There was a reported rise in Urinary tract infections (UTIs) during the pandemic, as stress was high, and proper hygiene and diet were not something people in their pajama wearing and jigsaw puzzled state much cared about, especially during those lock down days. UTIs are caused by foreign bacteria entering into the urinary tract, usually from the bowel, and infections can happen to both men and women, but women get more infections than men. In fact, about 60% of women and 12% of men will have at least one UTI in their lifetime. If you’ve ever had one, you will recognize the symptoms immediately: burning sensations when you urinate, cramping, frequent trips to the bathroom, strong-smelling odor when you go, and urine that may appear cloudy or dark, as well as a feeling of not quite being able to empty your bladder. UTIs are also annoying and frustrating, especially if they happen to you often. And, while the standard treatment for a UTI is pretty commonplace (an antibiotic usually clears it up in a few days), many people avoid seeing a doctor and don’t get the proper diagnosis and antibiotic prescription, as they think they can self treat, or it will go away by itself. Something that always pops up when you think you have a UTI is drinking cranberry juice or taking cranberry supplements. One prominent theory is that a substance in cranberries, called proanthocyanidins, might help prevent UTI-causing bacteria from sticking to the walls of the bladder and other urinary tract linings. So while you mostly think of cranberries as a delicious Thanksgiving side dish, should we be giving thanks to cranberries when we get a UTI? Courtney gives us some great info on how you can deal with UTIs and if can cranberries help prevent them.
To get more info, follow Courtney on her Facebook page Courtney on Health, and on Instagram and TikTok @clgwellnes. Visit her website: courtneygravenese.com. For past shows go to malcolmpresents.com and themanyshadesofgreen.com.