2. Focusing on improving the balance of good bacteria in your gut is a must, since the researchers say that it’s the “main reservoir” for the E. coli (bad bacteria) that causes those UTIs.

So, how do you improve the balance of bacteria in your gut microbiome?

The answer is getting more probiotics and prebiotics in your diet.

Probiotics are the good bacteria that help to tip the balance and prebiotics are responsible for feeding them.

You can find each in supplement form or get them through your diet.

Probiotic sources include things like yogurt, kefir, kimchi and kombucha, while prebiotic-rich foods include garlic, onions, Jerusalem artichokes and bananas.

Sources:

Bacterial toxin is found in patients with urinary tract infections — EurekAlert!

The post How urinary tract infections can lead to bladder cancer appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

For a long time, the medical community believed that there was no microbiome in the urinary tract and that urine was totally sterile (you may even come across doctors who still think this today). But recent research shows this is far from the truth.

As technology has progressed, researchers have used more advanced urine cultures and DNA sequencing to detect microorganisms in urine that didn’t show up using old testing methods. As a result, it’s becoming more widely accepted that, just like everyone has a unique microbiome in their gut, everyone has a unique microbiome in their urinary tract. This urinary microbiome most likely impacts your urinary health… and according to new research, it may even impact whether you become incontinent or not.

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Incontinent women have major differences in their urinary tract microbiome

A recent study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that women with urinary incontinence have big differences in their microbiomes from women without incontinence. The study also found that women with different types of urinary incontinence even have important differences in their microbiomes from each other.

The study included 309 adult women who fell into one of three categories: continent, suffering from stress incontinence or suffering from urgency incontinence.

In case you don’t know, stress incontinence refers to urine loss that happens during physical activity, and urgency incontinence refers to a sudden urgent need to urinate followed by urine loss. These women’s symptoms were gauged through a questionnaire, and urine cultures were taken to look for microbes. Here’s what researchers determined…

Women with urinary incontinence had different microbes in their urine than women without incontinence. Women with incontinence also had more microbial diversity in their urine than women without incontinence.

The fact that there were microbial differences in women who had stress incontinence versus urgency incontinence is another interesting finding from the study.
Although it’s long been suspected that these two different types of incontinence have different causes, we didn’t know those differences happened in the microbiome.

Probably the most important information to take away from this study is the specific strains that seem to make up a healthy urinary microbiome and the ones that don’t. In this study, women who were continent had these bacterial strains most abundantly in their urine:

• Lactobacillus iners (12.7%)
• Streptococcus anginosus (12.7%)
• L crispatus (10.7%)
• L gasseri (10%)

Women with both types of incontinence had far more Streptococcus anginosus in their urine than continent women, plus they had a variety of other bacterial species that weren’t present in the urine of continent women.

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Can probiotics help?

All this evidence connecting urinary incontinence to microbiome imbalances raises one important question… can probiotics help?

It’s possible. But there hasn’t been a lot of research into it yet. Right now, all we know is that Lactobacillus-based probiotics may have the potential to prevent urinary tract infections based on the results of a couple of recent studies. And there is a connection between incontinence and UTIs. Incontinence can happen as a symptom or side effect of UTIs, and people with incontinence are more likely to develop UTIs.

There are a variety of probiotics on the market that were designed specifically with urinary tract health in mind, so, if you suffer from incontinence, those may be worth a try. You can also turn to other natural remedies for incontinence like Kegel exercises (here’s a video to get you started) and bladder training (here’s more information on bladder training). Diet and lifestyle changes can make a big difference too, especially if you avoid potential bladder irritants, like the following:

• Alcohol and caffeine are bladder stimulants and diuretics, meaning they trigger the urgent need to urinate. Avoid them when possible.
• Carbonated drinks, tea and coffee (with or without caffeine), artificial sweeteners, corn syrup and foods and beverages that are high in spice, sugar and acid, such as citrus and tomatoes, can irritate your bladder.
• Heart medications, blood pressure drugs, sedatives, muscle relaxants and other medications can contribute to bladder control problems. Talk to your doctor to see if it’s possible to switch to a medication that’s less irritating to your bladder.
• Pumpkin seed extract may help reduce urgency for an overactive bladder.

