I get the pleasure of working with a lot of women, and have discovered that many of us share similar health woes. One of those is urinary tract infections (UTI’s). Most of us have had them at one time or another, and will agree they are not only excruciating, but disruptive to normal activities. A debilitating burning sensation, urination urgency, and lower abdominal/back pain are common symptoms of a UTI. Not fun!

Fortunately, there are a few insider secrets some of us girls know that help to reduce the possibility of infection. I am dishing the details here for those of you who are not yet in the know!

1. Urinate before and after sex to keep bacteria from migrating into the urethra.

2. Drink plenty of non-alcoholic and non-caffeinated beverages each day to keep your kidneys and urinary tract clean.

3. At the very first sign of an infection (see those mentioned above), consume unsweetened cranberry juice or whole berries.

If you catch a possible infection early with a hefty dose of cranberry, antibiotics are not always needed. The trick is to consume products without added sugar. Sadly, manufactures often sweeten cranberry juice it in order to tame its notoriously strong tartness. You can find unsweetened juice at health food stores and Trader Joe’s, or alternatively, you can indulge while treating your UTI with this no-sugar added Cranberry Vanilla Smoothie. It’s become a client favorite for urinary health!

Cranberry Vanilla Smoothie

Makes: (1) 16-ounce smoothie

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond, coconut, hemp, or hazelnut milk

1/2 cup frozen whole cranberries

2 tablespoons Vega Vanilla Plant Protein powder

1/4 avocado

1 tablespoon flax meal (ground flax seeds)

Pinch sea salt

6 ice cubes

Preparation:

In a blender combine all ingredients and blend on high for one minute. Sip slowly!