Probiotics Help Balance The Friendly Bacteria In Your Digestive System
Probiotics include good bacteria. These are live microorganisms that can provide health benefits when consumed .
These benefits are thought to result from the ability of probiotics to restore the natural balance of gut bacteria .
An imbalance means there are too many bad bacteria and not enough good bacteria. It can happen due to illness, medication such as antibiotics, poor diet and more.
Consequences can include digestive issues, allergies, mental health problems, obesity and more .
Probiotics are usually found in fermented foods or taken as supplements. Whats more, they appear to be safe for most people.
Probiotics are live microorganisms. When taken in sufficient amounts, they can help restore the natural balance of gut bacteria. As a result, health benefits may follow.
Bacteria And The Human Body
There are bacteria all over the human body. Theyre on your skin, theyre in your digestive system and theyre in your urinary tract. These bacteria are meant to live in harmony together, working to keep your body systems healthy and functioning correctly. When the various types of good and bad bacteria fall out of balance, though, you start seeing the results in uncomfortable ways. If it happens on your skin, you might see increased acne. If it happens in your digestive system, you might experience diarrhea or abdominal pain. If it happens in your urinary tract, you might suffer through the symptoms of a urinary tract infection. Enter the probiotic. With billions of bacteria in every dose, probiotic supplements are becoming an increasingly popular treatment for illnesses caused by bacteria or a bacterial imbalance. That includes urinary tract infections.
Are Some People At A Higher Risk Of Getting A Uti
Women get more UTIs than men. This is because women have a shorter urethra the tube that brings urine out of the bladder. This allows bacteria to enter the urethra and bladder more easily.
Also, a womans urethral opening is closer to the anus, where most UTI-causing E.coli bacteria are found.
Other factors that can further increase the risk of UTI include:
- frequent sexual activity
UTIs cant always be avoided, but its possible to reduce your risk of getting one. Here are nine prevention methods that may help you sidestep a UTI.
Also Check: Ways To Prevent Urinary Tract Infections
Naturewise Womens Care Time Release Probiotics
NatureWise offers a womens probiotic that branches out a bit from the traditional bacterial strains. It includes less common strains like Streptococcus thermophilus, which has been researched for its anti-inflammatory properties and its use in diseases like ulcerative colitis.
This is a good choice if you want to diversity your gut bacteria or try something different, but it may not be as useful if you need to repopulate your gut flora, for example if youve just gotten off antibiotics for an ear infection.
Utis And Traditional Medicine
It is crucial to treat a UTI as soon as possible. However, prevention is the key if you are susceptible to multiple infections.
One woman in three is expected to suffer from UTIs in her lifetime as per the European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. While men are less prone to contract urinary tract infections, cases become very common once they cross 45 years old.
Antibiotics are the primary medication for UTIs since they are caused by harmful bacteria. The right type of antibiotic is useful in killing off a whole colony of bacteria, which can include trillions of microbes, so that they wont continue to spread and grow.
This is vital because urinary tract infections can easily become life threatening by spreading to the kidneys.
Unfortunately, traditional medicine stops at antibiotic resistance. Diet, lifestyle, and lack of prevention are major contributors to recurring UTIs. Antibiotics when used on bacterial cells repeatedly cause them to evolve. They develop immunity to become resistant to the power of antibiotics.
Infections can easily grow larger and more threatening when antibiotic resistance sets in. The worst part is this is not limited only to the genitalia anymore.
Bacteria colonies are known to have vast communication networks. It is easy for the whole species to become antibiotic resistant when just one cells develops it. Severe illnesses occur as a result that can only be treated in a hospital.
Recommended Reading: How Does A Urinary Tract Infection
Shop Your All Day Essentials
Cleveland Clinic: Urinary Tract Infections. Available from:
Mayoclinic: Urinary tract infection . Available from:
Colorado Womens Health: Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections. Available from: .
Very Well Health: Boskey, E. Vaginal Flora. Available from: .
