Natural remedies for UTIs from VitaBright
Cranberry Extract
This traditional, natural remedy contains cranberry extract and vitamin C.
- Economical
- Bladder-cleansing
- Immune support
It’s formulated to prevent repeat UTIs by keeping the bladder and urethra germ-free. Cranberry extract naturally contains D-mannose sugar, which stops e. coli bacteria from sticking to the inside of the bladder – they’re the germs which cause over 90% of repeat UTIs. It also makes the urine more acidic, which is thought to help kill harmful bacteria whilst being helpful for acid-loving friendly bacteria which help keep the vagina healthy. The vitamin C supports your immune system. It works for women and men.
You can start taking it while being treated with antibiotics for a bladder infection, and take it long-term to help prevent future infections.
D-Mannose
This single-ingredient supplement contains a high dose of pure D-mannose.
- Bladder cleansing
- Very powerful
This unusual sugar is the active ingredient in cranberries which stops e. coli bacteria from sticking to the bladder walls – making sure they are flushed out in the urine so they cannot multiply to cause a urinary infection. It works for women and men.
You can take it as a high-strength addition to cranberry extract, or instead of it, to help prevent repeat UTI infections. Start taking it during antibiotic treatment for a current infection and keep taking it long-term as a powerful deterrent to future infections.
Cranberry Probiotic Complex
This triple-action supplement contains cranberry extract, 5 billion CFU of probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus & Lactobacillus reuteri, and vitamin C.
- Bladder cleansing
- Healthy vaginal microbiome
- Immune support
- Restore fresh & healthy smell
It’s formulated as a stronger solution specifically for women, who suffer from recurring UTIs and have had a vaginal infection (thrush or bacterial vaginosis). The cranberry naturally contains D-mannose to cleanse the bladder of infection-causing e. coli bacteria. The probiotic bacteria are selected to repopulate the vagina with a healthy microbiome, which defends it against future infections and restore the natural odour. This can remove a reservoir of germs in the vagina which may be a source of repetitive UTIs. The cranberry makes the urine more acidic, which helps the probiotic bacteria to establish themselves. The vitamin C supports the immune system.
Take it while being treated for a UTI and/or a vaginal infection if you want to prevent repeat infections. Take it long term to help prevent repeat problems with UTIs, thrush or BV, and to restore a natural and fresh smell to the vagina.
Important warning about treating UTIs
Natural supplements are not designed to cure an active bladder infection or an active vaginal infection. They are for regular use to help prevent these kinds of infections coming back, and to help you keep your vaginal microbiome healthy.
If you have a vaginal discharge, pain when you pee or have any other reason to suspect an infection, you must see your doctor for a diagnosis.
If there’s an infection, you will need a prescription antibiotic. These supplements can help remove harmful bacteria and restore the natural healthy balance of friendly bacteria that can prevent repeat problems. If bladder infections are left untreated they can occasionally spread up to your kidneys where they are extremely dangerous.
What causes urinary tract infections?
There are 19 types of bacteria that can cause bladder infections, but the most common type by far is called e. coli. The bacteria usually originate from the vagina or the anus, spreading to the urethra which is the opening to the bladder. This is why bladder infections often follow an attack of diarrhoea, or a vaginal infection – though sometimes a spell of hot weather or sweaty exercise is enough to help bacteria spread. Germs from a sexual partner can also introduce infections.
The vaginal microbiome plays a protective role in preventing recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). Healthy Lactobacillus species, such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus reuteri, help maintain an acidic vaginal environment, which inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria that can cause UTIs.
When this balance is disrupted, it allows pathogens like Escherichia coli to thrive and spread up into the urinary tract, leading to recurrent infections. When E. coli enters the urinary tract through the urethra, it can adhere to the bladder wall and multiply, causing infection.
This bacterium has special tail-like structures called fimbriae that help it stick to the lining of the bladder and urinary tract. This makes it particularly skilled at causing nasty infections. Moreover, certain strains of E. coli can produce toxins that contribute to the severity of the infection, which is why UTI’s caused by e. coli often result in peeing blood.
How cranberry extract defends against UTIs
Cranberries are packed full of powerful natural antioxidants, phytochemicals and prebiotic fibre. Cranberry extract – up to 50 times stronger than plain cranberry – can give you the benefits of cranberry juice without the fattening sugar that’s always added.
