Inside This Issue

Feature Articles
Healing Urinary Tract Infections Naturally

Iron: Endurance & Cognition

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Healing Urinary Tract Infections Naturally

By Dr. Rita Louise

A urinary tract infection is an infection of the kidneys, bladder or urethra. In most cases, it is brought on by the introduction of the E. Coli bacteria into the urethra. This can cause inflammation or infection. For example, when this bacteria travels up the urethra to the bladder, it is the #1 cause of bladder infections. While the E. Coli bacteria is the most common cause of urinary tract infections, bacteria can also enter the urinary tract via the blood stream that feeds the kidneys and cause an infection. It can also be introduced through the insertion of medical instruments such as a catheter.

Normally, the urinary tract contains no bacteria. Bacteria that does enter the urethra and bladder is usually eliminated during urination. If, however, bacteria remains it can easily grow and cause an infection. The risk of a urinary tract infection is greater when the bladder or urethra becomes blocked and the flow of urine is decreased such as with an enlarged prostate or bladder stones. They cause urine to pool in the bladder and bacteria can flourish. In women, sexual intercourse, the use of a diaphragm, the combination of condoms and spermicidal foam and personal hygiene may increase the likelihood of urinary tract infections as well.

There are a number of symptoms that may indicate the presence of a urinary tract infection. They include: a persistent urge to urinate, even after the bladder has be emptied: burning during urination, both when starting and during elimination: a strong, unpleasant odor: urine that may appear cloudy: pain in the back below the ribs: fever, nausea and/or vomiting: blood in the urine.

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Iron: endurance & cognition

Even modest levels of iron deficiency have a negative impact on cognitive functioning in young women, and such deficiency currently affects around 10 percent of our young women, and 25 percent of our pregnant women, but supplementation can reverse the problem.

Although we once thought that the effects of iron deficiency were not significant unless anemia was present, we now know that serious changes in functioning may occur even before the level of iron drops enough to be called anemia. Iron plays a role in cognition, immune response, and temperature regulation, and your endurance when exercising.

Young women who are only modestly iron-deficient will complete tasks in the same amount of time as iron-sufficient women of the same age, but their performance is significantly worse. Those who are anemic not only perform worse, but also take longer. The more iron-deficient, the longer it takes to complete a task.

Supplementation increases iron stores and improves memory, attention, and learning tasks.

Because side effects of iron supplementation may lead to poor compliance, a weekly dose rather than a daily dose may be helpful, especially for pregnant women.

Iron deficiency without anemia also impairs endurance capacity after aerobic workouts. This impairment can be corrected with iron supplementation.

Sources: Experimental Biology Meeting, Washington, Apr 2004; Journal of Health, Population, & Nutrition 2002;20(2):175-9; American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2004;79(3):437-43.

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