Useful Lifestyle Tips to Combat UTI
You should know that it is possible to avoid UTIs by following certain useful lifestyle tips and health guidelines. Reports suggest that almost 10%-20% of women will experience a urinary tract infection at least once during their life. This indicates that UTIs are quite common among women; so, knowing lifestyle tips for UTI can help to prevent their occurrence.
Below mentioned are ten lifestyle tips that women should follow:
- Stay hydrated
It is important for women to stay hydrated by drinking lots of water and other fluids throughout the day if they wish to avoid UTIs from recurring. When you drink water, it helps to eliminate the toxins and bacteria from the body via the urine. Moreover, water revs up the metabolism and aids in digestion. - Eat yogurts and fruits
Yogurts are rich in probiotics that have protective properties to protect you from frequent infections.
It is necessary to add more fruits to your diet as these are loaded with essential minerals and vitamins. These can help to boost your immunity and help you fight against infections. Fruits like blueberries and cranberries are especially helpful when it comes to curing UTIs. - Relieve stress
Stress can make your immune system weak and women who are stressed out become more and more vulnerable to such infections. So, you should try to identify your stress triggers and make sure you manage them well so that you are able to keep infections at bay. - Stop holding the pee
Many women have a tendency to hold back their urge to urinate, and this can be very harmful because it encourages the growth of bacteria. Moreover, when you sit in one position for long hours and hold your pee, bladder pain can develop. - Avoid excess sugar
One of the most effective lifestyle tips for UTIs is to start reducing your intake of sugar. Excess sugar compromises the immune system and makes you gain unnecessary weight. The affected immune system then becomes unable to fight off bacteria. - Avoid cheap lubricants
Using a good quality lubricant when having sexual intercourse is important to prevent infections. If the vagina stays too dry, it can lead to irritations, and this encourages infections. It is best to use a condom or water-based lubricant for protecting this sensitive area. - Be careful about contraceptives
It is advisable not to use spermicides and other contraceptives like diaphragms, which have harmful chemicals that may cause urine infections. - Wear loose and comfortable clothing
Wearing tight-fitting clothes and certain fabrics may cause irritations in one’s genital areas. So, it is best to wear only cotton underwear and avoid rough fabrics. You must wash these only with mild detergents so that no harmful chemicals enter this area.
While these lifestyle tips will not guarantee that you are completely protected from UTIs, following these will at least ensure that the chances of getting infected frequently are less.