Probiotics contain billions of friendly bacteria that work symbiotically with your body. They are most well-known for helping you to digest food. There are other places in your body, however, where naturally-occurring bacteria are also important. There is evidence that they can also aid in vaginal and urinary tract health.
Probiotics For UTI Prevention
The urinary tract is mainly colonized by Lactobacillus. Sometimes, other bacteria in the urinary tract can replace Lactobacillus causing imbalances in bacterial populations which lead to urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Women who are more prone to recurrent UTIs can take certain probiotics for UTI infection prevention by maintaining Lactobacillus colonies ー specific strains of Lactobacillus in particular are more effective than others. For effective UTI prevention you need to take a daily probiotic, and the benefits will likely set in after a few weeks of daily use.
Probiotics For UTI Treatment
There is no good evidence that probiotics can treat a UTI once it has started. Furthermore, because UTIs are usually treated with antibiotics, it is improbable even in theory that probiotics would help, since the antibiotics would kill them.
For the same reason however, antibiotic treatment for UTIs can decimate the bacterial environment of the urinary tract, making future infections more likely. Probiotics should therefore be used after recovery from a UTI to restore a healthy urinary tract environment and to prevent future UTIs from developing.
The Best Probiotics For UTI Prevention
Best Women’s Probiotic For Preventing UTIs
Garden of Life RAW Probiotics Women
Garden of Life Raw Probiotics for Women contain an impressive 33 distinct strains at 85 billion CFUs per serving. Most of these strains are Lactobacillus strains which are ideal for preventing UTIs, but the diversity of strains will also improve gut microbiota – an especially important bacterial environment which needs maintaining during pregnancy. If you are pregnant, read this article to find out how you can take probiotics safely.
Garden of Life Probiotics also contain an Eastern European veggie and fruit blend which provides prebiotics to feed the bacteria in your vagina and urinary tract. You can take these probiotics if you’re lactose-intolerant, as the digestive enzyme blend breaks down lactose for you. Make sure to take three capsules a day continuously for effective results.
Best Men’s Probiotic For Preventing UTIs
Garden of Life RAW Probiotics Men
Garden of Life Probiotics for Men contain 31 distinct strains at 85 billion CFU. Men are less likely to develop UTIs because they have a much longer urinary tract than women. Even so, the bacterial strains in this probiotic will help prevent UTIs from occurring. These bacterial strains have also been specially selected to support prostate health and gut health.
Like the women’s version, this probiotic also contains an Eastern European veggie and fruit blend which has prebiotics to feed the bacteria in your prostate and gut. You can take these probiotics if you’re lactose-intolerant, as the digestive enzyme blend has already broken down the lactose.
Best Probiotic For UTI Recovery
Swanson L. Reuteri Plus
Swanson L. Reuteri Plus probiotics contains 3 potent bacterial strains per serving: Lactobacillus reuteri (5 billion CFU), L. rhamnosus (1 billion CFU) and L. acidophilus (1 billion CFU). Due to the density of Lactobacillus strains, Swansons probiotics are perfect for restoring a healthy urinary tract microbiome after recovering from a UTI.
Swanson probiotics also contain NutraFlora short-chain fructooligosaccharides which are prebiotics to feed the bacteria in your urinary tract and other microbiomes in your body. Their capsules are vegetarian-friendly and you only need to take 1 capsule a day consistently to notice results.
Editor’s note: we are regularly updating this review. If you see any problems, weird interpretations of the data, or just want to say hi, please reach out to hello@the-unwinder.com.
