Urinary tract infections are more prevalent in the country than you can imagine. UTIs are often irritating, painful, and can interfere with your normal life. Antibiotics are usually the only solution for this condition. However, small changes in your lifestyle may also help in keeping these infections at bay and manage the symptoms better. So, it is important to keep an eye on what you do and what may be triggering such an infection. Here are some lifestyle tips for UTI:
- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
You must have heard this advice a million times. However, that doesn’t undermine its importance. Water can flush out the toxins from your body. So, the more water you consume, the better it is. If you are guilty of not drinking the recommended eight glasses of water a day, then this is one of the best lifestyle tips for UTI to get started with. Begin slowly and increase water consumption as you progress. - Fresh fruits
Fruits contain water, and as you consume them, they can hydrate your body. However, make sure you eat fresh and seasonal fruits. Fruits also contribute valuable vitamins and minerals to ensure overall wellbeing. They help to build and strengthen your immune system, which is essential to ward off infections. - Probiotics help
Yogurt, kefir, and other probiotics are beneficial in keeping UTIs at bay. These are dairy products, and they contain lactobacillus acidophilus, lactobacillus bulgaricus, and some others, which help to restore the normal bacteria in the digestive tract and vagina. As one of the lifestyle tips for UTI, it is recommended that you add yogurt or other probiotics to your daily diet. - Reduce sugar consumption
Sugar is a known suppressant of your immune system. So, if you are susceptible to urinary tract infections often, you may want to reconsider your sugar consumption. It has a two-fold effect. Not only will you reduce the number of infections, but it will lead to weight loss too. - Urination
There are a few things to bear in mind when it comes to urination. The first and foremost is to never hold your pee. If you feel the need to urinate, do not postpone it. Even if you are busy, make sure you take out the time. Holding your pee in can result in bacteria build-up in the bladder. Secondly, make sure you urinate after sexual intercourse. The logic behind this is that the urine will flush out any bacteria that may be lingering. - Feminine products
This is one of the most important lifestyle tips for UTI. Try and avoid tight or ill-fitting undergarments. Such clothes may irritate the genitals, leading to infection. Always choose cotton clothes and keep them clean by opting for a mild detergent that will not contribute to reactions or infections. If you use products for the vaginal area, pick organic, mild, and unscented ones.
Despite the above tips, infections might occur now and then. So, when and if they do, do not hesitate to check with your doctor and follow his or her instructions.