Drink more water and less alcohol. Drink 8 glasses of water/day to keep urine from becoming too acidic; minimize alcohol intake (alcohol is a diuretic);

Eliminate / Minimize bladder irritants

• Dietary Sugar / refined starches (E.g. white flour)

• Nicotine, caffeine,alcohol(a diuretic);

Herbal support for bladder, kidneys, urinary tract

Dr. Schulze kidney/bladder tea and formula. Cleanses the urinary tract, maintains healthy bladder and kidneys and dissolves deposits in the kidneys.

Procedure for Kidney / Bladder Cleanse

Alkalizing diet / Nutritional support

Need good nutritional support for immune system. Particularly antioxidants; E.g. regularly consume immune system boosters, such as garlic and onions;

Daily Supplement Chart

Consume/Supplement alkalizing minerals - especially magnesium, calcium and potassium

Consider taking a whole food, nutritional "Green Drink" supplement

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) as UTI preventative. ACV for a UTI is controversial. The reason is that a couple hours after ACV is FIRST taken, it causes the urine pH to be more acid for a couple of urinations. However, the next day and thereafter the alkaline minerals provided by ACV make urine more alkaline. Drink 1 teaspoon -1 tablespoon RAW Apple Cider Vinegar in a glass of water or juice 2-3 times a day.

ACV

Probiotics

Probiotic Supplementation. Taking a good probiotic (containing at least 50 billion CFU of several different bacteria/ dose) has been shown to curb UTIs by providing natural flora as the first line of defense against "invaders"in the UT, vagina and anterior urethra (area closest to where urine comes out);

Probiotics -"For Life"

Yogurt. Make plain yogurt containing active culture a regular part of your diet to improve natural flora.

Lactobacillus plantarum (in fermented foods, such as pickles, sauerkraut, kimchi, sourdough) - protects the UT (not vagina and anterior urethra) by producing hydrogen peroxide against "invader"microbes.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C. Another controversy exists over whether ascorbic acid increases urine acidity; An old study with guinea pigs (like humans, they also can not produce their own Vitamin C) showed that moderate doses of ascorbic acid in natural form (E.g. in fruit or orange juice) is well-retained by the body and does not show up in the urine; interestingly taking an ascorbic acid supplement together with baking soda enhances the body's retention of ascorbic acid, compared to taking ascorbic acid alone;

http://jn.nutrition.org/content/14/1/1.full.pdf

- Add 1/8 - ¼ tsp. (~500-1000mg) powdered Vitamin C and 1/3 tsp. baking soda to cool drinks 3 times /day. This should render a slightly alkaline/neutral urine pH; alternatively, take an alkaline form of Vitamin C, such as magnesium citrate;

- Drink moderate amounts of juice containing natural Vitamin C . However, too much will make urine acidic

D-mannose

To prevent the return of frequent/chronic UTIs: Take 2 grams D-mannose once/day or 1 gram twice/day.

D-mannose detaches E. Coli from urinary tract (UT) wall to be flushed out in urine

Cranberry juice

Results using cranberry juice/extract for a UTI have been mixed

100% cranberry juice / Concentrated cranberry extract supplements help PREVENT an infection but do NOT TREAT it (cause urine to become too acidic (favorable to bacterial growth) DURING a UTI)

Cranberry can prevent E. Coli attaching to UT lining.

• However, it can not remove the bacteria once it has already attached.

Main strength of cranberry against UTIs is its antioxidant content. In particular, the North American cranberry Vacinnium Macrocarpon has been found to contain unique, tannin-like A-linked PACs that prevent E. Coli from adhering to the cells lining much of the urinary tract (including ureters, bladder, and parts of the urethra) - helping to support UT, gastro-intestinal, and oral health. Many fruits and vegetables contain PACs, however only Cranberry A-type PACs have been shown to provide both anti-stick and antioxidant properties. Studies report that other members of the Vaccinium genus also have similar properties, including bilberry and blueberry.

• Cranberry contains Vitamin C

Problems with cranberry juice

• Cranberry creates an acidic urine conducive to E. Coli growth. Not advisable to drink duringa UTI, which may involve E. Coli;

• Cocktail versions of cranberry juice contain added sugar. As food for bacterial growth;

• Too much cranberry can increase the likelihood of calcium-oxalate kidney stones. This type of stone represents 75% of kidney stones in the U.S.

• Cranberry increases hippuric acid in the urine. Hippuric acid can act as an irritant for an already inflamed bladder, and provides a ready source of nutrition for pathogens that most commonly infect the upper and lower urinary tract, bladder, and kidneys. Cranberry, because it feeds acid tolerant bacteria, can be responsible for strengthening bacterial colony sizes and forcing E. Coli in particular into 'burst rate' lifestyles, where they can utilize the hippuric acid as an ideal growth medium. (Bodel, Phyllis T. et al (1959) Cranberry juice and the antibacterial action of hippuric acid. The Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine , Volume 54 , Issue 6 , 881 - 888 Link)

Guidelines for consuming cranberry juice / extracts

Use only unsweetened 100% Cranberry Juice (not cocktails)

• There are synergistic benefits when consuming the whole berry (lost using extracts). These include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer benefits of cranberry;

• Drink in moderation to deter calcium-oxalate kidney stone formation and intake of excess sugar

Capsules of unsweetened cranberry juice powder (standardized to contain 11-12% quinic acid; responsible for the tart taste of cranberries) are many times more potent than cranberry juice

• The amount of PACs needed for benefit is ~35 mg per day

• Supplement should NOT contain binders. Many cranberry supplements use cellulose or guar gum as binders to hold tablet together, but the problem is that they also bind to the PACs in cranberries -the active ingredient

• Therapeutic dose is one to two capsules a day. However, D-mannose has a much more powerful anti-adhesive effect

Other measures to prevent a UTI

Avoid postponing urination. Urinate frequently and empty bladder completely.

Measures before and after sexual intercourse. For women who experience bladder infections related to intercourse,the recommendation is to take ½ tsp. d-mannose 1 hour prior to and just after intercourse. Also urinate within 15 minutes after intercourse.Use a water-soluble lubricant (E.g. K-Y Lubricating Jelly) during intercourse. Also, use female-superior or lateral positions in sexual intercourse to protect the female urethra from injury.

Wear loose clothing whilst bicycling / Horse-back Riding

Avoid use of catheters. If possible.

Avoid FRAGRANCED bubble baths, douches, feminine hygiene sprays or deodorants, tampons, toilet paper or soaps. Chemicals can be irritating.

Chronic UTI sufferers should use sanitary pads (preferably cotton-based) instead of tampons

Clean anal area thoroughly after bowel movements / Wipe from the front to the rear. Rather than rear to front to avoid spreading fecal bacteria to the genital area.

Use underwear or pantyhose with a cotton crotch / Avoid prolonged wearing of wet swimwear

Reduce stress. Known to be immunosuppressive; acupuncture has shown good results against UTIs, so therefore the Meridian Tapping Technique (MTT) would also be of benefit;

MTT

DISCLAIMER: The content on this website is intended for informational, and educational purposes only and not as a substitute for the medical advice, treatment or diagnosis of a licensed health professional. The author of this website is a researcher, not a health professional, and shall in no event be held liable to any party for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, punitive or other damages arising from any use of the content of this website. Any references to health benefits of specifically named products on this site are this website author's sole opinion and are not approved or supported by their manufacturers or distributors.