Happy & Healthy

FIRST AID FOR BLADDER INFECTION

Boxing Day, yes, while you were sitting at the Christmas table in your cozy glitter with a filled glass, I was lying on the couch with a hot water bottle and a cup of tea. My own fault, really, because Miss Stubborn kept walking around with a bladder infection. The editorial team had been saying for days that I needed to see the doctor. But I really didn't think it was necessary, because with that little glass of cranberry juice, it would go away.

Consequence: in hellish pain to the out-of-hours doctor. Well, newsflash, I can think of nicer places to enjoy my Christmas lunch. But as a Christmas gift, I got a kidney infection. That won't happen to me again, that's for sure.

This is what you do to keep that bladder infection at bay. Better late than never, right?

1. Eat vitamin B12

If you don't get enough vitamin B12, the condition of your mucous membranes changes, making you more susceptible to bacterial infections. Where can you find B12? Animal products. An extra bowl of quark as a snack and a piece of beef at dinner helps.

2. A portion of vitamin C

This type of vitamin is a boon for your body and especially for your immune system. A daily dose of C helps prevent infection. No time to squeeze oranges? Run to the drugstore for a tube of effervescent tablets. We do that here in the editorial team too.

Better late than never, right?

3. Cranberry juices

Cranberry increases the acidity of your urine. You do need to drink two large glasses of cranberry juice every day. It also contains that little thing called proanthocyanidin (yes, yes), which makes it difficult for the bacteria to attach to the bladder wall. So you can just pee it all out, all that nonsense. Not a fan of the juice? A capsule works too. Unfortunately, not if that infection is already in action (I won't say anything more).

4. No sugar

Sugar is the ideal breeding ground for bacteria. If you often suffer from bladder infections, just avoid it.

5. How you sit on the toilet

Are you also sitting all crooked on the toilet? Don't do that, because then you tilt your pelvis and bladder. There will always be something left in the bladder, and that could very well be the cause of your infection. Sit up straight, with your feet firmly on the ground. Push a little extra when you're done peeing, voilà.

6. That cozy visitor

Bladder infection a.k.a. the sex souvenir. Always pee after sex, so you flush the bacteria away. And make sure that bladder is completely empty when you're done.