Make these 8 simple changes to your diet to prevent UTI

Guess what? Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is one of the most commonly preventable infections among women in Singapore. It affects 50 percent of women at least once in their lives, according to the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre. In the pursuit of our goals, it’s easy to neglect our health, and little things like not going to the toilet often can lead to pesky infections in the long run.

Don’t neglect your precious health in climbing the corporate ladder; good health goes a long way. Here are 8 foods you can easily incorporate into your daily diet to build up your immunity and decrease your risk of UTI. Cheers to a healthy, beautiful you!

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Cranberries contain a unique combination of compounds including Type-A PACs (or proanthocyanidins), that prevent bacteria from sticking and causing infection. A new class of compounds have also been found to have similar antibacterial properties against E. coli as PACs.

You’ll be glad to know that according to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, drinking a 240 ml glass of cranberry juice a day reduces symptomatic UTIs by nearly 40 percent in women with recurrent UTIs. Enjoy the goodness of cranberries in various forms, from cranberry juice to dried cranberries.

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READ MORE: 7 things you can’t hide from your gynae even if you tried and Are your period cramps normal? Here’s when you should REALLY start to worry.

Hooray, the cousins of cranberries are great for combating UTI as well. They contain proanthocyanidins, the very same compounds that prevent bacteria from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract. Simply add half a cup of frozen blueberries or more to your morning smoothie for a fresh start to your day.

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READ MORE: 7 things you can’t hide from your gynae even if you tried and Are your period cramps normal? Here’s when you should REALLY start to worry.

Honey has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties to help fight infections from bacteria and fungi; definitely good news for our health. Take two teaspoons of naturally sweet goodness a day.  

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READ MORE: 7 things you can’t hide from your gynae even if you tried and Are your period cramps normal? Here’s when you should REALLY start to worry.

Garlic increases the potency of key cells in our immune system (T-lymphocytes and macrophages) and has numerous antiseptic and immunity boosting compounds. Make it a point to have one teaspoon a day.

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READ MORE: 7 things you can’t hide from your gynae even if you tried and Are your period cramps normal? Here’s when you should REALLY start to worry.

Our favourite Japanese beverage has antioxidants and inhibits the growth of bad bacteria in the intestine. Drinking one to two cups a day is no problem at all, right?

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READ MORE: 7 things you can’t hide from your gynae even if you tried and Are your period cramps normal? Here’s when you should REALLY start to worry.

Found in citrus fruits like oranges and lemons, Vitamin C helps strengthen our immune system. Just take one citrus fruit a day – easy peasy.

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READ MORE: 7 things you can’t hide from your gynae even if you tried and Are your period cramps normal? Here’s when you should REALLY start to worry.

Yogurt contains probiotics, which are good bacteria that keep bad bacteria in check. Aim for one cup a day and opt for plain yogurt without added sugar and flavourings, to get the most out of this healthy snack.

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READ MORE: 7 things you can’t hide from your gynae even if you tried and Are your period cramps normal? Here’s when you should REALLY start to worry.

Drinking water may sound like a no-brainer, but is something easily thrown out of the window when we’re engrossed in our tasks. One of the many health benefits water brings is in helping to flush bacteria away. Tip: Stick a post-it reminding you to “drink up” on your computer.  

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READ MORE: 7 things you can’t hide from your gynae even if you tried and Are your period cramps normal? Here’s when you should REALLY start to worry.