When you’re diagnosed with a UTI, your doctor may prescribe medication to treat the infection. But, lifestyle changes are also important in preventing future infections. Improving your overall hygiene and maintaining other healthy habits can help a lot.
To help manage your UTI, you should avoid foods that are known to irritate the urinary tract, such as caffeinated drinks and foods with high levels of acid-content, like vinegar and tomatoes. The following are some additional steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing another UTI in the future.
Drink lots of water
One important step in managing a UTI is staying hydrated. Drinking plenty of water will not just help you hydrate your system; it will also create an environment that is less conducive to bacteria. To prevent urinary tract infections, it is important to increase your fluid intake to stay hydrated. This will keep the bacteria in your urinary tract from growing.
When you have a UTI, you should drink more water than normal because it helps to flush bacteria out of your urinary tract. Make sure you take your UTI medication as directed, as these medications can cause you to urinate more frequently and help flush the bacteria out of your system.
Stay on a high-fibre diet
When you have a UTI, it is important to increase your fibre intake. A high-fibre diet can help prevent UTIs by naturally cleansing your bladder and urinary tract. It can also help prevent constipation, which is a common symptom of UTIs.
For best results, try to aim for about 25 grams of fibre each day. You can do this by eating a wide variety of fibrous foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes.
Exercise regularly
Regular exercise can help prevent a wide variety of health conditions, including UTIs. You can maintain a regular exercise routine to reduce your risk of UTIs by controlling your body’s temperature. When your body temperature increases, your risk of developing a UTI also increases.
Exercising regularly can help keep your body temperature at a healthy level, which can help reduce your risk of developing a UTI. Additionally, regular exercise can help improve your bladder strength and reduce the amount of time you spend urinating. This can reduce your risk of developing a UTI by keeping your urethra free from bacteria.
Try eliminating problematic foods and beverages from your diet
Certain foods and beverages may be more likely to irritate your urinary tract, causing UTIs. If you notice certain foods and beverages triggering your UTI symptoms, you may want to consider eliminating them from your diet.
Some foods that can irritate your urinary tract are spicy foods, citrus fruits, and caffeine. Beer, red wine, and other alcoholic beverages can also irritate your urinary tract. If you notice these foods or beverages triggering your UTI symptoms, you may want to reduce or eliminate them from your diet.
UTIs can be painful, disruptive, and embarrassing. They are also surprisingly common, with most people experiencing at least one UTI in their lifetime. While UTIs can’t be prevented 100%, they can be managed by making healthy lifestyle changes.
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