John Arts Abundant Living www.johnarts.co.nz

More than 50 per cent of women will at some stage develop a urinary tract infection.

Many have chronic UTI and this can have a major impact on the quality of their lives. UTIs (cystitis) mostly occur when e.coli bacteria adhere to the walls of the bladder. The body then starts an inflammatory response to try and deal with the problem and the result is inflammation of the bladder wall causing pain, fever, and frequent and painful urination.

A few years ago I was speaking with a well respected urologist who said he had been trialling a natural compound called d mannose and found that in many patients it was very effective. I soon started recommending d mannose therapy for my clients and likewise found that most people with UTI caused by e.coli had excellent responses. For some, d mannose has completely changed their life. Like any therapy it appears to work well for some but not for others. The urologist considered d mannose more effective than cranberry products.

D mannose is a sugar similar to glucose. When taken as a supplement it is largely indigestible and passes through to the kidneys, where it is excreted into the bladder. When in the bladder d mannose appears to prevent e.coli bacteria from adhering to the balder wall. The e.coli are then flushed out of the bladder in urination.

People who are susceptible to UTI must drink two litres of pure water each day. Constant flushing of the bladder is one of the best strategies. Paying close attention to personal hygiene is important, as is making sure you urinate when you need to rather than holding on. D mannose must be used with a strict protocol of higher use during an infection and a lower maintenance dose. If symptoms do not start to resolve in 24 hours you should see your doctor.

However effective d mannose may be, there never is a silver bullet to everything. When I speak to someone with recurring UTI we always conduct a full health analysis. This involves a review of the diet as there are many compounds that are in foods and supplements that can help improve urinary and overall health. Give me a call if you need more information. To join my weekly newsletter go to www.johnarts.co.nz and visit www.abundant.co.nz

John Arts is the founder of Abundant Health. To contact John phone (local) 578 9051 or 0800 423 559. To read more go to www.sunlive.co.nz