Want to Ward Off UTI? Here Are 5 At Home Remedies

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common health complications and are mainly treated with antibiotics. While it tends to affect more women than men, both women and men are susceptible to contracting a UTI.

You may want to consult your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms, as this might mean that you have contracted a UTI:

Dark or cloudy urine color
Pain in the pelvic region
Constant urge to urinate
A burning sensation during urination
Strong odor of urine

Unfortunately, UTIs usually require antibiotics for treatment. However, there are several home remedies that when combined with antibiotic treatment can help manage infections and reduce the risk of recurrence.

In this blog post, we'll discuss some of the most popular home remedies for UTIs and how they can help you deal with your infection. We'll also provide tips on how to prevent UTIs from happening in the first place, from UTI tests to home remedies. So if you're dealing with a UTI right now, be sure to read on for some helpful tips.

The first step? Go for a UTI test

If you suspect that you’ve contracted a UTI, you can always start addressing the infection by taking a UTI test, as this will help you determine whether you have a UTI. At-home UTI tests will generally measure leukocytes and nitrites in urine, both of which are indicators of a UTI.

If an infection takes hold and is left untreated, it could result in very serious health complications. So if you do test positive, then be sure to go to a healthcare professional for treatment.

Here are some home remedies you can try:

Besides testing for a UTI from home and getting prescribed antibiotics, there are a couple of things you can do to help complement your UTI treatment, as well as help prevent future UTIs.

Take enough vitamin C

Increasing your intake of vitamin C can be an effective way of preventing UTIs. Vitamin C helps increase your urine’s acidity, which ensures that the bacteria responsible for the infection are neutralized.

You can try increasing your vitamin C intake by consuming enough fruits and veggies. Produce like grapefruit, oranges, kiwi, red pepper, and the likes all contain significant amounts of vitamin C per serving.

Drink more fluids

Your hydration largely determines how likely you are to contract a UTI. Why? Urinating regularly helps flush out bacteria from the urinary tract, and thus prevent infection. One study conducted with nursing home residents revealed that increased fluid intake helped reduce occurrences of UTIs by 56%. Truly, water is life!

Unsweetened cranberry juice is a go-go

Unsweetened cranberry juice has been touted as a common natural drink that can help prevent UTIs. Cranberries ensure that bacteria don’t get stuck in the urinary tract, and thus help prevent the development of an infection.

According to an article on Pubmed, one study revealed that the regular consumption of cranberry products helps lower the number of UTIs on an annual basis, which particularly benefits women with recurrent UTIs.

A probiotic could do the trick

Probiotics are quite beneficial for decreasing UTIs, especially among adult females. They are microorganisms that you can get through supplements or the food you eat, and promote healthy bacteria in the gut. Probiotics can be found in fermented foods such as kefir, kombucha, kimchi, and the likes.

Cleanliness isn’t next to UTIs

Of course, you don't need to be told twice about maintaining good hygiene to avoid UTIs. Here are a couple of hygiene tips that can help:

Make sure you don’t hold urine for too long, as this can easily build bacteria in the urinary tract
Urinate after sexual intercourse
Wipe from front to back after using the toilet (for women)
Don’t use spermicides if you’re prone to UTIS.

Drink Hibiscus Tea

A study released in the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine found that hibiscus tea's antifungal and antimicrobial properties make it effective for treating UTIs. These nutrients reach the urinary tract and eliminate the harmful bacteria that might be causing an infection. They also prevent the growth of E.coli. Try drinking hibiscus 2-3 times a week!