Dehydration and Impact on UTIs and Health
Dehydration hinders normal physiological functions in the body.
Excess fluid loss—e.g., burns, diarrhea, excessive use of diuretics or laxatives, sweating from strenuous exercise —or inadequate consumption and absorption of water through food and beverages increases the concentration of electrolytes in the extracellular compartment and pulls water from the cells. The subsequent shrinkage of cells sends a message to the brain to control drinking and to the kidneys to produce a smaller volume of more concentrated urine [1].
A decrease in the blood volume hinders the motility of food through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract [2, 3, 4], the metabolism of protein, fat, and carbohydrates, the absorption of essential nutrients, and the synthesis of new proteins. Nutrient deficiencies, such as iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid, hinder hemoglobin and red blood cell (RBC) production and the oxygen-carrying capacity of tissues. Hypoxia prematurely kills cells and stimulates white blood cells (WBCs) to produce proinflammatory cytokines (specialized types of proteins) and suppress anti-inflammatory proteins. Cytokines interfere with iron absorption from the small intestine and block the release of iron by liver cells and bone marrow macrophages – specialized WBCs that recycle damaged RBCs and stimulate RBC production. Alteration in iron homeostasis accelerates premature cell death and the delivery of iron to pathogenic bacteria and cancer cells (essential for their growth). Colonies of pathogens and mutated cells modulate the inflammatory process and cause various urogenital diseases [5-9, 55-60].
Increase Hydration
Drinking plenty of fluids, especially water, helps resolve UTIs.
Hydration helps keep bladder tissue healthy. It also dilutes the urine and lowers the concentration of bacteria in the bladder. Many people can clear an infection on their own just by drinking fluids. Try drinking at least 50 ounces, or about 1.5 liters, of fluid daily to prevent urinary tract infections.