Cranberry is thought to help defend against bladder infections in two ways. Firstly, cranberries naturally contain D-mannose (you’ll sometimes see this described as a proanthocyanidin, but more simply put, it’s a special type of sugar). This physically stops the harmful E. coli bacteria from clinging to the sides of your bladder, which means you can pee them out before they have a chance to build up enough to cause an infection.
Secondly, cranberry makes the urine more acidic, which is the right environment for the helpful bacteria that live in and around the vagina. This acid-loving microbiome, dominated by lactobacillus probiotics, is a vital part of the vagina’s natural defence against infection by bacteria and yeast. It’s also what gives a healthy vagina it’s natural smell. By helping to keep the vaginal microbiome healthy, cranberry can block this source of potential infection that could spread to the bladder.
Lactobacillus probiotics nurture a healthy vaginal microbiome
Have you been told by your doctor or a nurse that the vagina is a “self-cleansing organ” so you should not wash down there with soap? How does that work?
Like your mouth and intestine, your vagina has its own good bacteria – mostly types of lactobacillus – that help to keep it clean and give it that characteristic healthy, “musky” smell. They can prevent infections caused by bad bacteria from gaining a hold, as well as fending off the candida albicans yeast that causes thrush.
Probiotics Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus reuteri are two important probiotic species that are highly effective in managing the vaginal microbiome. They help protect against vaginal and urinary tract infections by making it harder for disease-causing bacteria to colonise the vagina and urethra.
Taking these probiotics in a supplement can help maintain a healthy balance of good bacteria in the vaginal tract, lower the risk of recurrent UTIs, and support overall vaginal health.
Lactobacillus rhamnosus
This strain produces lactic acid, maintaining a low vaginal pH (typically 3.8–4.5), which creates an environment hostile to pathogens like Escherichia coli and Candida species. L. rhamnosus can stick to the vagina, urethra and bladder walls, preventing harmful bacteria from attaching and colonising these tissues. It helps form a protective barrier on epithelial surfaces.
In addition to lactic acid, it produces hydrogen peroxide and bacteriocins, which directly inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria. By stabilising the vaginal microbiome, L. rhamnosus has been shown to reduce the recurrence of urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Lactobacillus reuteri
One of the unique features of L. reuteri is its ability to produce reuterin, an antimicrobial compound that can inhibit a wide range of harmful bacteria, yeast, and fungi.
Like L. rhamnosus, L. reuteri also produces lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide. The latter is especially effective at neutralising pathogens. Together with lactic acid, it maintains the acidic environment that prevents infections.
- reuterialso helps to keep the skin inside the vagina and urinary tract healthy, supporting its natural shield against harmful bacteria.
Using scented or antibacterial soap, or having an episode of thrush or diarrhoea, can upset the balance and make it hard for these good bacteria to grow back to healthy levels. You may notice a pong, that may be fishy or even nastier, caused by bad bacteria taking over. Hormonal changes during the menopause often lead to a decline in the good bacteria. A lot of women at this stage in life notice bad smells from their vagina and sometimes urine as well.
In any of these situations, a course of the right probiotic bacteria can restore a healthy vaginal microbiome.
D-Mannose flushes away harmful bacteria
With harmful bacteria dominating your vagina, they can easily spread up into your bladder, causing a urinary infection. There are 19 types of harmful bacteria that can cause urinary tract infections (UTIs).
The worst of these is called escheria coli. About 85% of all urinary infections (and 95% of all recurring bladder infections) are caused by escheria coli bacteria. These bacteria live naturally in everyone’s intestine, but they should never be in your vagina.
D-mannose is a sugar that binds to E. coli, flushing it out with urine. It’s most effective for acute UTI prevention, especially in those with recurring infections caused by E. coli.
Vitamin C Supports the immune system
It’s your immune system that does the work to keep the right balance of healthy bacteria in your vagina. Making sure you get enough vitamin C Vitamin every single day will help it perform at its best.
Summary
|
UTI SUPPLEMENT |
WHO IS IT BEST FOR? |
|
Cranberry Extract |
– During and after UTI to help prevent repeat infections |
|
D-Mannose |
– If you have had more than one UTI, to help prevent repeat infections |
|
Lactobacillus Probiotics |
– During and after vaginal infection (thrush or bacterial vaginosis) |
|
Vitamin C |
– During and after UTI or vaginal infection, to support immune defences |
