Bladder infections and other kinds of UTIs in general need good hydration and a strong immune system before they can be fully cured, and lemons if consumed in the right way can provide just that.
Lemon is so rich in vitamins and minerals that it is a real treasure for our body and if used daily it can have a great benefit for human health. So let’s see why lemons are so healthy.
What are the most important components of lemon?
Lemon is one of the most popular citrus fruits in the world. Lemon contains a large percentage of water, about 88-89%, and carbohydrates about 10%. It contains very little protein and fat. The high water content in lemon is extremely beneficial for UTI. Water flushes and cleanses the urinary tract of bacteria that cause UTIs.
One average-size lemon contains 20 calories.
100 grams of fresh, peeled lemon or about 1/2 cup contains the following nutrients:
Calories: 29
Water: 89%
Protein: 1.1 grams
Carbohydrates: 9.3 grams
Sugar: 2.5 grams
Fiber: 2.8 grams
Fat: 0.3 grams
Lemon contains only simple carbohydrates, which are glucose, fructose, and sucrose. As for fiber, the main fiber of lemon is pectin. Pectin, as a soluble fiber, has the role of lowering blood sugar levels by slowing down the digestion of sugar and starch.
This is very important for UTIs because if we have elevated blood sugar we have a greater chance of developing UTIs.
Dietary fiber is very important for a healthy diet. They enable the normal function of the digestive system. That way, when we consume dietary fiber, we will have a normal bowel movement.
This has a significant benefit for UTIs because it reduces the pressure on the bladder and prevents the retention and multiplication of bacteria that cause UTIs.
Lemon contains lots of vitamins and minerals. The most important are vitamin C, Vitamin B6, and potassium.
Vitamin C is an essential vitamin and a strong antioxidant that is very good for UTI.
It is especially important for the prevention of UTIs, especially in women who have recurrent UTIs.
Vitamin C bases its action on slightly acidifying the urine. It is believed that vitamin C can also have a bacteriostatic effect in urine.
Since lemon is important for the prevention of UTIs, people who suffer from frequent urinary tract infections must use it as much as possible to prevent the occurrence of UTIs.
Vitamin C as a strong antioxidant has a role to strengthen our immune system and fighting various infections that include UTI.
Potassium found in lemons has a beneficial effect on UTI because it reduces water retention by increasing urine production and reducing sodium concentration.
Potassium also prevents the formation of kidney stones and reduces the concentration of calcium in the urine, which is one of the components of kidney stones. Due to its good properties, potassium prevents the deterioration of UTI, as well as the development of UTI.
Vitamin B6 belongs to the B group of vitamins and has the role of converting the food we eat into energy.
Vitamin B6 helps strengthen our body and the immunity system, and thus strengthening the urinary system and preventing the formation of UTI.
Lemon also contains several plant compounds, namely citric acid, hesperidin, diosmin, Eriocitrin, D-limonene. These plant compounds are generally not found in lemon juice but whole fruits.
Citric acid is an organic acid and is found in a large percentage in lemon. It is important because it can prevent the formation of kidney stones. This is significant for UTI.
Hesperidin, as well as diosmin, are antioxidants. Antioxidants strengthen our immune system because they reduce the number of free radicals and reduce oxidative stress and inflammation. thus the development of various diseases, including UTI.
Eriocitrin is also an antioxidant found in lemon peel and juice.
All in all, is lemon good for UTI patients?
In general, lemon is very useful for UTI patients. This primarily refers to the prevention of UTIs.
Due to a large amount of water, lemon is very good for UTI. In patients who have UTI, it is advisable to drink more fluids so that by consuming lemon you can ensure this with certainty. Lemon is considered a diuretic.
Lemon contains the fiber pectin, which is important because it lowers blood sugar levels. This is extremely good for UTI because diabetes is one of the main factors for the development of UTI.
On the other hand, lemon also contains a lot of other dietary fibers, which is also exceptional for UTI.
When fiber is consumed, it enables regular bowel emptying and normal function of the digestive tract. This further means that we do not have much pressure on the bladder and urinary retention and we do not have an accumulation of bacteria that can cause UTI.
Hesperidin, a flavonoid compound, is a significant antioxidant found in lemons and is important for strengthening the immune system and the body’s fight against infections, including UTI.
Thanks to D-limonene, lemon has an anti-inflammatory role. It is also good for UTI because it reduces inflammatory processes in the body, especially when there is a UTI.
Lemon contains a large amount of vitamin C. It is a strong oxidant and has an extremely beneficial effect on UTI, especially for prevention, especially in women who have frequent urinary tract infections.
Lemon must be consumed in the period when you do not have an acute urinary tract infection (UTI). More precisely, it should be used for prevention, in any form, and in any way.
The reason for this is that if lemon is consumed in larger quantities during UTI it can irritate the bladder and further worsen the condition.
