Could Green Tea Cause A Uti
Ive heard about the health benefits of green tea and Ive been drinking it a lot lately. But now I have a urinary tract infection could the green tea be causing my UTI?
Andrew Weil, M.D. | June 25, 2021
Green tea has been shown to have myriad health benefits, from reducing cholesterol levels to protecting against certain cancers to improving focus, so adding it to your daily diet is definitely a plus. In addition, green tea has antibacterial properties that make it remarkably effective against urinary tract infections , so its highly unlikely that it has anything to do with yours in fact, it may even help you get rid of it.
Because of their urinary anatomy women are more vulnerable than men, but anyone can get a UTI, which is almost always caused by Escherichia coli, a common bacterial pathogen. Unfortunately, E. coli has become resistant to many of our first-line antibiotics, making it more important than ever to find natural treatments. Green tea contains polyphenols, including the catechin epigallocatechin , a natural antimicrobial that is excreted in urine, where it can help address a UTI.
In a recent study that looked at the effectiveness of green tea as an antimicrobial against a skin condition, 250 patients infected with S. aureus were treated with green tea, with an 86% cure rate. This holds great promise for the use of green tea against UTIs caused by MRSA.
Andrew Weil, M.D.
Uti Causes In Children
- Prematurity Being born prematurely may make infants more likely to experience UTIs. Premature babies have immune systems that arent fully formed, so theyre not as good at fighting off infections as babies born at full term.
- Being Uncircumcised Uncircumcised boys have slightly more UTIs than those who have been circumcised, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, though proper foreskin hygiene can cut the risk.
- Poor Bathroom Hygiene This may be an issue especially for girls, who have a shorter distance for bacteria to travel between the anus and urinary tract. Making sure to wipe front to back and completely wiping away all fecal material can help.
- Urinary Tract Abnormalities About 20 to 30 percent of infants and toddlers with a UTI have a condition called vesicoureteral reflux , which causes urine to flow backward from the bladder to the ureters, the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. Sometimes VUR will get better and go away on its own. Other times, surgery may be needed to correct the abnormality.
- Sitting Around in a Wet Swimming Suit Warm, moist areas can be a breeding ground for bacteria.
- Sexual Trauma
You Wipe From Back To Front
Wiping from back to front can transport E. coli, the bacteria thats behind most UTIs, from the rectal region to the urethra. Moral of the story: Always wipe from front to back. Al-Badr A, et al. . Recurrent urinary tract infections management in women: A review.
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What Is Urinary Tract Infection
A Urinary tract infection is an infection of the urinary tract caused by small microorganisms like bacteria, fungi or in some rare cases by viruses. These microbes are very small and can only be seen under a microscope.
A UTI can occur anywhere in the upper or lower urinary tract. The urinary tract is made up of your kidneys, urethra and bladder. UTIs are amongst the most prevalent infections in human beings. Women are more likely to catch a UTI than men.
How To Avoid A Uti
Although a number of remedies exist to help you avoid a UTI, there is one that tops the list: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Getting adequate amounts of water helps dilute your urine, which leads to urinating more frequently. When you’re urinating throughout the day, you’re able to flush bacteria from the urinary tract. This helps prevent infection.
Harvard Health Publishing says both blueberries and cranberries may help prevent UTIs. Consuming enough of these fruits raw or via unsweetened juice can keep bacteria from sticking to the lining of the urinary tract. They also recommend probiotics in the form of supplements or fermented foods since they contain colonies of good bacteria.
For women, simple hygiene practices like wiping from front to back after a bowel movement and changing tampons and feminine pads often can help reduce the risk of developing a UTI, says the Cleveland Clinic. Also, both men and women can reduce their risk by urinating before and after sex and urinating frequently throughout the day.
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Causes Of Urinary Tract Infection
UTIs can be caused by a bacterial transmission and can become a risk factor for older men. Mild UTI can still be monitored and can be easily treated whereas a severe case may complicate things and can also lead to surgery.
Here are some of the common causes of UTI:
- Can be caused because of being immobile for long periods
- Can be caused by not drinking enough fluids
- Can be caused by recent urinary tract surgery
- Can be caused by diabetes
- Can be caused by being uncircumcised
- Can be caused by engaging in anal intercourse
- Can be caused by Sexual intercourse
Chamomile Tea For Uti
Chamomile tea is perhaps the most popular herbal tea. It can help you relax. In fact, some people drink chamomile tea to fall asleep. In folk medicine, chamomile tea has many other uses. From stopping fever to flatulence. Its used more rarely, however, for UTIs. Nonetheless, chamomile may in fact be a best tea for UTI.
This research shows drinking chamomile increases antibacterial activity. And consider this other study. It says chamomile relieves stress. For example, it decreases blood pressure significantly. This reinforces chamomile for relaxation. The researchers conclude these actions increase urination. Which, of course, is good if you have a UTI.
