The urinary tract consists of the Kidneys, Bladder, Ureters (tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder) and Urethra (that carry urine from the bladder outside). Infection in any part of the tract is Urinary Tract Infection or UTI however it is a term commonly used for infection in the lower tract i.e. the bladder and urethra. Women are more prone to UTI’s than men.
Some common symptoms of UTI, as stated by the Cleveland Clinic:
1. Pain in the side, abdomen or pelvic area
2. Pressure in the lower pelvis
3. Frequent need to urinate
4. Painful urination
5. Urgent need to urinate
6. Incontinence7. The need to urinate at night
8. Abnormal urine colour
9. Blood in the urine
10. Strong or foul-smelling urine
While pain killers and antibiotics are the line of treatment under medical guidance, there is a limit to how many you can consume. There is also the fact that bacteria become resistant to antibiotics and do not respond to the treatment. The journey to prevent and treat UTI’s help and actually make a positive difference to handling this infection, some of this knowledge is ancient and some recently researched.
Some simple inclusions would be:
1. Drink up! Water is the most important part of your “Diet Therapy” for UTI. More water intake means more urine, which means the bacteria are flushed out helping ease the symptoms and prevent recurrence. Drink up about 1 glass of water every hour, and this is pure water-no additives. Fluids like alcohol, citrus juices and drinks that have caffeine are reported to irritate the bladder in almost all the scientific studies I looked up. So keep it simple and have plenty of water.
2. Berry berry good: Cochrane Collaboration a body of experts who identify and evaluate studies of health care interventions have given Cranberries the thumbs up for UTI. They say that results from a number of studies has pointed to scientific evidence supporting daily consumption of cranberry products to reduce the likelihood of urinary tract infections. This could be attributed to cranberries containing polyphenol compounds that exert a strong antioxidant effect on the body. Cranberries have also shown to protect the body by not allowing E.coli, the most common UTI bacteria, to stick to the urinary tract. Unsweetened cranberry juice is good and so are capsules of dried juice that are freely available. Consult your healthcare provider. There are certain conditions and medications with which this is not recommended
3. Good bugs, bad bugs and probiotics: Our skin and gut is a treasure trove of good bacteria that acts as a barrier to infections. There is strong scientific evidence that supports the use of probiotics for preventing UTI. While more conclusive evidence is awaited, using natural sources of probiotics like Yogurt or dahi or over the counter probiotic drinks will not be detrimental to your health. These will also help you overcome the after effects of antibiotic therapy and maintain a healthy digestive system.
4. Bad breath be damned: Garlic is being seen as an effective weapon against drug resistant bacteria. A study conducted by the researchers at the Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences in India found that “Garlic extract may be an effective weapon against multi-drug resistant strains of pathogenic bacteria associated with urinary tract infections (UTI)”. Garlic has been found to be useful for targeting a number of bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses according to modern scientific literature, but we have been using it as a medicinal plant for centuries. Its power is attributed to the presence of Allicin and other sulphur compounds are thought to be the major antimicrobial factors. It can be eaten crushed, added to your food or as tea by steeping crushed cloves in warm water for 5-10 minutes.
UTI is an infection you do not want, if left untreated it can be life threatening. While natural remedies and food therapies will help alleviate your discomfort, and may be even reduce the length of the infection, or help avoid relapses, make sure you are not replacing good medical treatment with alternate therapy.
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Revealed: A type of vitamin E found in nuts may prevent asthma attacks
A type of vitamin E found in nuts may prevent asthma attacks by reducing airway inflammation. Sufferers of the common breathing condition taking it as part of a US study were also found to have less sticky mucus in their lungs. Experts say the findings raise the possibility of asthma being kept under control by changing diet or taking a supplement.
The form of vitamin E that brought these beneficial effects is gamma-tocopherol, which is abundant in nuts such as walnuts and pecans and in the legume peanut, as well as seed oils such as corn, soybean and sesame.
This type has drawn little attention compared with alpha-tocopherol, the form most commonly found in vitamin E supplements.
Researchers started looking into vitamin E because previous studies suggested that people with high amounts of vitamin E in their diet were less prone to asthma and allergic disease. However, they also knew that the alpha isoform seems to be associated with an increased risk for hemorrhagic stroke, they said. So they began looking more closely at gamma tocopherol.
The results were published in the Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology.
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Study shows how mental strain impairs the brain
Chronic stress can cause you to make risky decisions like picking a job with a good salary but strenuous hours, say scientists.
Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology have identified the part of the brain that becomes impaired under stress and leads to poor decision-making.
The study showed that stress leads to a sort of mental confusion between choices that will or won't be rewarding, and can last for months.
According to its authors, the study's findings could lead to exciting prospects for treating anxiety and depression, and reducing the effects of stress to help people avoid bad - sometimes life-altering - decisions.
A lower-paid post with more leisure time appears less appealing when people are under mental pressure, according to new research.
Experiments on rats and mice found stressed out animals were far more likely to opt for dangerous alternatives, with a bigger reward.
They also identified impairments of a specific brain circuit underlying this abnormal decision making - and restored normal behavior by manipulating it.