That is why it is best to consume lemon and other citrus fruits for the prevention of UTI. In that case, you will have the best effects of lemon and its ingredients on UTI.
However, if you have an ongoing UTI, a small amount of lemon or a 1/2 cup of lemon juice won’t irritate your bladder that much, and it can actually help in treating UTI.
So, if you are a UTI patient who does not have any other problem other than a urinary tract infection and you think you can tolerate it, go ahead and take a little bit of lemon it can actually benefit you.
Lemon essential oil is an antimicrobial. Namely, a study showed that lemon essential oil has antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, which is, in most cases, the main cause of UTI.
The same study has shown that acetone extracts from lemon fruit have inhibitory activity against gram-positive bacteria such as Enterococcus faecalis, which is a type of bacteria that can be responsible for urinary tract infections.
Scientific studies have also shown that lemon has an antidiabetic effect.
Namely, these studies indicate that lemon reduces blood glucose, reduces the healing time of wounds, and increases the speed of tissue healing.
Lemon D-limonene has been shown to have an anti-diabetic effect and reduce blood glucose levels. This is extremely important for UTIs since diabetes is the main trigger for the development of UTIs.
When all the beneficial effects are gathered and considered, lemon is not only very good for the UTI, but also for the health of our whole organism.
Is lemon good for UTI prevention especially in women who have recurrent UTIs?
A study showed that lemon is extremely effective in women with recurrent UTIs. Namely, lemon showed a zone of inhibition against UTI-causing bacteria. This is very important because consuming lemon by women who have recurrent UTIs could even replace some antibiotics to reduce resistance to them.
Another study showed that lemon juice was made and tested against isolated strains of E. coli. inches. and P. aeruginosa gave a large zone of inhibition of these bacteria which are the causes of recurrent UTIs, i.e. it stopped the growth of these bacteria to cause further infection.
This, therefore, shows that lemon has good potential as an alternative to commercial antibiotics used in the treatment of UTIs today.
Lemon water for UTI?
Lemon water is a very popular drink for many people. It can be drunk with either hot or cold water several times during the day. It would be best to drink without added sugar. That way, it will have many more benefits than if sugar was added.
Lemon with water has numerous benefits for our health. Prevents the occurrence of UTIs. Namely, it is believed that half a cup of lemon juice with water in the morning helps in the fight against UTI.
This happens because lemon maintains the correct pH level in the urinary tract and prevents bacteria that cause UTIs from growing.
Since it contains a large amount of vitamin C, which is a very important antioxidant and important in the prevention of many diseases, lemon helps strengthen the immune system and protects the body from UTI.
Lemon water also reduces inflammation in the body and neutralizes acidity in the body. Lemon water neutralizes the uric acid in the joints, which is the main cause of inflammation.
And if you drink lemon in warm water, on an empty stomach at the beginning of the day, you will be able to lose a few kilograms, which is also good for UTI, because obese people tend to get diabetes and develop UTI.
In addition, you activate the metabolism and enable good digestion in the body, and thus normal bowel emptying. But be careful with your stomach because it might cause increased acidity, especially on empty stomach.
Lemon water is very rich in vitamin C and plant compounds that can strengthen the immune system and enable the body to fight various infections, including UTIs.
The citric acid found in lemon has the role of diluting the urine, preventing the formation of kidney stones, and increasing the citrate content.
Part of the pulp lemon is also found in lemon water, it contains a lot of pectins which enables good digestion and development of good bacteria in the intestines, thus strengthening the immune system and preventing the appearance of diseases, and even UTIs.
Could it be used as a treatment for an ongoing UTI?
Almost all doctors say that lemon in any form is ought to be used as a UTI prevention and to be avoided during treatment due to bladder irritation and additional discomfort.
But, we as pharmacists are more dose-oriented. In my opinion, a small glass of lemon juice or lemon water every day or two will not cause that much discomfort for a UTI patient, especially if they were healthy or didn’t have any underlying conditions.
It can actually help cure them of UTI along with their UTI medication so long as they are not allergic to lemons or can tolerate them.
Lemon water for UTI during pregnancy
In general, lemon is good in pregnancy. This applies mostly to nausea, vomiting, and maintaining hydration.
Since lemon also contains folate, it is also highly recommended for pregnant women as pregnant ladies have depleted stores of folic acid in their bodies.
It is important to say that pregnant women should drink water with lemon in moderation. Consuming lemon water in large quantities can lead to rapid detoxification, which is not recommended for pregnant women.
It is also not recommended to consume lemon juice from a can or package, but to mix freshly squeezed lemon juice with water without added sugar.
Lemon juice for UTI?
Lemon juice is very good for UTI. There are several reasons for this. We will now list what they are and why it is good to drink lemon juice for UTI.
It is considered best for UTI patients to start the day with a glass of warm lemon juice because it cleanses the body, including the urinary tract.
