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Got a niggling health dilemma? Let our expert put your mind at ease
Got a niggling health dilemma? Let our expert put your mind at ease
Themain symptoms of bladder inflammation in women include a burning pain when passing urine, and intense urgency and frequency of urination.
Common causes include friction during sexual intercourse and the flourishing of unwelcome bacteria. Problems can be made worse by hormonal changes. Whatever the cause, if you are prone to bladder inflammation you need to pay particular attention to nutrition, sleep and warmth.
Cranberries have extraordinary healing and nutritional properties when it comes to urinary tract infections. They contain something called proanthocyanidins, which prevent bacteria sticking to the mucosal walls of the urinary tract, stopping the bacteria from multiplying and infecting your tissue. Avoid commercial cranberry drinks though, as they can be high in acid-forming added sugar. Buy dried cranberry powder and mix it with apple juice; or soak frozen or fresh cranberries in water or apple juice overnight and enjoy up to 300ml daily. But beware: large amounts may cause kidney stones or diarrhoea.
You can also ease inflammation by reducing your intake of highly acid-forming food and drinks, such as coffee and tea, sugar, alcohol and fizzy drinks. Reducing the acidity levels of your urine will help minimise the burning pain.
You want to flush your system through, so consume one to two litres of alkalising drinks per day, such as fresh lemon juice in spring water. You can also try three teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in unsweetened apple juice, mixed with two litres of water.
Make your own naturopathic lemon barley water incorporating those two superb antiinflammatory foods: mix half a cup of whole organic pot barley with five cups of water. Simmer for five minutes, and leave overnight. Strain through a sieve, then add a pinch of cinnamon and the juice of at least one or two fresh organic lemons. Keep the liquid in the fridge and drink it throughout the day.
Fresh parsley or dandelion leaf can be beneficial, too: add to salads, soups and casseroles. Raw foods are alkalising and can strengthen your overall immune system and digestion, but be aware that they don’t suit all constitutions in all weathers.
Bladder inflammation is not the same thing as bladder infection, in which you may have low-grade fever, pain and visible blood. Because of the risk of the infection spreading to the kidneys, you must seek medical attention in this case.
Men are not immune to bladder and urethral infections and they should have a prostate check when this occurs. Both men and women can suffer with debilitating chronic cystitis, which can have obstructive causes such as kidney stones, so make sure they are investigated.
‘If you are prone to bladder inflammation you need to pay particular attention to nutrition, sleep and warmth’