Sources:

1. An emerging link between the urinary microbiome and urinary incontinence — Harvard Health Publishing
2. Randomized, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial of a Lactobacillus crispatus probiotic given intravaginally for prevention of recurrent urinary tract infection — Clinical Infectious Diseases
3. Use of Lactobacillus spp. to prevent recurrent urinary tract infections in females — Medical Hypotheses
4. Bladder bacterial diversity differs in continent and incontinent women: a cross-sectional study — American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
5. The Human Microbiota in Health and Disease — Engineering

The post Can probiotics put a plug in urinary incontinence? appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

And, women are far more susceptible to them than men. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, about half of all U.S. women will have a UTI sometime during their lives. As we age, our odds get even worse.

That’s because, after menopause, the levels of estrogen circulating in a woman’s body goes down dramatically, leaving us increasingly vulnerable to these types of infections.

So, what can we do about it?

Do we just keep heading off to the doctor and filling those antibiotic prescriptions? Experts say you should only do that if you don’t mind taking the risk of creating antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

But, what other options do we have?

Well, you’ve probably heard that drinking cranberry juice can help prevent urinary tract infections. But, clinical trials of this popular folk remedy have produced mixed results.

While some studies have shown that drinking cranberry juice can keep the bacteria that cause UTIs from sticking to the cells that line your urinary tract (something the researchers have attributed to compounds known as proanthocyanidins), others have shown little effect.

Luckily, a new study, reported in American Chemical Society’s Journal of Natural Products has now dug deeper into the great cranberry juice debate and found the truth of whether the red fruit really works to prevent UTIs and why.

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Complex carbohydrates and adhesion

The multi-institution study set out to enable better UTI prevention studies and determine if compounds in cranberry juice really can keep dangerous bacteria from adhering to your urinary tract. And, if so, which ones end up in your urine and do the trick.

The researchers fed female pigs dried cranberry powder, collected their urine and used chromatography to separate it into fractions of differently sized molecules.

Then, they screened the samples for anti-adhesion activity against the E. coli bacteria that cause UTIs. E. coli is a bacteria that normally lives harmlessly in your intestinal tract. But, because of the close proximity between the anus and urinary tract opening in the female body, it’s the cause of approximately 90% of all urinary tract infections.

And, guess what…

The researchers found that those proanthocyanidins that they thought were responsible for cranberry’s apparent UTI prevention properties, actually had no effect. It was a different set of compounds that was more powerful…

They discovered that complex carbohydrates, or oligosaccharides known as arabino xyloglucans, were in every sample in which E. coli was unable to attach itself to the walls of the urinary tract — and was instead whisked away with the urine.

As to why this was never before discovered, the researchers say that those specific oligosaccharides are difficult to detect and isolate.

But, now that we know, and the verdict is in that cranberry juice really does work, we can all feel good about drinking it regularly in order to prevent painful urinary tract infections.

Sources:

1. Urinary tract infection (UTI) — Mayo Clinic
2. Cranberry oligosaccharides might help prevent UTIs — EurekAlert!
3. Urinary Tract Infections — University of California San Francisco

The post Finally! The definitive answer on cranberry juice and UTIs appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

So, chances are you’ve had a UTI before. And if you have, you know how they’re treated — antibiotics.

For many women, UTIs become chronic… which means taking antibiotics does too. This combined with the number of UTIs that occur on a global scale, make UTIs one of the top contributors to antibiotic resistance.

Now, in case you need a refresher, antibiotic resistance refers to the fact that bacteria have gotten wise to all the antibiotics we’ve been taking for years, and they’ve developed resistance to them.

This means many bacterial infections that were once easily treated with common antibiotics won’t be soon. We’ll need to find new treatments or else face serious consequences… like losing a good chunk of the human population.

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But even if all this antibiotic resistance stuff doesn’t bother you, you probably know that taking antibiotics frequently is bad for your health. They kill the good bacteria in your gut, leading to an unbalanced microbiome. This imbalance can trigger everything from chronic digestive issues to serious autoimmune diseases.

So, there are two fantastic reasons to find a new treatment for UTIs. And researchers from the University of Queensland may have done just that…

Zinc zaps bladder infection bacteria

Researchers from the University of Queensland discovered something interesting about how our immune systems fight the E. coli bacteria that causes most UTIs…

Our immune cells release zinc to kick this bladder-harming bacterium to the curb.

Researchers have known for quite a while that zinc kills bacteria. But they watched with their own eyes as immune cells known as macrophages fought the bacteria that causes most bladder infections with zinc.

