Health Benefits of Blueberries and Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

Some people seem to be cursed with frequent Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs). The most common treatments are for your doctor to prescribe a course of antibiotics, to be told to drink cranberry juice (or eat blueberries and unsweetened cranberries), or both. Instead of dealing with recurring problem of treating UTIs, why not try preventing them instead?

Here are a few tips to help stop UTIs before they start:

Drink water.

Drinking water is one of the best things we can do health-wise, regardless of our goals. A water intake of 48 to 64 oz. a day can aid in weight loss, help prevent illness, and keep our skin healthy and our bodies hydrated. As far as UTIs are concerned, water helps flush out your urinary system and wash out bacteria. Cranberry juice is a great form of prevention as well as treatment; research suggests that drinking one to three cups a day makes the urine more acidic, which can help prevent the growth of bacteria.

Take showers instead of baths.

Sitting in bath water, especially soapy bath water, can irritate your tissues. This can open the door to bacteria and make you more susceptible to infection. Also, perfumed bath products, bubble baths, and feminine hygiene sprays may also increase your risk of developing a UTI.

Wear cotton underwear.

Cotton underwear is more absorbent than underwear made of artificial fibers and is able to pull moisture away from your skin. Artificial fibers, such as nylon and polyester, trap moisture, creating a hospitable environment for bacteria, as well as yeast. This can promote infections.

It is important to remember that prevention is ALWAYS preferable to treatment, as overuse of antibiotics can render them useless or create a resistence within your system. By following good hygiene practices and keeping yourself hydrated, you're on your way to ending your UTI issues forever.

There has been a long-standing belief in natural medicine that there are certain foods that provide more than just dietary value and are believed to have disease-fighting and healing properties. One of these foods that has been proven to be a way to fill up on antioxidants is the blueberry. In recent USDA studies blueberries been shown to be number one in antioxidant activity, as compared to 40 other fruits and vegetables and makes this humble fruit the ideal health supplement.

Find out more: http://blueberrysupplements.co.uk