Urinary tract infection is caused by incursion of bacteria E. coli in the urinary tract. The bacteria enter from the urethra move to the urinary tract. If the infection affects the lower urinary tract then the condition is called as cystitis and if it affects the urethra it is called as urethritis. UTI is an amalgamation of both of these conditions.

The main cause of UTI is holding the urine for a long time. This is because the bladder stretches more than the capacity and results in weakening of the muscles. The weakened bladder will be difficult to empty completely which leads to further infection. It is usually seen that women are more susceptible to infections as compared to men because of fact that women have smaller urethra as compared to men and moreover the opening is close to the vagina where most bacteria reside.

UTI is distinguished by the sudden urge to urinate and this is followed by slow and painful urination less in quantity than normal. UTI is usually accompanied by soreness in the lower abdomen, the sides and the back. There are some home remedies that can be effective in treating UTI, but it is important that you consult your doctor if you observe symptoms like nausea and vomiting, blood in the urine and fever. These symptoms are signs of a severe infection.

The best urinary tract infection home remedy is to drink lots of water. When you consume water you will urinate more and this will flush the bacteria from the body. It is advisable to drink at least 6 to 8 large glasses of water every day.

Increasing the intake of vitamin C helps increasing the acidity in the urine, which prevents bacterial growth. It is advised to take 1000 mg of vitamin C tablets every day. But, if you are on antibiotics then it is better to consult your doctor before increasing the intake of vitamin C. Drink cranberry juice, it contains high amounts of vitamin C and quinolic acid. You can easily have 12 to 24 oz of the juice during the infection. Normally, you can have 3 oz to prevent any incidence of infection.

Echinacea herb contains a lot of substances that can help you fight the UTI. You can either have Echinacea tea once every day or have a capsule or table of 300 mg that contains Echinacea.

Apple cider vinegar has high concentration of the enzyme and also has potassium that prevents bacterial growth. Usually, people suffering from UTI are found to have deficiency of nutritional enzymes and potassium that can be supplemented by apple cider vinegar. It can also be used as a natural antibiotic. It is also suggested to have foods that are rich in fiber content and water. This helps in flushing out the bacteria from the body.

If UTI is not treated on time it can become very painful. It can also spread to the kidney and result in severe health problems. It is advised that people suffering from UTI should avoid the intake of foods that contain acids like tea, coffee, pineapple, and tomatoes.