This means zinc could be an effective alternative to antibiotics when treating UTIs. But there’s one problem…

Researchers also noticed that E. coli bacteria find clever ways to evade zinc. So, they need to figure out how to prevent those sneaky suckers from getting away if they want to create a zinc-based treatment for UTIs in the future.

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Getting more zinc

Here’s more good news: zinc not only fights E. coli. It fights Mycobacterium tuberculosis (the bacteria that causes tuberculosis), Salmonella (the bacteria that causes food poisoning) and Streptococcus (the bacteria that causes strep throat). That means, making sure your body has enough zinc is critical to fighting off more than just UTIs.

Related: At-home taste test can reveal zinc deficiency

Unfortunately, there’s not enough research to suggest that you rely on zinc solely to clear up UTIs. But there is enough research to suggest getting your recommended daily allowance of zinc to keep your immune system strong against all infections.

You can also take a little extra zinc (up to 40 mg per day) when you’re fighting off an infection, whether it’s bacterial or viral.

If you prefer to get your zinc from foods rather than supplements, there are plenty of delicious dishes that give you a healthy dose of zinc, including:

• Oysters
• Grass-fed beef
• Pastured pork
• Chicken
• Pumpkin seeds
• Yogurt
• Cashews
• Chickpeas
• Cheese
• Oatmeal
• Grass-fed milk
• Almonds
• Kidney beans
• Peas
• Mushrooms
• Kale
• Salmon
• Flounder
• Sole
• Edamame
• Lentils
• Black beans
• Pine nuts
• Brown rice
• Quinoa
• Dark chocolate

Sources:

1. Zinc could help as non-antibiotic treatment for UTIs — MedicalXpress
2. Uropathogenic Escherichia coli employs both evasion and resistance to subvert innate immune-mediated zinc toxicity for dissemination — PNAS
3. What are the side effects of antibiotics? — Medical News Today
4. Consumption of a cranberry juice beverage lowered the number of clinical urinary tract infection episodes in women with a recent history of urinary tract infection — The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
5. Zinc: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals — National Institutes of Health
6. 10 Best Food Sources of Zinc — Everyday Health

The post The mineral that might replace antibiotics to treat UTIs appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

UTIs are the second most common infection in the body and prompt 8.3 million doctor visits every year.

To top it off, almost 20 percent of women who experience a UTI will have a recurrence of the infection, and then 30 percent of those women will have a second recurrence.

That means that once you get an infection, you could suffer from it again and again.

But, according to a new study, there’s a simple solution that could stop that cycle of infection…

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Good bacteria for the vaginal tract

Scientists followed 100 women who suffered from recurrent UTIs. They had 50 women use a Lactobacillus crispatus (probiotic) vaginal suppository — a small tampon-like device inserted into the vagina — and 50 women use a placebo for five days, and then once a week for 10 weeks.

Here’s what they found…

Although the probiotic did not completely prevent the recurrence of UTIs, it did reduce the number of women who experienced recurrence.

In fact, only 7 of the 50 women who received the probiotic had a recurrence of UTIs during the study period, compared with 13 out of 50 who took the placebo. That’s a 27 percent recurrence rate for the placebo versus just 15 percent for the probiotic suppository.

That’s because during a UTI, gut bacteria — like E. coli — take up residence in the vagina and displace good bacteria, called vaginal lactobacilli, which normally live there.

The probiotic suppository overcomes this problem by replenishing the naturally occurring bacteria that live in the vagina and makes it hard for the bad bacteria to cause another infection.

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Treat and prevent UTIs without drugs

So, if you suffer from recurring UTIs, using a probiotic suppository could be just what you need to find relief. Luckily, they are easy to find both online and even at the grocery store.

According to the researchers, they can be used, “once a week or less frequently, and it takes, like, two seconds. It’s like putting in a tampon, except much smaller than that. It’s a tiny thing, then you forget about it.”

Other things you can do to get relief from your UTIs include:

• Drinking cranberry juice – Cranberry is considered the age-old UTI prevention trick for good reason. Cranberry juice prevents bacteria from accumulating in and sticking to bladder walls. Drink 2-3 cups of pure cranberry juice daily. Avoid mixtures with a lot of added sugar.
• D-mannose is a type of sugar. It can prevent bacteria from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract. It’s been shown to be more effective than antibiotics at getting rid of recurrent UTIs.
• Taking vitamin C – Studies show that adding Vitamin C supplements to your diet can help acidify urine and reduce your risk of developing an infection by making it difficult for bacteria to survive.
• Going to the bathroom regularly – Studies have found that holding your urine in for a long time allows bacteria to multiply in your urinary tract, resulting in a urinary tract infection, so stop holding it.
• Wearing loose-fitting, dry clothing – Loose-fitting clothes and underwear allow airflow that can help keep unnecessary moisture away to keep the urethra dry.