WebMD: Davis, J.L. Enlarged Prostate: A Complex Problem. Available from: .
Urology Health: Diabetes and Its Impact on Your Urinary and Sexual Health. Available from:
Grin, P.M., et al., Lactobacillus for preventing recurrent urinary tract infections in women: meta-analysis. Can J Urol, 2013. 20: p. 6607-14.
Neugent, M.L., et al., Advances in Understanding the Human Urinary Microbiome and Its Potential Role in Urinary Tract Infection. 2020. 11: p. e00218-20.
Medical News Today: Biggers, A. 7 ways to treat a UTI without antibiotics. 2021 Available from: .
Drink Plenty Of Fluids
Drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day ensures that you are peeing enough to flush bacteria out of your system. One study found that consistently low fluid intake every day can contribute to urinary tract infection.5 Another study found that low fluid intake and infrequent urination resulted in an increased chance of recurrent urinary tract infections.6 Staying hydrated is good for your health in general. Drink at least one glass of water with every snack and meal to maintain healthy fluid levels.
Can Diet Lower Your Uti Risk
There are certain foods and supplements that can lower the risk of developing a UTI, help fight an acute infection, and help manage a recurrent UTI. These are:
Cranberries Cranberries help prevent bacteria from sticking to the lining of the urinary tract and with that reduce the risk of UTIs. You can add cranberries to your diet, drink unsweetened cranberry juice and/or take a cranberry extract supplement.
Blueberries Blueberries also help protect against bad bacteria settling in the lining of the urinary tract. Since blueberries are such a versatile and popular berry, it is very easy to add this superfood to your meals .
Cinnamon With its antibacterial properties, cinnamon can be used to reduce the growth of harmful bacteria. It also has anti-inflammatory effects, which may help lower the symptom severity of an acute UTI.
Vitamin C Vitamin C helps keep the urine acidic, making the conditions less hospitable for bad bacteria to survive. It is recommended to take between 500 and 1,000 mg of Vitamin C via a high quality supplement. You can also add Vitamin-C-rich foods to your nutrition .
Whats The Real Deal With These Complementary And Alternative Practices
The term complementary and alternative medicine refers to treatment practices that are not currently considered an integral part of conventional allopathic medical practice. Treatments are considered complementary when used in addition to conventional therapies and are considered as alternative when used instead of conventional therapies. Using probiotics or cranberry supplements alone to treat urinary tract infections is applying CAM.
A number of factors are likely fueling the increasing interest in CAM. First, traditional medical therapies for many conditions offer only marginal efficacy. In many countries, including the U.S., prescription medication insurance coverage for many quality of life conditions is decreasing. Also, perhaps related to concerns regarding the safety of prescription medications, there appears to be a growing desire among patients for more holistic and natural treatment options.
A Little About Urinary Microbiome
Urinary microbiome is sensitive like your gut microbiome. There are higher chances of disruption in this area because the toxins removed by kidneys from blood are stored in the bladder. The most common microbe found in your urinary microbiome is Lactobacillus. It is reasoned that a decrease in the number of these bacteria increases the risk of UTI .
It should be noted that the urinary microbiome is different in every human being and its dependent on factors such as gender, age, antibiotics, underlying diseases, and body dehydration level. This means there might be some other dominant bacteria in your microbiome that may change in the number with time . Women generally have a greater variety of microbes than men. There is no definite answer to how these microbes interact with each other in a urinary microbiome, but scientists are working hard to reach a conclusion.
Azo Complete Feminine Balance
AZOs probiotic is designed to offer balance in a womans life. From stress to periods, hygiene, and sex, there are all kinds of things that throw off the vaginas pH level. Where this probiotic shines is that it contains Intelliflora, which is particularly formulated to improve vaginal health.
Intelliflora is the only clinically proven probiotic to carry a blend of four beneficial bacteria commonly found in healthy women. Whats more is that its safe to take for pregnant women.
