Lemon Water and Cystitis

Question: I suffer a lot with cystitis or at times urethritis. I would love to know if lemon water can help reduce an attack and if it's good during an attack?

Nancy’s Answer: I am sure you probably know the cause of cystitis and urethritis, but I will explain them in simple terms for the benefit of all of our readers.

According to the Mayo Clinic, “Cystitis is the medical term for inflammation of the bladder. Most of the time, the inflammation is caused by a bacterial infection, in which case it may be referred to as a urinary tract infection (UTI). A bladder infection can be painful and annoying, and can become a serious health problem if the infection spreads to your kidneys.”

There are less common causes of cystitis, such as a reaction to radiation therapy, medications or topical irritants such as spermicidal gels. The common medical treatment for cystitis is antibiotics.

Urethritis is swelling and inflammation of the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the body. It is also believed to be caused by a bacteria or virus.

Fresh squeezed lemon juice in water is a potent natural antibiotic.

So, to answer your question, I do believe drinking lemon water regularly can help reduce an attack for a number of reasons.

Not only will the lemon water help to kill unhealthy bacteria and viruses in the bladder and urethra, it is also alkalizing in the body. Bacteria and viruses cannot live in a slightly alkaline environment, whereas they thrive in a slightly acidic environment.

Drinking lemon water may also stop the burning sensation and any bleeding that may be present with urination. In other words, it may or may not be helpful during an attack, depending on individual causes, but I think it would be worth a try.

Additional Tips for Urinary Tract Health

There are a number of things people with cystitis and urethritis can do to prevent recurrence. The following are a few key tips for urinary tract health and healing:

1. Drink enough water each day to keep your body hydrated! This means drinking at least half your body weight in ounces of water daily. It is less likely these conditions will occur if you are fully hydrated. Avoid or reduce stimulants like coffee and tea, which are diuretics.


2. Eat more alkalizing foods (such as fresh fruits and vegetables). If you feel the cystitis symptoms coming on, drink more lemon water and avoid acid-forming foods, such as animal protein, dairy products, sugary and processed foods.


3. Consider drinking ionized alkaline water, which has helped many people resolve bladder issues because of its unique healing properties - alkalinity, super hydration, and antioxidant potency.


4. Take a high-quality probiotic supplement. It will help restore the good bacteria in your system, especially if you have already had one or more rounds of antibiotics. (Antibiotics destroy both the good and the bad bacteria). The good bacteria are essential for optimal immunity.