Don’t let recurrent UTIs leave you with fever, back pain, burning and more. Use a vaginal probiotic suppository along with the other tips above to break the cycle of infection and feel good again.

The post UTI relief from a surprising source appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

“Many physicians can tell you that they see patients who are particularly susceptible to urinary tract infections (UTIs),” says researcher Jeffrey P. Henderson. “We often don’t know why certain people seem to be prone to recurrent UTIs. For a long time, we had inexpensive antibiotics that worked really well for this. But over the last 10-15 years, we have seen a huge jump in bacterial infections that are resistant to many of these drugs.”

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That’s where research at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis comes in. A study there shows that the best way to fight these bacterial problems is with other bacteria — the probiotic, friendly bacteria, that inhabit your digestive tract. If you can keep those bacteria well-fed with fruits and vegetables, especially cranberries, they may produce compounds that limit or eliminate the infectious bacteria that attach to the urinary tract.

The research shows that the probiotic bacteria work in concert with your immune system to deprive the undesirable bacteria of minerals and nutrients it needs to survive.

But in addition to cranberries and probiotic foods there are four other foods you’ve probably heard little about in regard to urinary tract health, even though they provide powerhouse benefits. And the best way to enjoy the first three is to juice them.

Carrots, celery and asparagus are three potent vegetables that when juiced, can provide concentrated support for your urinary tract.

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Celery, a known diuretic helps flush out your kidneys and urinary tract. Carrots are one of your best sources of vitamin A, a powerful immune system booster. And last but by no mean least, is asparagus. Asparagus is ripe with B vitamins and antioxidants, and fights bacteria. In fact, in a study ^[1] published in the African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, asparagus was found to effective against 18 strains of bacteria.

To enjoy as a preventative or to help boost your immune system during an infection throw about three each of carrots, celery and asparagus into a juicer or blender. For a little extra liquid try fresh coconut water. For taste, add a splash of cranberry juice and fresh blueberries.

But if you’d like something warm and satisfying consider making mung bean soup. The mung bean is native to India and is similar to lentils. It’s a food often used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to help detoxify the body and clear it of infection. Here’s a recipe if you’d like to try it.

Now, just as there are foods that can protect your urinary tract, there are foods that can irritate it, such as sodas, acidic fruits, chocolate, alcohol, coffee, and spicy foods.

Antibiotic resistance is a problem that is likely to only increase overtime. Making your body infection-proof is the best advice against this threat. The less you need to rely on conventional antibiotics the chances are higher that if you do ever absolutely need them, they should hopefully be more effective. But as always, if you can avoid the pharmaceuticals to begin with, you’re much better off in the end.

Sources:

Biological Activities Of Asparagus racemosus

The post 4 foods to help you avoid UTIs besides cranberries appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

And more than one condition can be the reason for the pain… but most often the blame can be placed on one of three common and treatable conditions: urinary tract infection, non-specific urethritis and interstitial cystitis.

More often as well, women tend to suffer from these conditions frequently compared with men — and it’s mainly because the distance from the urethra to the bladder is a much shorter distance in the female body.

The urethra serves as the gateway to which bacteria can make its way into the body, up to the bladder, and if not stopped, to the kidneys. Once inside, the symptoms are hard to ignore.

Technicalities aside, the first questions my patients ask is what is it and how did I get it… so let’s start there…

Acute cystitis

The symptoms of painful urination, frequency, urgency, or bladder discomfort in a woman most often indicate acute cystitis, a.k.a. UTI (urinary tract infection). And there could be a few causes…

It’s quite common for recent sexual activity to lead to a urinary tract infection so it’s one of the first questions I’ll ask about. I realize some people are a little uncomfortable having that discussion but it’s important. It’s not a reflection on cleanliness or sexual activity — it’s purely that during sex there’s a lot going with friction, bodily fluids and such, and — once again — the urethra is right there in the middle of all of it.

If you find you’re prone to UTIs following sexual activity, there’s one prescription-free thing you can do that save yourself a lot of grief — and that’s to urinate immediately after sex.

That simple act helps flush any bacteria that may have breached your urethra and can save you a lot of irritation if done right away.

