Fortunately, this study avoids advising the most common "cure" for UTIs -- cranberry juice -- in favor of safer, healthier treatments: practicing better hygiene and drinking plenty of water.

However, the active ingredient found in cranberries called mannose should also be considered. In the past, mannose has been difficult to obtain due to costs and manufacturing capabilities. The pure, high-quality form has just recently become commercially available as a natural supplement, and now I can finally offer it to you!

ClearTract D-Mannose is not a drug. This nutritional supplement occurs naturally in peaches, apples, and berries. D-mannose is a rare saccharide found in some plant and food substances -- and we even produce it in our own bodies. Non-toxic and safe, ClearTract D-Mannose:

• Supports a healthy urinary tract
• Is 10- 50 times stronger than cranberry!
• Produces rapid action in as little as 24-48 hours
• Does not kill friendly bacteria
• Is safe for long term use -- neutral pH
• Is 100% all natural D-Mannose and nothing else
• Is the strongest natural urinary tract product available

The mannose actually adheres to the receptors on the lining of the bladder that attach to the bacteria. This forces the bacteria to slide right off and into the toilet. It is amazingly effective, but you must remember it is only a Band-Aid, though a far safer one than prophylactic antibiotic use or cranberry juice.

It has been my observation that one of the most frequent causes of UTIs is less than careful hygiene after one develops loose stools or diarrhea. It is very easy to contaminate your fingers when wiping yourself with toilet paper, and if those contaminated fingers come anywhere close to the opening of the urethra, there is a high likelihood of infection in predisposed individuals.

By paying close attention to this hygiene matter you can dramatically reduce your risk of developing future infections.

Another simple yet useful practical hint I have learned is to avoid using colored toilet paper. Restrict your use to white unscented toilet paper only. It has been my experience that many women can react to the dyes and chemicals in the colored or fragranced toilet papers. Unbleached toilet paper would be even better to reduce any possible chlorine exposure and to help reduce the environmental contamination that comes from the bleaching process.

In addition, drinking enough water is extremely important to staying healthy and infection-free. I used to advise that people follow a refined rule of thumb: For every 50 pounds of body weight you carry, drink one quart of spring or filtered water per day -- this would increase daily water intake to 12 to 16 glasses for most of us. However, I further refined my recommendations to use the color of your urine as a guide to how much water you should be drinking. As long as you are not taking riboflavin (vitamin B2), which fluoresces and turns your urine bright yellow (it is also in most multi-vitamins), then your urine should be a very light-colored yellow. If it is a deep yellow then you are likely not drinking enough water and need to up your consumption.

Lastly, blueberries can be a valuable dietary aid in preventing urinary tract infections. To learn more on this topic, please review a study I recently posted on how blueberries contain similar compounds as cranberries and can be used to treat urinary tract infections. For your convenience, we carry delicious Wild Blueberry IQ Softgel Capsules in our store that are made from whole fresh blueberries -- and contain 40 mg of potent disease-fighting anthocyanins per capsule, more than any other available supplement!

What Meat Can You Eat?

If you ever wondered why beef becomes infected please read the excellent article from the New York Times that discusses the factory farming of cattle. It will really open your eyes up.

If you want to obtain the nutritional benefits from red meat without fearing that your health will be in jeopardy, it's imperative to seek out healthy sources that do not contain additives like antibiotics and hormones. This can be costly so you will always want to seek out a local farmer that can sell you the meat as the shipping can be more costly than the meat due to it having to be shipped overnight.

If you are unable to locate a supply near you, we have made arrangements with some high-quality grass-fed beef producers in Illinois that can ship it directly to your home. This meat provides a better balance of omega fats and does not give you added hormones, antibiotics and pesticides.

But no matter where you find it, I highly recommend that you buy grass fed organic, rather than the factory-farmed meat found in most supermarkets. The health benefits are well worth the extra effort to find it (and the extra price you may pay).

Related Articles:

Diet Help for Urinary Tract Infections

Cranberry Juice for Urinary Tract Infections

Doctors Choose Expensive Drugs for Urinary Infections

Looking at the Color Of Your Urine Can Diagnose an Infection or If You're Dehydrated