Lemon juice is very rich in vitamin C, which is an extremely good antioxidant and can flush bacteria and bacterial toxins from the body, thus helping to remove pathogenic bacteria from the bladder.
Lime juice also causes a change in the pH of the blood and urinary tract from acidic to near neutral, which reduces the growth of bacteria that cause UTIs.
Lemon is also a diuretic because it stimulates the urinary bladder to excrete urine more often and thus increases the chance of bacteria being excreted from the urinary tract.
It has also been found that drinking lemon juice daily helps prevent recurrent urinary tract infections by eliminating sugars and acidity that encourage the growth of bacteria that cause UTIs.
The best way to prevent UTIs is to squeeze the juice of half a lemon in the morning and add it to a cup of warm water and drink it. These will have many benefits to your body including UTI.
Want to learn more about orange juice, visit our Orange juice for UTI article.
What would be the precautions in pregnancy when it comes to lemon juice?
Lemon juice is safe to drink during pregnancy if consumed in limited quantities. Too much of this can negatively affect your health during pregnancy.
High lemon acidity can affect the enamel of your teeth and this can lead to dental problems.
If you decide to drink lemon juice during pregnancy, start taking it in small amounts and check if it causes gastrointestinal problems or heartburn because it can occur in some pregnant women.
Avoid adding lemon juice to boiling water as this can reduce the effect of lemon. It would be best to add it in lukewarm or warm water.
Start with a quarter of a lemon in 0.4 to 0.5 liters of water a day, and then gradually increase the amount, and reach two or three glasses a day as a maximum.
Citrus compounds in lemon. What are their effects on UTI?
Citric acid is an organic acid and a natural component of many fruits and fruit juices, such as lemon. Citric acid has a protective effect, the more citric acid in the urine, the more protected you are from the formation of new kidney stones.
Citric acid makes the urine less favorable for the formation of stones. The citric acid in its natural form, such as lemon, does not alkalize urine like citrate from drugs.
It prevents small stones from becoming bigger thereby causing problems. It coats them and prevents other materials from attaching and increasing stones’ size.
Citric acid is most abundant in citrus fruits and juices. Of these fruits, lemons and limes contain the most citric acid.
Oranges, grapefruits, and berries also contain significant amounts of citric acid, however, lemon and lime are the ones that will contribute more to the increase of citric acid in urine.
Half a cup (4 ounces) of pure lemon juice a day or 32 ounces of prepared lemonade provides almost the same amount of citric acid as pharmacological therapy.
With increased intake of citric acid, the risk of developing kidney stones decreases.
Since citrus irritates the bladder, they should be avoided during an acute UTI infection. However, as a prevention from the formation of kidney stones, they should be used, especially when the acute symptoms pass.
Side effects of lemon on UTI people?
Side effects of lemon can disrupt normal functioning during the day. Namely, if you have UTI, consuming lemon can lead to painful urination and irritate the bladder mucosa. This is a very unpleasant feeling and represents an unwanted reaction.
In that case, it is best to wait for the acute infection to pass, for the symptoms to calm down, and only then to use lemon and its benefits as prevention.
On the other hand, some people who have UTIs may be allergic to lemon. This is another side effect when UTI people should avoid a lemon.
Honey and lemon for UTI?
Both lemon juice and honey are very healthy to use in your daily diet. Honey, like lemon, is rich in flavonoids, which are natural antioxidants and help strengthen immunity and fight various diseases, including UTI.
One study showed the antimicrobial activity of honey and lemon juice against UTI-causing bacteria. The antibiotic effect of lemon juice and honey was shown and compared with standard antibiotic formulas used for UTI.
A mixture of honey and lemon juice with UTI antibiotics, like levofloxacin, ceftriaxone, and gentamicin, was shown to have higher antibacterial activity.
This is important because even when you take antibiotic therapy for UTI with the use of honey and lemon, it will heal faster.
It is important to note that honey is raw and that there is no added sugar because only then it will have the best effect on UTI.
A mixture of honey and lemon is made by cutting a lemon in half, squeezing the juice of half a lemon, and then adding honey in the same amount. The ratio of honey and lemon must be 1:1.
Conclusion
1. Lemon is extremely good for preventing UTIs.
2. Lemon contains a large amount of vitamin C, which is important for UTI.
3. Lemon as a citrus fruit is also used to prevent kidney stones, so it should be used more often.
4. Lemon is good in pregnancy, it has its benefits when used with honey.
5. If you have an acute UTI infection, you should reduce lemon intake because it can irritate the bladder and further aggravate the infection, but as soon as the symptoms subside, include it again in your daily menu because it is exceptional for UTI prevention.
If you need to know about other kinds of fruit and how good they are for UTI, then please check out our Fruit for UTI article.
Also If need any more help regarding UTI, feel free to contact us or check the plethora of articles we have about this subject on our website KNOW & TREAT UTI.
Stay healthy and have a nice rest of your day.