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But if my patients discomfort is not a result of sexual activity from the previous evening, then I ask patients to consider the other factors at play here, including:

1. A shift in vaginal pH: this acid/base balance can be thrown off by increased sweating, stress, or a topical cream/lotion/soap. It could also be from high content of foods that cause an acid metabolism such as sugars, meats, and refined fats (and a relative lack of fresh produce)
2. A change of the predominate vaginal bacteria or yeast: yeast is fed by high sugar foods or higher-glycemic foods (e.g. bread, pastas, white rice)
3. An irritation around the urethral opening: this could be from tight-fitting or new clothing
4. Holding urine too long while traveling, working, etc.

All these lead to bacterial growth where it shouldn’t be… into the urine contents of the bladder.

Typically identifying the cause can help cut down on occurrences in the future and round of antibiotics can prevent a simple urinary tract infection from becoming more. Lots of water and cranberry juice can help too.

Note: If you take antibiotics for a urinary tract infection, be careful to finish your prescription so you don’t inadvertently contribute to the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.

In approximately half of symptomatic patients with a dip urinalysis consistent with bacterial infection, I also send their urine for a 3-day culture. But only about half of these even grow out a predominate bacterial strain. This indicates they don’t have infected urine.  Instead, their symptoms are consistent with urethritis, which is pain in the tube that empties the bladder…

Urethritis

When a routine urine culture doesn’t show bacterial growth, we have to consider other causes for pain in the urethra. First, there are the atypical organisms that can cause it. Sexually-transmitted infections such as gonorrhea and chlamydia can also cause it. So can stealthy bacteria such as ureaplasma and mycoplasma. Bacterial vaginosis (caused by gardnerella vaginalis), less common bacterial mixtures, yeast, trichomoniasis, and even herpes simplex type-2 can cause urethral pain. With rapid tests and cultures these can be identified and addresses.

Less commonly, urethral pain can be from irritation. There are a multitude of causes for irritation of this sensitive skin area, from sex to urinary leakage to topical ingredients.

But if not of these culprits are to blame, and my patient is nearing menopause, there’s one more condition to consider…

Interstitial cystitis

It is estimated that nearly one million Americans (90% women) have interstitial cystitis (IC). And if it comes on, it’s typically around the age 40.

Interstitial cystitis (IC) can seem like a chronic urinary tract infection, except without any bacterial infection. In time, irritation of the bladder leads to scarring, stiffness, and bleeding of the bladder wall.  In addition to usual UTI symptoms, the patient with IC can experience bladder/urethral pain with sexual and other physical activity.  It is commonly associated with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and/or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The diagnosis of IC is typically made by a urologist, after excluding infection and rarer causes such as kidney stones, endometriosis, tuberculosis, a neurological disorder, or radiation. The urologist can also directly visualize the inside lining of the bladder (cystoscopy) and test function.

What causes IC? That’s the million-dollar question. Mainstream medicine considers IC to be an idiopathic illness — meaning “cause-unknown.”

But, like any difficult chronic illness, there are contributors to IC to consider…

First, you should know that your parasympathetic nervous system is what controls your bodily functions of urination — and bladder contraction. BTW, it also controls salivation, lacrimation, defecation, and emesis. This parasympathetic nervous system is an “automatic” thing, but is greatly influenced by your feeling state. Let me explain.

For example, when you are nervous, your salivation dries up, tears may dry up, bowels may need to move, nausea may occur, and your urge to pee may increase. This is why it makes sense that stress plays a big role in IC.

Another interesting finding is that the inside lining of your bladder, called the urothelium, generates its own ATP naturally, ¹ which also contributes to contraction. ATP is that famous molecule that provides energy to muscles and tissues.

Therefore, when I list causes of IC below, you may see similarities with all the other “idiopathic” (no known cause) illnesses:

• Autoimmune disorders: there is an unexplained association of IC with other autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjogren’ssyndrome, inflammatory bowel disease (IBS), and scleroderma.
• Allergy: much of allergy is delayed-type sensitivity, and may be caused by foods or chemicals in your environment
• Stress; stress reduction can help alleviate symptoms the are mediated through the parasympathetic nervous system as mentioned above
• Smoking: greatly contributes to bladder cancer — and likely to IC as well
• Chronic repeated over-distention (holding your pee)
• Sexual, physical or childhood abuse

[1] Andersson KE. Purinergic signaling in the urinary bladder. Auton Neurosci. 2015 Sep;191:78-81.

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