Preventing Urinary Infections
14 Jan 2008
Today, the Golden Rule of medicine should be, "Keep it simple." The reason is simple. The less complicated the treatment, the fewer the complications. Besides, in an increasingly complex medical environment doctors tend to overlook simple treatments that work. It’s a simple as that. So this week, simple ways to prevent annoying urinary infections (cystitis).
It’s estimated that every year 30 t0 50 million North Americans, mostly women, suffer from cystitis. Few ever forget the first attack. Its severe pain on urination and the constant running to the bathroom. Then the shear terror if blood appears in the urine.
Urinary infections can be due to a variety of causes and are usually cured by antibiotics within a few days. But in recent years the overuse of this medication has resulted in bacteria that have become resistant to antibiotics. Unfortunately, women in particular face recurrent bouts of cystitis.
Newspaper headlines linking estrogen to breast cancer, heart attack and stroke have resulted in an increased number of cases of cystitis. Women who are now fearful of estrogen may develop a thinning of the bladder lining making it more prone to recurrent infections.
To prevent recurrent infections a few simple steps can stop friends from teasing, "We know where you’re going". A ring around the bathtub is often responsible for frequent infections. So, if a shower is available, forget about taking a bath. Sexual intercourse may also be an instigating factor. So remember to urinate soon after sex.
Don’t forget "Mother’s advice". For years doctors "pooh-poohed" her opinion that cranberry juice prevented urinary infections. But several years ago a study at The Harvard Medical School proved that not all old wives tales are wrong. Cranberry juice is a simple way to circumvent recurrent bladder infections without any antibiotic complications.
Cranberries have many nutritional benefits. Most people never consider cranberries as a complete source of protein, but they contain all essential amino acids. They’re also a source of powerful antioxidants that are twice as potent as vitamin C and eight times as much as vitamin E. Studies show that antioxidants slow down the aging process and lessen the risk of aging problems such as cataracts.
Plant sterols are also present which have a beneficial effect on cholesterol levels in the blood and decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease.
But the big and startling discovery at Harvard was what researchers found out about E. coli. It’s the main bacterium causing cystitis. E. coli, they discovered, has hair-like protrusions that enable it to stick to the bladder wall, allowing it to multiply. But cranberry juice possesses an anti-sticking factor that prevents this from happening.
Studies showed that by oiling the inside of the bladder with cranberry juice it was possible to flush out bacteria during urination. Moreover, the daily use of cranberry juice could aid in preventing recurrent cystitis.
But there are problems when large amounts of cranberry juice are used day after day to prevent cystitis. Cranberry juice is loaded with sugar and that means excess calories. Today that’s the last thing that patients need. Besides, when cranberries are processed the healthier parts, the pomace and seeds are discarded.
So why not eat cranberries? It’s better than not consuming any cranberries. But studies show our digestive system is unable to digest the seed that contains most of the beneficial nutrients. Seeds pass through our intestines very easily so the problem is not just what you eat but how much your body actually holds onto.
Fortunately there’s a simple solution called "Cranberry Women’s Formula". It circumvents all these problems for both sexes.
Since the nutrients in cranberries are destroyed by heat, Cranberry Women’s Formula capsules are processed by a cold press method that captures the whole potential of this powerful berry. So taking two capsules of this product is the same as drinking four glasses of cranberry juice without the calories but with all the other benefits.
The longer I practice medicine the more I’m convinced that natural remedies are usually superior to man-made drugs. After all, what’s better than simplicity without complications.
To obtain more information see the web site www.fruitessentials.com. Or call the toll free number 1-877-328-3784
