If you’ve always had a urinary tract infection (UTI), you likely understand how uncomfortable it can make you feel. Finding a solution to alleviate this problem is essential to help clear your bladder of bad bacteria. Drinking more water may be an excellent solution as it aids in cleansing your urinary tract.
Table of Contents
1. About UTIs
A UTI can occur in your urinary system if bad bacteria are present. Typically, you can urinate frequently enough to void your system of unwanted bacteria.
However, there may be times when the bacteria multiply in your bladder, turning into a full-blown infection.
While infections are mainly found in the bladder and urethra, they can move into your ureters and kidneys as well. Allowing an infection to spread to these areas can create serious consequences.
2. Signs & Symptoms of UTIs
Some UTIs may not provide you with any signs or symptoms. However, when they do, you may notice one or more of the following:
- Cloudy urine
- A burning sensation when you are urinating
- A strong urge to urinate
- Urinating small amounts frequently
- Red or pink-coloured urine, indicating the sign of blood
- A pungent, smelly odour
- Pain in the pelvic region around your pubic bone
3. UTI Complications
Treating a UTI is essential to thwart the occurrence of complications. If it’s left untreated, you may develop complications related to the following:
- Recurrent infections may begin to develop, leading to three or more infections in a 6 to 12-month period.
- Damage to the kidneys can also occur from chronic or acute kidney infections that go untreated.
- It can increase the risk of delivering a premature infant or one with a low birth weight in pregnant women.
- Men may experience a stricture or narrow in the urethra due to recurrent urethritis.
- The threat of sepsis, a life-threatening complication, can also develop if the infection moves to the kidneys.
4. Benefits of Drinking Water To Treat UTIs
While it may be painful to urinate with a UTI, drinking plenty of water and urinating frequently can help speed up recovery. Doing so helps flush your bladder and gets rid of unwanted bacteria.
Drinking a minimum of six tall glasses full of water daily should help flush out any unwanted bacteria causing problems in your bladder. Adding probiotics for UTI treatment may be beneficial as well.
5. Foods To Keep Your Bladder Healthy
If you’ve dealt with UTIs and want to ensure they don’t affect your system, you may want to try eating specific foods and avoid others.
Citrus fruits, coffee, and spicy foods are usually best to leave out of your diet. Here’s a list of a few options less likely to irritate your bladder.
- Bananas: Using this fruit on cereals or as a snack can be done year-round.
- Potatoes: Eating sweet or white potatoes can be delicious.
- Whole Grains: Oats, quinoa, and rice are a few examples of whole grains you can eat to keep your urinary system healthy.
- Lean Proteins: Using low-fat chicken, pork, beef, turkey, or fish in meals shouldn’t bother your bladder.
- Green Beans: Combining green beans with a protein or salad can be healthy and help you avoid any irritation.
Doing all you can to keep your bladder healthy can be advantageous. It should help you feel better and avoid any complications associated with a UTI.
