By David Blyweiss, Advanced Natural Wellness

Bladder infections can be an inconvenient and painful experience, but you have the power to prevent them by making a few simple changes to your diet and daily routine. Even if you have suffered with bladder infections in the past, you can help prevent their recurrence by first increasing your intake of fluids. Because bladder infections are caused by a buildup of bacteria, drinking lots of liquids can be beneficial, since fluid dilutes the urine and helps flush harmful bacteria out.

Drinking lots of fluids results in more frequent urination, which also helps the body fight infection. If you habitually resist the urge to urinate, you’ll enlarge the capacity of your bladder and may also cause a bladder infection. At the worst extreme, your bladder eventually could become so big and so out of shape that it loses its ability to contract—and that can least to a loss of bladder control in the future. To prevent this scenario, you should urinate at least every three to four hours.

Even if you flush your urinary tract frequently, you can still wind up with a bladder infection. As soon as urinary tract symptoms appear—an overwhelming urge to urinate followed by a sharp pain or burning in the urethra—start taking these infection-fighting supplements:

Cranberry Extract. The antimicrobial hippuric acid in cranberries effectively helps fight off active urinary tract infections. Cranberries also decrease the ability of E. coli to adhere to the lining of the bladder and urethra, preventing infection. If you don’t like the taste of unsweetened cranberry juice, I recommend cranberry supplements. Look for a standardized extract at a dose of 400 mg. three times a day.

Vitamin C. Besides maintaining the health of the bladder, this antioxidant has an acidifying effect on the urine, generating large amounts of nitric oxide that inhibit the growth of the organisms responsible for infection. For an acute infection, take 1,000 mg. of vitamin C every two hours for two days, then 1,000 mg. three times daily for five to 10 days.

Probiotics. In addition to eating more yogurt, take a probiotic supplement to re-establish good gut bacteria. For bladder or other urinary tract infections, I recommend Lactobacilli—the predominant type of bacteria in the urinary tract. Look for supplements with at least 1 billion CFU (colony-forming unit) and take two capsules daily for 30 days.

Healing herbs. The antiseptic, antibacterial, and astringent properties of uva ursi work well against stubborn bladder infections. A dose of 300 mg. every three hours for two days, followed by 300 mg. daily for seven days, should do the trick. For an extra antibacterial edge against E. coli, take 500 to 1,000 mg. daily of both goldenseal and Oregon grape root for five days. To soothe inflammation, supplement with horsetail, which is rich in silica, a nutrient with antiseptic qualities and an apparent affinity for the urinary tract. Take 300 mg. three times a day for seven days.

D-Mannose. This naturally occurring sugar flushes E. coli out of the bladder and can stop frequently recurring bladder infections. Available in powdered form, D-mannose acts like a magnet, attracting bacteria so that it can’t attach itself to the lining of the bladder. While you shouldn’t use D-mannose if you are pregnant or have diabetes, it’s incredibly safe.  The typical dose for powder is one-half teaspoonful stirred into water every two to four hours. If the infection is not substantially better within 24 hours, it is probably not being caused by E. coli.

Once you’ve eradicated your bladder infection, it’s important to take steps to prevent a relapse. Try eliminating all forms of sugar from your diet since they feed the bacteria. It’s also wise to avoid alcohol and caffeine since both can be dehydrating and irritate the urinary tract. Eat dark green vegetables, asparagus, and red and blue fruits such as plums, blueberries, and raspberries. All of these foods help make your urinary tract inhospitable to the bacteria that triggers bladder infections.

References:

Gouin SG. Synthetic multimeric heptyl mannosides as potent antiadhesives of uropathogenic Escherichia coli. ChemMedChem. 2009;4:749-755.

Head KA. Natural approaches to prevention and treatment of infections of the lower urinary tract. Alternative Medicine Review. 2008;13:227-244.

Miller JL. Urinary tract infections cranberry juice, underwear, and probiotics in the 21st century. Urologic Clinics of North America. 2002;29:695-699.

Pinzón-Arango PA. Role of cranberry on bacterial adhesion forces and implications for Escherichia coli-uroepithelial cell attachment. Journal of Medicinal Food. 2009;12:259-270.