Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), an extremely distressing infection of the  urinary tract including the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra has been conventionally treated with antibiotics therapy.  However, even with a stringent protocol the infection tends to reoccur. Hence, complementary medications like probiotics therapy have been gaining popularity for providing relief from Urinary Tract Infections.

How Probiotics Help Treat Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary Tract Infection is caused by gastrointestinal bacteria spread from the anus to the urethra, staphylococcus saprophyticus, use of irritating products such as harsh or perfumed skin cleansers, use of diaphragms, spermicides and birth control pills, heavy use of antibiotic, sexual transmission, or a blockage in the urinary tract. The symptoms comprise of backache, body ache, high fever, shaking and chills, nausea and vomiting. Probiotics have shown promising results in treating UTI especially among woman, but more conclusive results are still awaited. However, the mechanism of action proposed is that it restores the balance of good bacteria in small intestine and vagina. Probiotic bacteria like lactobacillus produce short chain fatty acids in the gut making it an acidic environment inhospitable for the disease causing bacteria to survive. It also promotes body immunity.

Supplementation with Lactobacillus acidophilus and intravaginal suppository of Lactobacillus crispatus was extremely effective in stopping reccurance of UTI among women.

How To Use Probiotics To Treat Urinary Tract Infection

• Probiotics are generally safe and well tolerated in the body and good for maintainance of general health and wellness, but for treatment specific bacterial strains should be used.
• The curative capability of the probiotics is dose dependent.
• Probiotics must contain live microbes, and care on the microbial strain consumed and date of expiration.
• Probiotics should be taken on a regular basis for maintenance of a healthy digestive and immune system.
• Probiotics can be consumed in daily diet in the form of diary products like acidophilus milk, kefir, cultured milk, cultured buttermilk, and yogurt.
• Probiotics can also be added to daily diet by incorporating soy, rice or coconut milk with live microbes, pickled vegetables (Raw kimchi, sauerkraut or pickled beets, carrots or other vegetables), hummus, tempeh, natto, formulated health bars, miso, cereals, and certain probiotic salad dressings.
• Probiotics are also available as a wide variety of dietary supplements in capsule, tablets or liquid forms for easy use.
• Prebiotics when consumed along with probiotics boost their efficacy.

Best Probiotics for Urinary Tract Infection

UTI can be treated and its recuurence prevented by using probiotics like L. acidophilus, L. crispatus, L. rhamnosus, L. casei, L. plantarium, L. bulgaricus, L. salivarius, Enterococcus faecium and Streptococcus thermophilus. Some probiotic products available in the market are Acidophilus milk, Nutrition now PB8 Acidophilus, Probiotic complex quantum, Probiotic yoghurt, ThreeLac, Choice Super 8 High Potency Probiotic, Advanced Adult Probiotic, Yakult, Align, Activia yogurt, EcoVag, Yoplait YoPlus, Stonyfield yogurt, Pearl, Dong Quai, Coco Biotic, Goodbelly splash, Goodbelly probiotic fruit drink, Mutaflor, Actimel, etc.

Things to Remember while Using Probiotic Therapy

While consuming probiotics care should be taken regarding individual food allergies, especially among children. Probiotics should not be administered to people suffering from pancreatitis and one with compromised immune system as it may result in serious complications.

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