1. Increase Fluid Intake
Increasing your fluid intake when suffering from a kidney infection can help reduce symptoms and promote quick recovery. It will help flush out bacteria, waste and toxic products from your kidneys, keeping them clean and healthy.
2. Cranberry Juice
Cranberry juice is good for kidney health. According to a 2009 study done by University of Minnesota researchers, cranberry juice is helpful in treating urinary tract infections and can even prevent recurrence in young to middle-aged women. This in turn helps prevent kidney infections. Cranberry juice makes the urine more acidic. This prevents bacteria from thriving on the wall of the bladder and thus lessens your risk of infection.
3. Vitamin C Intake
Vitamin C can help fight off almost all kinds of kidney infections effectively. A daily dosage of Vitamin C supplement can effectively alleviate the symptoms of a kidney infection and get rid of the bacteria causing the infection (by stabilizing the urine acid).It is considered wise to check with a doctor regarding the required dosage which would usually vary between 500 mg – 5 gm based on individual body constraints.
4. Frequent Urination
Avoid delaying urination when you feel the urge to urinate. Urinating frequently can help flush out bacteria, viruses and other harmful radicals that could potentially cause kidney infections in individuals. Make it a point to urinate frequently (you need to drink plenty of fluids in order to do that) and keep drinking fluids to prevent dehydration. Once the infection causing organisms are flushed out, then infection would heal automatically. Make it a point to urinate immediately after sexual intercourse in order to prevent the spread of infection causing bacteria between partners.
5. Proper Hygiene
Personal hygiene plays a very important role in treating urethra, bladder and kidney related infections in addition to preventing recurrences. Individuals with kidney infections need to maintain proper personal hygiene in order to prevent the spread of the infection causing bacteria from one area of the body to another.For instance, after urinating or bathing, the concerned individual should make it a point to wipe from front to back as this would prevent the spread of bacteria usually present in the anal area to the urethra from where they can spread to the kidneys.
6. Hot Compresses
Kidney infections usually cause back pain in individuals. Heating pads or compresses can be used to alleviate this pain. Placing (or holding) a heating pad against the lower back (or abdomen) can help reduce the pain caused by recurrent kidney infections. The heating pad needs to be kept in place for about 20 minutes for best results and can be used several times a day for extended relief.
7. Clothing Considerations
Avoiding tight fitting clothing and synthetic materials can help reduce the symptoms of kidney infections to a great extent. Tight fitting clothes can increase sweating which in turn can make these areas potential breeding grounds for the infection causing bacteria. Wearing loose or proper fit cotton underpants would allow air to pass through the fabric and keep these areas free of moisture, thereby preventing the spread of the infection causing bacteria to the kidneys and effectively reducing the symptoms of recurrent kidney infections.
8. Yogurt
Yogurt that contains antioxidants and probiotics can help treat a kidney infection and even prevent it from recurring. The live bacteria in yogurt inhibit adherence of bacteria to the epithelial cells of the urinary tract. Moreover, yogurt helps boost the immune system.
9. Garlic
The natural antibiotic properties of garlic will also help fight kidney infection. Moreover, it acts as a diuretic to help the kidneys flush out harmful toxins and microorganisms from the body.
10. Apple
Apples are high in fiber and anti-inflammatory properties, and thus help treat kidney infections. Apples can keep the urine more acidic in nature to prevent harmful bacteria from growing. Regular consumption of this fruit can even reduce the risk of kidney-related problems.
Sources:
http://www.top10homeremedies.com/home-remedies/home-remedies-kidney-infection-pyelonephritis.html/3
http://www.extremeupdate.com
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/kidney-infection/basics/prevention/con-20032448
http://www.searchhomeremedy.com/effective-home-remedies-for-kidney-infection/
