Original Post Date: October 3, 2024
Urinary tract imbalances are an uncomfortable fact of life for many people. Six out of 10 women in the U.S. will have a urinary tract concern, and one in four of those will have a recurrence. Men experience these issues much less often. Under age 50, only 5-8 out of 10,000 men experience an issue each year.
Urinary tract problems are typically treated with antibiotics, but many patients today prefer a more natural treatment option, and doctors are concerned about antibiotic resistance. Patients and medical professionals have noted friendly probiotic bacteria, which have shown potential benefits for maintaining urinary health.
What Are Probiotics?
Probiotics are the friendly bacteria, yeasts, and viruses that naturally live in our bodies. Scientists believe they aid with digestion, boost immune health, positively impact nearly every body system, and help control pathogenic bacterial growth.
Researchers have performed multiple studies on probiotics’ impact on the gut, brain, skin, heart, mood, and just about every other body system with positive results. However, scientists recommend more research to identify which probiotic strains are most effective for different conditions. But what about probiotics for urinary health? Are there benefits of taking probiotics for bladder health? Let’s explore.
Understanding the Urinary Tract
Your urinary system comprises your bladder, urethra, ureters (tubes connecting your kidneys and bladder), and kidneys. When unfriendly bacteria grow somewhere in your urinary system, most often your bladder, you begin to feel the pain, burning, and urgency, characteristics of a urinary tract difficulty.
Women have more urinary tract health related concerns than men simply because of their physiology which increases the potential for fecal bacteria to enter the urethra and grow. Most overgrowths are not dangerous, just uncomfortable, but if it spreads to the kidneys or ureters, it can become more serious. The most common causes of these health issues include diabetes, sexual activity, catheter use, menopause, diaphragms and spermicides, and pregnancy.
Urinary Tract Discomfort Treatment Methods
As mentioned above, urinary tract challenges are typically treated with antibiotics, but when a quarter of the women have a recurrence, are antibiotics effective in the long run? Doctors commonly prescribe Amoxicillin, Cephalexin, and Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim to treat these issues.
Probiotics and Urinary Tract Concern Prevention
Do probiotics help with urinary tract health? Some studies have shown that probiotics could protect against these issues, but others have been inconclusive, leading scientists to recommend more robust studies.
Probiotics work slowly in the body to reestablish beneficial bacteria, which, over time, replace the pathogenic bacteria and support the immune system. Constantly using antibiotics kills not only the unfriendly bacteria but also the beneficial bacteria.
Adding probiotics to your diet through foods or supplements, even while taking antibiotics, begins to reestablish the friendly bacteria. These microorganisms benefit not only the digestive tract but many different systems in the body, including the immune system. Strengthening the immune system by rebuilding the microbiome is a powerful way to improve overall health.
Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are the most studied bacterial strains and the most frequently used in foods and supplements. You can introduce these bacteria into your diet by eating yogurt, tofu, miso, kimchi, and cultured buttermilk. If you do not care for the taste of fermented foods, want to know the exact live cultures you’re getting, or prefer convenience, a quality probiotic supplement may be your best bet.
Probiotics while taking urinary tract health treatments
You might ask, “Can I take probiotics with antibiotics for urinary tract health?” Today, when doctors prescribe antibiotics, they often also recommend concurrent probiotic use. The friendly bacteria have protective effects on the immune system and gut, and when antibiotic use depletes them, the body can be vulnerable to other concerns, including urinary tract problems. It is essential to continue probiotic use after antibiotics to reestablish the beneficial bacteria in the body.
FAQs
Can lack of probiotics affect urinary tract health?
If the friendly bacteria in the body are destroyed by a poor diet, antibiotics, medications, stress, or other means, the body may be more susceptible to infection overall.
Can cranberries stop UTIs?
In a study with 1,498 participants, cranberry reduced the risk of UTI by 26%.
What is the fastest way a UTI can go away?
UTIs are conventionally treated with antibiotics, which are still the recommended treatment in the medical community. As mentioned earlier, many doctors recommend probiotics along with antibiotics to reestablish the intestinal microbiome.
A Few Final Thoughts
Recent studies have repeatedly shown that probiotics positively affect the human body, improving overall health and boosting the immune system. As a result, the medical community considers probiotic supplements generally safe. However, if you have frequent health conditions or have had a recent surgery or hospitalization, it is best to discuss probiotic use with your doctor.
What is the best probiotic for urinary health?
Many probiotic supplements are available today, and it can be challenging to sort through the hype to find the highest-quality, most effective product. Protect yourself with a high quality probiotic from Dr. Ohhira.
We create our probiotic supplements using current scientific research and ancient Japanese wisdom, culturing the friendly bacteria for three years. Our supplements contain 13 probiotic strains to improve bacterial diversity in the gut, and we use only the purest ingredients, leaving out chemicals, colorants, allergens, preservatives, and flavorings.
Visit our website to learn more about how we create our probiotic supplements and order online. If you have questions, contact us or call 972-255-3918.