Recommended Reading: Lower Back Pain Causing Urinary Problems
Don’t Miss: Diflucan For Urinary Tract Infections
What Are The Home Remedies For Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections are much more common in women as compared to men. Therefore they need to take extra care. However, they can occur in both genders.
If you are prone to urinary tract infections, you should follow some home remedies as they can help in preventing urinary tract infections. Those tips are:
Consider Switching Birth Control
If you use diaphragms, spermicides, or nonlubricated condoms and get frequent UTIs, it may be worth talking to your doctor to find other methods of birth control.
Its not uncommon for UTIs to go away on their own with at-home care and without the use of antibiotics.
Some research estimates that 25 to 42 percent of UTIs can go away on their own. This is usually only common in women with no other health issues.
However, there are some serious risks that can come from leaving a UTI untreated, including pyelonephritis and .
UTIs are painful, but with treatment, you can alleviate an infection and prevent recurrent infections. Talk with your doctor if you have symptoms of a UTI. With proper treatment, you should begin to feel better in a few days.
Take your antibiotics as instructed even after your symptoms improve to prevent complications or a secondary infection.
If the UTI doesnt resolve after antibiotic treatment or you end up with multiple episodes of a UTI, your doctor will likely do further testing.
This could be in the form of:
- urodynamic testing
You may be referred to a urologist, depending on the severity of your UTI or if you have chronic infections.
Certain strains of bacteria can cause UTIs. They can range from mild to severe. The degree of severity depends on multiple factors, including:
Recommended Reading: Interstim Implant For Urinary Incontinence
Myths And Facts About Male Utis
A urinary tract infection is an infection of any part of your urinary system and while they are more common in women, it is a myth that theyre the only ones that get them. 12% of men get UTIs, and the consequences of the condition can be mild or severe. This is just one of many misconceptions about UTIs that people have, so lets explore what ideas people have about this infection, and what is true.
For men dealing with UTIs in the Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, and Greater South Florida areas, Drs. Craig Herman, Steven Kester, and the Urology Center of Florida are there with 25 years of experience and state of the art facilities and treatments.
Donât Miss: Can I Take Probiotics Before H Pylori Test
How Do Probiotics Work In The Urinary Microbiome
Research has shown that Lactobacillus probiotic strain works in three different ways in your urinary system. One way is by producing lactic acid in the microbiome that helps fight and kill infection-causing bacteria and viral pathogens. Another way is the formation of protective epithelial colonies in the urinary tract lining that prevents any bacteria from settling and colonizing. The last way is by stimulating the immune response to kill any foreign microbe in the body .
You should keep in mind that chronic UTI should only be treated by using properly prescribed medicines by your doctor. Dont start supplements without prior knowledge of your condition and expect relief from chronic infections. Probiotics are good for preventing recurrent UTI and keeping you safe in the long term.
Also Check: Men’s Urinary Tract Problems
What Does The Urinary Microbiome Do
The importance of the microbiome has been extensively studied in the gut and vagina, but less is known about the benefits of the urinary microbiome. As the urethra opens to the external outside environment, the urinary tract is potentially more exposed and vulnerable. The urinary microbiome may be able to offer protective benefits.
In the gut and vaginal tract, the microbiomes support the host in many ways, one of which is protecting against infection from pathogenic microbes. This is also thought to be the case in the urinary tract. Commensal organisms can adhere to and line the epithelial cells in the urinary tract. This forms a protective barrier, obstructing pathogenic organisms from binding, and reducing the risk of biofilm formation.
Commensals might also be able to compete with pathogens for nutrients as well as produce anti-microbial substances such as lactic acid and bacteriocins. This may reduce the overall risk of infection by pathogens.
In the gut, the microbiome and immune system are in constant communication. There are some immune cells located in the urinary tract, but there has been little research documenting this relationship.
