Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)

Index of Diseases / Health Conditions ... Medicinal Foods, Herbs, Spices & Household Items

The below provides a general overview on this topic and may not apply to everyone. Any treatment protocol should be discussed with a qualified healthcare practitioner ... Please refer to: Medical & Legal Disclaimer.

NOTE: Bladder and kidney ailments can be serious, so always consult a doctor.

Supportive Nutrition:

Cranberry Juice: A study by the Worcester Polytechnic Institute - published in the a recent issue of Colloids and Surfaces - investigated how cranberry juice prevents urinary tract infections. They found that cranberry juice changes the thermodynamic properties of bacteria in the urinary tract to form an energy barrier that prevents infections from developing. The researchers found that when bacteria with hair-like projections known as fimbriae, which is present on virulent bacteria that cause urinary tract infections, is exposed to even low concentrations of cranberry juice that energy levels increased to levels that made it difficult for the bacteria attach to a cell. Terri Camesano, an associate professor of chemical engineering at WPI, stated: "Our results show that, at least for urinary tract infections, cranberry juice targets the right bacteria -- those that cause disease -- but has no effect on non-pathogenic organisms, suggesting that cranberry juice will not disrupt bacteria that are part of the normal flora in the gut ... We have also shown that this effect occurs at concentrations of cranberry juice that are comparable to levels we would expect to find in the urinary tract." She also advised that the study results suggested that in order to " realize the antibacterial benefits of cranberry, one must consume cranberry juice regularly, perhaps daily."

Parsley. This diuretic can help treat urinary tract infections and kidney and bladder stones. Drink parsley tea or juice three or four times daily or sprinkle fresh parsley flakes on your food. Parsley tea bags can be found in health food stores, or you can steep fresh parsley leaves in hot water. Combine fresh parsley and water in a food processor to make parsley juice.

Blueberries: Blueberries have an oxygen radical absorption capacity value of 2,400 per 100 grams of antioxidant power and they are rich in anthocyanins, ellagic acid and phenolic acids. They help fight bacteria that can cause urinary tract infections, and blueberry extract may combat pain. Fresh and frozen (without added sugar) are comparable from a nutritional standpoint, but dried blueberries contain lower amounts of antioxidant anthocyanins.

Essential Oils:

Marshmallow Root: Marshmallow (Althaea Officinalis) soothes inflamed tissues in the digestive system, it may also help with gastrointestinal upset, lung congestion, dry coughs, sore throat, colitis, and urinary tract infections.

Information contained on this website is provided as general reference only. For application to specific circumstances, professional advice should be sought.

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