Back in 1980 when I was starting my first year of college, I got the one and only urinary tract infection (UTI) that I’ve ever had in my life.

And the experience was SO horrible, I still remember it vividly 44 years later.

I was taking exams and kept getting this incredible urge to pee. I think the exam proctor suspected I may be cheating and had somebody hiding in the bathroom giving me test answers, but that certainly was not the case!

Every time I went to the bathroom, it felt like a blow torch.

I was prescribed some pretty strong antibiotics to get rid of the infection and thankfully I’ve never had another one.

But sadly, 50 to 60 percent of females have had a least one UTI, and many get them repeatedly! Men aren’t affected as often because anatomy is on their side—women have shorter urethras (urine tubes), so we are more susceptible since the harmful bacteria have an easier route to travel.

But the good news is that UTIs can be prevented—and it’s easier than you think!

Here’s the scoop on UTIs and how you can avoid your number from coming up ever again:

The 3 hot spots

Although the collective term is "urinary tract infection," there are three different hot spots where the action can occur:

1- In the kidneys (acute pyelonephritis)

The most common symptoms are upper back and side pain, high fever, shaking and chills, nausea and vomiting.

2- In the bladder (called cystitis)

Here the main symptoms are pelvic pressure, frequent painful urination and blood in the urine.

3- In the urethra (urine tube) aka urethritis

This is the one where you get the classic horrendous burning when you urinate.

The most common cause of UTI is bacteria traveling into the urethra and then into the bladder. It can also continue along on the path into the kidneys, but that is the least common form of UTI.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the culprit behind most cases of cystitis (UTI in the bladder). This is a growing concern because E. coli is becoming very resistant to antibiotics...which is making UTIs in the bladder more difficult to treat!

A UTI in the urethra usually occurs when bacteria from the rectal area "moves next door" into the urinary area. Also, because the female urethra is close to the vagina, sexually transmitted infections such as herpes, gonorrhea and chlamydia can cause urethritis too.

Natural ways to end the misery

Here are 10 surefire strategies that can help you put an end to your UTI misery once and for all:

1) Take a high-quality probiotic supplement every day 

Super Shield multi-strain probiotic formula is a great defense against urinary tract infection (and other types of infection too).

Super Shield contains the powerhouse probiotic strains Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus paracasei, all of which have been shown to be helpful in treating and preventing urinary tract infections.

Having and maintaining a robust microbiome with Super Shield can help counteract the harmful effects of antibiotics, making it harder for urinary tract infections to come back again and again and again.

2) Drink cranberry juice

This isn’t just an old wives’ tale. Cranberry juice is loaded with Vitamins C and E, which boost your immune system, making it more effective at resisting infection. 

Cranberries have antioxidants called proanthocyanidins that block infection-causing bacteria from attaching to the urinary tract lining. 

But note that cranberry juice also contains Vitamin K (a natural blood clotter) so be sure to talk to your doctor if you're on blood thinners like Warfarin.

3) Drink lots of (pure, filtered) water 

Research led by Dr. Yair Lotan, from the Simmons Cancer Center at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas and published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, has shown that boosting water intake might reduce these urinary tract infections by almost half!

So, if you can’t recall the last time you drank a glass of water, or you only sip enough water to take pills or supplements, it’s time to start upping your water intake before you start peeing blow torches.

Eight 8-oz. glasses of filtered water a day is a good start.

Note that "water" does not include sweetened drinks of any kind. The sugar encourages harmful bacteria to thrive, so you'll be defeating the purpose and promoting another UTI by drinking them.

4) Limit the booze, the Joe, and the Coke

Alcohol and caffeinated drinks are irritating to the bladder and can make you feel even worse during a UTI.

Plus, the sugar in soda feeds harmful bacteria and helps them thrive.

5) Avoid factory farmed chicken

A UTI-triggering form of E. coli is routinely found in (factory farmed) supermarket chicken. 

As I mentioned earlier, E. coli typically isn’t treatable with antibiotics. It’s built up an immunity to the drugs because it’s found mostly in chickens excessively treated with antibiotics. 

So, to limit your risk of E. coli exposure from factory farmed chicken, stick to organic chicken (and eggs for that matter). By definition, organic birds aren’t treated with antibiotics and will limit your risk to bacteria that’s stubbornly resistant to treatment. 

6) Always wipe front to back after a bowel movement

Wiping front to back prevents the "special delivery" of harmful bacteria right to your urethra's doorstop.

7) Change out of damp clothing

Bacteria and fungi thrive in warm, dark, moist areas, including the vagina. Wearing a wet bathing suit or sweaty workout gear for an extended period of time traps moisture, which can set the stage for infections.

After swimming or working out, be sure to change into clean, dry clothing as soon as you can.

8) Limit the douches and sprays

Using vaginal deodorant sprays or other feminine products such as douches and powders in the genital area can irritate the urethra.

If you feel you must occasionally douche, use good old fashioned warm water and white vinegar.

9) Go when you get the urge 

Urinate when you feel the need and don’t resist the urge to go.

10) Say no to hot tubs, baths, and Jacuzzis

As comforting as relaxing in a hot tub, bath or Jacuzzi may be, for women who are prone to UTIs, it’s rolling out the red carpet for burnin’ urine.

If you like the soothing properties of heat, try an infrared sauna instead.

Yes, you CAN finally take measures to help your body say goodbye to urinary tract infections and their painful misery for good…and never get another UTI again!

To your health,

Sherry Brescia