All of this considered, if probiotics can be used as an intervention in the gut and vaginal microbiomes, then could they be used in the urinary microbiome for UTIs, too?
What Is A Urinary Tract Infection And Can Probiotics Help Prevent Them
Probiotics, especially ones with strains from the Lactobacilli family, may be helpful in preventing urinary tract infections. Because Lactobacilli are present in healthy, premenopausal women, maintaining a balance of these probiotic bacteria may support the body in fighting off the pathogens that cause UTIs.
Having a urinary tract infection is very uncomfortable, and typically also negatively impacts your lifestyle and overall health. The majority of people, especially women, will experience a UTI at some point in their life. Some even suffer from recurrent urinary tract infections.
In this blog post, we will go over what UTIs are, what causes them and how they are treated. In addition, we will share several preventative measures you can take against the onset of a UTI and to help decrease the severity of symptoms.
Probiotics are one of these measures. Well dive deeper into the multiple, effective ways a high-quality probiotic supplement can help strengthen the body against a UTI.
Also Check: E Coli In Urinary Tract
Medical Professionals And Vaginal Wellness Experts Weigh In
A urinary tract infection sits high on the list of things that keep me up at night, namely because Im running to the bathroom. I cant put my finger on what age I started getting UTIs, but I can remember visiting the urologist after searches on WebMD led me to think I had Interstitial Cystitis, a chronic bladder issue. It turns out I didnt, but still had to foot the bill of my imaginary condition.
A few years ago, I developed C. Diff. Colitis, an inflammation of the colon caused by bacteria from taking too many antibiotics. Ive been hesitant to take antibiotics ever since and have embarked on a quest to restore my gut bacteria and microbiomesomething Im still learning about but know is vital in the grand scheme of overall wellness.
Tips To Prevent Recurrent Uti
If you suffer from recurrent UTI, you should seriously consider changing some habits and incorporating probiotics into your diet. Check out the following tips to stay away from UTI.
1. Drink lots of water
Developing a habit of drinking 6-8 glasses of water every day keeps you away from many problems. UTI is one of them. An optimum amount of water helps filter out toxins and harmful bacteria from your urinary tract. All the while keeping your kidneys and vagina healthy and hydrated.
2. Dont hold in your pee!
Peeing when the urge arises helps you get rid of toxins efficiently. If you hold it in for too long, the bacteria in the urine can attach to the inner lining of your bladder and start an infection. This infection will spread to other parts of the urinary system and cause a UTI .
3. Drink cranberry juice
Cranberry juice offers great hydration that helps with your urinary infections. Although theres little research to back up the fact that they have antibacterial properties, they sure do provide benefits that prevent urinary infection. Its important to mention that this hydration comes at the cost of high sugar intake. So, keep a regular check on how much sugar youre getting if youre including cranberry juice in your diet.
4. Take Vitamin C
The immune system is the firewall of your body! Vitamin C boosts the immune system. Not only will it prevent urinary infections, but it will also keep you away from other diseases .
5. Include probiotics in your diet
You May Like: Is Honey Good For Urinary Tract Infection
What Factors Affect The Urinary Microbiome
As mentioned above, a number of different things can influence our urinary microbiomes. These include:
- Vaginal health19
There could also be many more. Research is still in its early days. It is likely that factors which affect vaginal health could also influence urinary health . This is supported by a study in 2009, in which the researchers showed that women with bacterial vaginosis had an increased risk of developing a UTI19. This could explain why menopausal women are at a higher risk of UTIs. As oestrogen levels drop, numbers of lactobacilli in the vaginal tract drop too, thus increasing the likelihood of BV.
It is not surprising that antibiotics impact the urinary microbiome, as antibiotics are damaging on commensal organisms in the gut and vaginal tract. They are not very selective, and as such often kill and inhibit bacteria they are not directly targeting. When this happens, it can lead to bacterial imbalances . It also provides opportunities for potentially harmful bacteria to flourish and can make the individual vulnerable to infection.