How to Handle a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) and Promote a Healthy Bladder

Let’s do a little potty talk….how is the health of your bladder? This is a topic that is often overlooked and avoided because nobody really wants to talk about their bathroom experiences! Here’s the thing; your bladder plays an important role in helping to promote wellness in your body. The bladder is responsible for storing the body’s urine. Think of it like a little tank! The urine produced by the kidneys flows through the ureters into the urinary bladder, where it is stored before passing into the urethra and exiting out the body. Sounds simple, right? But if you have ever had a urinary tract infection (UTI), you know how debilitating it can be! When you attempt to go to the bathroom (after feeling a super strong urge to pee), you might feel a burning sensation while passing small amounts of urine. Sometimes your urine can appear to be cloudy. If you believe that you are experiencing a UTI, it is important to speak with your local healthcare practitioner to determine the right course of action. Many people also look to taking D-mannose supplements to help relieve the frustrating symptoms associated with having a UTI.

What is D-mannose?

It is a simple sugar (monosaccharide) that consists of one molecule of sugar. It is produced in the body and from some plants in the form of a starch. In plants, it is primarily found in fruits like apples, peaches, cranberries and raspberries. It is also found in green veggies like broccoli and green beans. D-mannose goes by other names including Mannose, Seminose, D-manosa and Carubinose. As a dietary supplement, it has been said to promote numerous benefits, the most well-known being its effect on bladder health.

How does D-Mannose help UTIs?

According to research, E.coli bacteria is responsible for 90 percent of UTIs (urinary tract infections). Studies have shown that D-mannose can help to treat or prevent this harmful bacteria from latching on inside the urinary tract, causing frustrating symptoms. In 2013, a study evaluated D-mannose in women who had frequent UTIs. It was shown that D-mannose worked as well as an antibiotic (nitrofurantoin) for preventing UTIs over a six-month period. (https://bjui-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/bju.12492) D-mannose was also tested on women with active UTIs and at the end of the study, most women were shown to have improved symptoms. (https://www.europeanreview.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2920-2925-D-mannose-a-promising-support-for-acute-urinary-tract-infections-in-women.-A-pilot-study.pdf) The typical dose of D-mannose in the supplements used in the studies was 500mg per capsule, which is what you get with Superior Labs 100% Natural D-mannose. Superior Labs supplements are always free from harmful ingredients like magnesium stearate, dioxides, and preservatives which means you get the purest D-mannose capsules on the market. Learn more about Superior Labs 100% Natural D-mannose here. (https://superiorlabs.com/collections/digestive-health/products/d-mannose)

What are some other ways to keep the bladder healthy?

1. Drink plenty of water – If you have been following our blog posts, you are familiar with the fact that we recommend staying hydrated throughout the day in order to promote optimal wellness in the body. To determine how much water you need to drink, take your body weight and divide it in half. The number you get is how much water (in ounces) you should consider drinking on a daily basis. If you struggle with getting enough water intake, consider investing in a reusable water bottle. Add a squirt of lemon or lime juice to get some extra flavor and nutrients.
2. Start doing Kegel exercises -This easy exercise has been shown to help strengthen the muscles that help control the urethra. When the muscles are weak, it can be difficult to control the flow of pee. You can do Kegel exercises just about anywhere…the car, office and even while sitting on your couch watching TV. All you have to do is pull in and squeeze the muscles in your bladder area. Pretend like you are trying to stop the flow of pee. Hold that squeeze for about 10 seconds and release. Do this repeatedly, 10 times a day, to experience results.
3. Use the bathroom when needed –Have you ever been on a long road trip, needed to use the bathroom, only to find that there were none around? Being unable to go to the bathroom when needed is a really difficult thing to experience! Not only does it make you uncomfortable, it can weaken the bladder muscles over time. It can also lead to UTI due to bacteria buildup. If you need to go to the bathroom…go! Try to pee every four hours or when you feel the urge to urinate. If you are drinking lots of water, you will obviously need to make more frequent trips to the bathroom. Plan ahead if you are going to be somewhere without easy access to bathrooms in order to ensure your bladder won’t fill up, leaving you feeling uncomfortable.
4. Avoid Constipation – This is easier said than done. In fact, many of us experience constipation on a regular basis! About 42 million Americans say they are often constipated, making it one of the most common gastrointestinal problems in the United States (according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases). To keep constipation at bay, be sure that you are including plenty of high-fiber foods into your daily diet. You can also try taking Superior Labs 100% Natural Psyllium Husk supplement to give your body a healthy boost of both soluble and insoluble fiber. (https://superiorlabs.com/collections/digestive-health/products/psyllium-husk)