Can Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar Help Get Rid of UTIs?

A UTI is an acronym for a urinary tract infection. It refers to a condition in any part of a person’s urinary system. The urinary system of a person’s body includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. By a scientific report, females are generally at a greater risk of acquiring a urinary tract infection than males. Typically, UTI can be cured by taking antibiotics prescribed by the doctor. But severe health problems can be formed if they spread and reach the kidneys, damaging them and making the medical condition severe in a few days. If not treated timely, it can also lead to death.

Causes and symptoms of UTIs

Most of these infections lie in the lower region of the urinary tract, which involves the bladder and the urethra. There are some common symptoms by which a person can identify that he is suffering from a UTI. Some of these symptoms include a burning feeling when urinating, urinating in small amounts often, a strong smell of urine, and a strong urge to urinate suddenly, which lasts long. Some symptoms that show a person suffering from an upper urinary tract infection can be nausea, vomiting, pain in the pelvic region, or back pains. In the above cases, it is highly recommended that one consults his doctors or healthcare providers instantly.

Bacteria, fungi, or viruses in the urinary tract form most urinary tract infections. E. coli, an acronym for Escherichia coli, is bacteria that causes around 90% of all urinary tract infections. Personal and surrounding hygiene is vital in forming urinary tract infections in a person's body. The reason is that the microbes are typically introduced from the bowel and are responsible for the uncomfortable symptoms associated with an infection in a person's urinary tract.

Apple cider vinegar and UTIs

Apple cider vinegar can be considered a type of vinegar that is produced by a combination of sugar, yeast, and crushed apples. It is usually used as an ingredient in some food items, which include pickles and many more. Apple cider vinegar is famous as a home remedy with multiple uses, helping with weight loss, lowering blood sugar levels, lowering cholesterol levels, and killing off germs.

Health benefits of Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a simple, easily accessible, inexpensive component that can be consumed easily with any diet. There are many ways a person can include apple cider vinegar in his diet, including mixing it with tea, water, smoothie, or soup recipes. A person can also make a salad dressing using apple cider vinegar, oils, and herbs.

There are many other health benefits of apple cider vinegar, such as blood sugar control in about 8-12 weeks. Apple cider vinegar can also be a great source of cure for fungal problems. According to a report, it takes around seven days to clear the fungal infections, especially for people with type 2 diabetes in regions such as the mouth. Clinical reports of people burning their throats on ACV are extremely rare, but they can be considered a potential risk.

Since E. coli is bacteria that causes 90% of all urinary tract infections, people claim that apple cider vinegar can be a great source to cure since it has high antifungal and antimicrobial characteristics. Some researchers argued that apple cider vinegar's acidic nature might guide the body in inhibiting and eliminating bacteria that cause urinary tract infections, reducing the risk and severity of infection.

Alternate remedies for UTIs

While many claims that apple cider vinegar is very useful in treating UTIs, no scientific research or evidence suggests that it is beneficial in such cases as claimed. Instead, it is recommended to consult doctors to find an immediate cure and exercise it so that the infection does not spread to the kidneys and develop serious health risks.

Some people also claim that apple cider vinegar can act as a bladder irritant rather than a cure for urinary tract infections. However, a person can develop bladder irritation if he has a history of bladder problems. But apart from that, there are no adverse side effects for the body. Apple cider vinegar may not have any effects that may not cure a urinary tract infection. Still, it does not have any harmful side effects on the human body when consumed in moderate amounts.

The doctor or healthcare provider conducts tests to determine whether the person has a UTI. After analyzing the results and forming a diagnosis, the doctor prescribes medications to fight off and eliminate any germs that may be present in the urinary of the person. However, consuming the medicines in the prescribed time and quantity is essential. If one overuses antibiotics, the germs present in the body may form a sort of resistance. Hence, the medications would no longer have any effect on the infection.

There are many methods that anyone can practice daily to prevent a urinary tract infection. Some of these remedies include drinking lots of fluid and water, consuming juicy food items such as soup or watermelon, avoiding eating things or liquids that may cause bladder irritation, such as alcohol and spicy food items, and taking a probiotic supplement daily to boost the level of good bacteria in the body to maintain a healthy balance. UTIs in the lower region are treatable with relative ease using the appropriate medicine. However, if the UTI is not treated, it can lead to more severe health complications such as repeated infections, kidney damage, or sepsis.

Conclusion

Drinking lots of fluids may help flush out the bacteria which cause a UTI or prevent the infection. On the other hand, the symptoms of a urinary tract infection should prompt a person to get in touch with a primary care physician or another healthcare professional as soon as the infection appears.

In most cases, a UTI lasts for two and four days. According to the statistics, around one-third of the population suffers from recurrent infections. This condition can occur due to age or kidney stones.