urinary

Question 1

How can a high protein diet effect kidney health?

Answer 1

high nitrogenous waste (uric acid, creatinine) leading to high kidney demand, causing increased GFR which can damage kidney structure over time

Question 2

What can make the urine bright yellow?

Answer 2

Riboflavin

Question 3

Which bacteria are 90% of UTI’s caused by?

Answer 3

Escherichia coli

Question 4

why are menopausal women more likely to get a UTI?

Answer 4

low oestrogen causing low vaginal mucus

Question 5

name some natural ways to avoid UTI’s

Answer 5

• avoid simple sugars and carbs
• caffeine, diet soft drinks and alcohol aggravate the urinary epithelial tissue
• plant based diets have been shown to decrease UTI’s
• prebiotic and probiots foods
• optimal water
• cranberry (proanthocyanins decrease bacteria sticking to the bladder walls)

Question 6

How does D-mannos prevent/help UTI’s? RD?

Answer 6

a sugar found in apples, peaches, cabbage, broccoli, adheres to E.coli as it passes through the kidneys and ureters avoiding it binding to the bladder walls

RD: 500mg every 2 hours for 3/5 days

Question 7

How does vitamin A prevent/help UTI’s? RD?

Answer 7

• maintains the integrity of the urinary tract mucous membrane
• supports lymphatic system and immune cells

RD: 5000 IU/day

Question 8

How does vitamin C prevent/help UTI’s? RD?

Answer 8

• immunostimulatory effects
• collagen production
• maintaing integrity of linings in the body

RD: 500-5000 mg/day

Question 9

How does vitamin D prevent/help UTI’s? RD?

Answer 9

• promotes production of anti-microbial substances when a pathogen is detected
• strengthens innate mucosal immunity and stops pathogens sticking

Question 10

Which bacteria is best for UTIs?

Answer 10

Lactobacillus

Question 12

What would the naturopathic aims be for someone who has interstitial cystitis?

Answer 12

• reduce inflammation
• address any allergies
• optimise immune function
• soothing and repairing the lining of the bladder

Question 13

How can quercitin help with interstitial cystitis?

Answer 13

• anti-allergic
• inhibits COX and LOX
• 500mg twice daily over 4 weeks has been shown to significantly improve IC symptoms

Question 14

How can fermented foods worsen IC pain?

Answer 14

due to high levels of histamine

Question 15

what are some causes and risk factors for urinary calculi?

Answer 15

• dehydration
• altered pH
• dietary acid load
• high table salt intake
• high oxalate foods (beans, chocolate, beets, berries, coffee, dark leafy greens)

Question 16

How can dietary acid load cause kidney stones?

Answer 16

• increase calcium
• decrease secretion of citrate (needed to breakdown calcium oxalate in urine)
• increases excretion of uric acid