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Caffeine And The Bladder
Caffeine, which is present in green tea as well as black tea and coffee, can aggravate the bladder. MayoClinic.com indicates that caffeine can cause bladder spasms, leading to aggravation and bladder control issues. Caffeine also acts as a diuretic, increasing your overall production and output of urine. Diuretics can aggravate the bladder and cause discomfort or problems controlling the bladder. As an alternative, consider decaffeinated green tea, which does not have the same diuretic effect as the caffeinated type.
Aromatherapy When Youre Battling An Active Uti
If you have an active infection and are working with your physician to combat it, aromatherapy can assist these medical efforts, Chesla says.
You can continue using the same blend as you use for prevention, but add a few extra drops of cedarwood. Tea tree oil can also battle bacteria, so you can substitute this for the cedarwood if you desire. Youll need to source this oil extremely carefully, though, because so much of what is sold as tea tree oil is actually synthetic, Chesla says.
Chesla also recommends supporting your painful abdomen by massing it with a blend of equal parts clary sage , geranium , and lavender , again mixed into a carrier oil. Clary sage can have anti-spasmodic effects, while the others are said to induce calm.
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Turmeric Has Renoprotective Action
Kidney abnormalities are a major life-threatening aspect of UTIs.
UTIs may lead to infection in the kidneys and may cause injury to the tissues. These affect the functioning of kidneys and may also result in renal failure.
The urinary tract infection leads to oxidative stress which has a role in causing damage to the kidney tissues.
Turmeric can cover this aspect of UTI too. Curcumin is known to possess renoprotective action.
The antioxidant action of curcumin can reduce the oxidative stress associated with the renal injury caused by many factors, including infections. This helps in prevention of kidney tissues against damage.
What does it mean?It means consumption of turmeric can protect kidneys from the damage caused as a result of UTI. The antioxidant action can relieve the oxidative stress and prevent the kidney damage.
/8peeing After Green Tea
Green tea is one of the best detoxifying drinks. Protecting against various cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancers, green tea also has a little amount of caffeine content that can act as energy booster. But for some, consuming green tea can be troublesome, as it may increase their peeing frequency. Though its not only green tea but consuming any type of tea in excess can affect your bladder. But why does it happen? Here we list the main reasons it happens.
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Take A Break From Coffee To Ease Bladder Infection Symptoms
Sure, your morning cup of java perks you up, but it may also make your UTI symptoms act up again. Caffeine is known to irritate the bladder and worsen bladder infection symptoms. A study of people with interstitial cystitis found that people who drank coffee experienced worsened symptoms. Try a mug of noncaffeinated herbal tea to replace your morning coffee ritual until you are UTI-free.
Risk Factors For Urinary Tract Infections
And now a brief note about reproductive parts: Although people with penises do get UTIs, people with vaginas are more at risk. It all boils down to the anatomy, Minkin says.
Bacteria that cause UTIs often make their way from the back door to the front and then up the urethra to wreak havoc on the urinary system.
Because the male reproductive system has a longer urethra than the female reproductive system, the bacteria have farther to travel, which makes it more difficult for a UTI to develop.
But regardless of anatomy, once youve had one UTI, youre more likely to get another, especially if you have a vagina. Hickling DR, et al. . Management of recurrent urinary tract infections in healthy adult women.
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Benefits Of Turmeric In Urinary Tract Infection
What we call as urinary / systemconsists of four body parts- kidneys, bladder, uureters urethra.
In a nutshell ,it is our bodys liquid waste disposal system. When the urinary tract gets infected with fungi, viruses or bacteria, we develop urinary tract infection , with bacteria being the most common cause.
Most UTIs are caused by the bacteria present in the bowel, such as E. coli. Some other bacteria like, Chlamydia and Mycoplasma can be sexually transmitted and cause infection in urethra or reproductive organs.
Women are more prone to UTI than men due to the anatomical reasons, as microbes can reach easily into the urinary tract of women.
The common symptoms of UTI are frequent urge to urinate, burning sensation in the bladder or urethra during urination,a small amount of urine, abdominal pain, fever, foul smell and dark colour of the urine.
Most of the time UTI is not very serious but if the infection reaches kidneys it could be detrimental. This may lead to kidney damage, high blood pressure etc and sometimes may even be life-threatening.
The infection recurs in a large fraction of UTI cases.
The risk of UTI increases in case of any abnormality related with the urinary tract such as kidney stones, diabetes and lower immunity. The use of certain birth control also elevates the risk.
Catheters or tubes also invite microbes to thrive and may lead to infection. Pregnant women are at a risk during the initial few months.
