If you’ve felt that burning discomfort and urgency then you’re one of 80% of women who’ve had at least one Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) at some point in their life. UTI’s are responsible for approximately 9.6 million doctor visits annually; with healthcare costs exceeding one billion dollars a year in North America.

Doctors often prescribe antibiotics as standard therapy for UTIs. While useful in treating an existing infection, drugs don’t prevent future problems. In fact, repeated use of antibiotics for recurrent infections can lead to a new batch of problems, including side effects such as candida yeast infection and digestive problems – not to mention the cost of medication. Constant use of anti-microbial therapy has led to the appearance of drug-resistant bacteria forcing doctors to prescribe increasingly stronger medications which may lead to more side effects and ever-increasing costs.

From a total health perspective, antibiotic therapy also destroys the naturally occurring beneficial bacteria in the intestinal and genito-urinary tract that protect our bodies from germs and invading bacteria. After our internal systems have been sterilized by antibiotics, the harmful bacteria in our bodies recover more quickly than the beneficial ones, leading to vaginal or yeast infections, muscle aches, fatigue, PMS and eczema. Because these beneficial bacteria help to prevent disease-causing organisms from getting a foothold in the urinary tract, anti-biotics literally clear the way for another UTI to develop. Doctors are now suggesting that prevention is essential in the fight against UTI.

Berries to the rescue
Although women have been advised for years to drink cranberry juice to prevent UTIs, many believed it was an old wives’ tale. Fortunately, scientists have not only proven that cranberries are good for urinary tract health; they are starting to unlock the secrets of how these berries work.

Most often, the cause of the UTI is Escherichia coli (E. coli), a bacteria typically located in the digestive tract and on the skin around the rectum. (This is why proper bathroom habits are important, ladies! Always wipe from front to back after elimination). While for many years people believed that cranberry juice acidified urine to inhibit bacterial growth, two separate studies conducted in the 1980’s concluded that cranberry improved urinary tract health because it contains a component that prevents E. coli bacteria from attaching to the lining of the urinary tract.