Does a UTI have you down? UTI stands for Urinary Tract Infection. One of the most common symptoms of a UTI is constantly feeling like you need to pee. Your body may have bad bacteria in your Urinary Tract. This should not be confused with Frequent Urination, which is a completely different issue.

According to WebMD, “Your urinary tract is the system that makes urine and carries it out of your body. It includes your bladder and kidneys and the tubes that connect them. When germs get into this system, they can cause an infection.”

If you suspect you may have a UTI, it is suggested that you go to a doctor. Why? Technically a UTI is a bladder infection. If left untreated, this bladder infection can spread to your kidneys. A kidney infection is much more serious and can cause permanent damage to your body. The only way to remove the infection is through a course of antibiotics your doctor can give you.

What can you do to prevent a UTI in the first place? I would suggest taking cranberry extract daily. You can take it in the form of a pill once to three times daily. I have found cranberry extract pills sold all over the place. I’m currently taking organic cranberry extract pills from Whole Foods. They were kind of pricey though (30 pills for almost 10 dollars). I’ve also seen them sold at Costco for about 15 dollars, but instead of 30, you’ll get 120 pills making it a cost-effective solution.

You can also take cranberry extract, by sipping on 100% cranberry juice. To benefit from the juice, make sure it’s 100% cranberry juice and not a cocktail that contains 5% juice, for example. I get mine from Trader Joes. They sell it in 32 ounce bottles under label, “100% Cranberry”. With sub-label “Not from Concentrate”. 32 ounces may not seem like much, but I find it will last me for months, because I never drink it straight out of the bottle.

I find the taste to be too bitter on its own. I’ll usually add it to my morning smoothie or top it off with a packet of Emergen-C dumped in an 8oz glass of water. You’ll still reap the benefits of the cranberry extract even if it’s watered down or added to something else. Combining the juice with something else will make it palatable.