How Can I Manage Bladder Irritation
You can manage discomfort by avoiding foods you have identified as bladder irritants. But removing foods from your diet doesnt mean you can never have them again. You might be able to enjoy them in moderation . Drinking plenty of water will help reduce pain from any bladder-irritating foods you might ingest, in moderation or accidentally.
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The Link Between Sex And Utis
To understand why sex causes UTIs, it helps to know that most UTIs are caused by bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract.
Over 80% of UTIs are caused by E. coli bacteria. These germs are normal and common inside our intestines, where they help with digestion without making us sick.
The other 20% of bacteria that cause UTIs are mostly:
-
Staphylococcus saprophyticus
-
Enterobacter species
These types of bacteria are also common in the digestive tracts of healthy people.
Bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract can often be found on the skin around the rectum. In people with typically female genitals, the rectum is in the back, the urethra is in the front, and the vagina is in the middle. Having sex can force bacteria from the rectal area forward, toward the vagina and the urethra. Anything that pushes germs toward the opening of the urethra increases your chance of infection.
Some types of contraceptives contribute to sex-related UTIs as well. Spermicides, including the spermicides on some condoms, change the interaction between bacteria and skin cells by making it easier for bacteria to attach to the inside of the urethra. Contraceptive diaphragms are also associated with UTIs. In addition to containing a spermicide, a diaphragm can press on the urethra and cause urine to become trapped. This interferes with how urine flow can help wash bacteria out of the urethra.
Look For Companies That Test Essential Oil Quality
The best companies hire an independent third party to test each batch of oil as it is made. The tests they perform are called gas chromatographymass spectrometry reports. They show how much of each bioactive compound is present in the oil.
Also, because oils can degrade over time, good manufacturers also print an expiration date on the label, Chesla says.
The results of these tests should be made available to you, either on the companys website or sent to you if you phone and ask. Chesla recommends that you take the report to your doctor, who should recognize the chemical components. That way if there are any concerns with interactions with other medicines you might be taking, your doctor will be informed.
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You Dont Pee After Sex
The threat of getting a UTI shouldnt stop you from getting it on. But that doesnt mean resigning yourself to the afterburn.
One simple way to cut your risk: Head to the potty after youve finished your romp. Youll possibly flush out the bacteria that may have made their way into your urinary tract. Urinary Tract Infection. .
Do Spicy Foods Irritate A Bladder Infection
Whether you top your nachos with jalapeños, sprinkle your pizza with red pepper flakes, or love your curry chicken extra hot, you’ve got to skip the spice when you have a UTI. Spicy foods are known to irritate the bladder and worsen UTI symptoms, so cool down your meals and opt for blander choices to treat a urinary tract infection.
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Hibiscus Improves Cholesterol Levels
Multiple clinical studies have also found that Hibiscus reduces low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels. It also increases levels of the good high-density cholesterol .
These results taken from clinical research around the world can only mean one thing: Hibiscus increases cardiovascular health. It reduces blood pressure, improves cholesterol levels and improves the health of the kidneys and urinary tract.
Wow nature can be seriously medicinal and taste great at the same time.
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Turmeric Can Boost The Immune System
The immune response of the body is a critical defence mechanism against infections. It helps to ward off the extraneous factors such as pathogens that may adversely affect the body.
In the case of UTI as well, the defence mechanism against the uropathogens are compromised which leads to the occurrence of infection.
Turmeric has a property of stimulating the immune system which is carried out by curcumin and its polysaccharide fraction.
These compounds show this activity by suppressing expression various molecules of the immune system while activating expression of some others.
Curcumin is found to enhance the antibody response which helps in preventing the infections through antibody-antigen interactions.
What does it mean?It means consumption of turmeric has efficacy in boosting the immune system. This is helpful in warding off the infective agents and hence, can prevent UTIs.
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Urinary Tract Infection In Men
A urinary tract infection is also commonly known as UTI, this infection can be caused by bacteria in the urinary system which consists of Kidney, Ureters, bladder and urethra. UTI is one of the most common infections and it can happen to women and men.
A urinary tract infection can affect the urethra and the bladder the most, however, men do not often get this infection but when they do it can lead to serious complications.
Today, we will be discussing how Urinary tract infection affects men and how you can treat the infection.
Minimum Inhibitory Concentration Determination
The minimum inhibitory concentration of the green tea extract was determined by agar dilution method. MHA plates that contained various concentrations of green tea extract were prepared. Suspensions of 0.5 McFarland standard dilutions were prepared from bacterial cultures grown overnight in LB broth. A 10-4 dilution of these suspensions was prepared, and 100 l of dilution per plate was inoculated using a spread plate technique . Inoculated plates were incubated at 37° C for 48 h, and on the basis of colony counts, the MIC was determined as the lowest concentration of green tea extract to show an inhibitory effect on growth of the bacteria . Each strain was tested three times.
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