If you’ve ever had a urinary tract infection, you know how uncomfortable it can be. And what’s worse, as soon as you get rid of it, oftentimes another one seems to show up no matter what you do.
UTIs are very common. About 60% of women and 12% of men will have at least one UTI in their lifetime. Other factors can increase your risk, making it feel impossible to get rid of them for good.
Thankfully there are ingredients you can incorporate into your daily routine that will help prevent UTIs from happening.
What is a Urinary Tract Infection?
A UTI is an infection in any part of the urinary tract, including the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra, however most UTIs occur in the urethra and bladder, according to the CDC.
These infections occur when bacteria, often from the rectum, get into your urethra. Bladder infections are a common form of UTI, while kidney infections are less common but more serious.
Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infections
UTI symptoms can range from burning when you urinate to the need to urinate more frequently. They can also cause blood in the urine and pain in the lower abdomen. With kidney infections, symptoms can also include fever, chills, lower back pain, and nausea and vomiting.
Common Causes of Urinary Tract Infections
The American Urological Association explains the cause of UTIs well:
"Large numbers of bacteria live in the area around the vagina and rectum and also on your skin. Bacteria may get into the urine from the urethra and travel into the bladder. They may even travel up to the kidney. But no matter how far they go, bacteria in the urinary tract can cause problems.”
Because of this, UTIs are pretty common. Anything from sexual activity to previous infections to bacterial changes inside the vagina to pregnancy can cause an infection.
Ingredients to Prevent UTIs
While doctors often prescribe antibiotics to treat UTIs, there are natural, scientifically proven ingredients you can consume regularly that will help prevent UTIs from occuring in the first place.
Cranberry
Cranberries contain special proanthocyanidins (PACs) that help keep harmful bacteria from sticking to the urethra. One study showed that regular consumption of cranberry products may lower the number of UTIs someone experiences in a year. Because cranberry juice can be very high in sugar, you can try taking a clinical form of cranberry, like Pacran®, which has been extensively studied & scientifically proven to help stop bacterial buildup in the urinary tract.
D-Mannose
D-mannose is a simple sugar that helps prevent bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract lining. A 2015 study showed that regular consumption of D-Mannose can help alleviate UTI symptoms, and also prevent urinary tract irritation in the first place.
Vitamin C
Found in citrus fruits, tomatoes & potatoes (to name a few), Vitamin C helps acidify your urine, making it less hospitable for non-beneficial bacteria.
Best Supplements to Help Prevent UTIs
While you can get the above ingredients through multiple different supplements, foods & drinks, we’ve created URO Urinary Tract Vitamin Capsules to make urinary tract health easy. Our antibiotic-free daily capsules contain Pacran® Complete Cranberry, D-Mannose and Vitamin C all in one to help keep your urinary tract healthy & comfortable.
