D-Mannose for Holistic
UTI Defense

Cranberry juice, peeing after sex, taking vitamin C, drinking more water — if you deal with recurrent UTIs, you’ve heard about all these UTI home remedies hundreds of times. You probably also know that antibiotics are a reliable way to clear up UTIs fast, but no one wants to keep taking antibiotics over and over, especially when they often come with side effects like nausea and yeast infections. It’s much better to prevent UTIs before they happen, but that’s easier said than done. Luckily, there is one holistic UTI defense that you may not have tried yet: D-Mannose.

The UTI remedies that don’t work

Although there’s plenty of home remedy knowledge out there that can be useful, most of the Internet wisdom about UTIs just doesn’t hold up to scrutiny.

Cranberry Juice

Over and over, people who experience recurrent UTIs are told to drink cranberry juice for a healthier urinary tract. Many places on the Internet will even say that it can be a cure for mild infections! This isn’t true — relying on cranberry juice to treat a UTI instead of getting antibiotics could lead to a more serious kidney infection. Most commercial cranberry juices have A LOT of added sugar, which may actually make a UTI worse as the sugar feeds the bacteria causing the UTI. Similarly, supplements that claim to act as a cranberry juice concentrate or a vitamin C booster just aren’t tested or proven to be effective. It’s better to drink water to stay hydrated rather than turn to cranberry juice to prevent a UTI.

Peeing After Sex

Peeing after sex to prevent a UTI is another method that’s repeated often, but how well does it actually work? This one is based in fact — peeing after sex helps clear existing bacteria that’s been pushed into the the urinary tract during intercourse so it can’t stick around to cause an infection later on. Peeing before sex is a good idea too. Clearing the tract of bacteria before sex just leaves less opportunity for bacteria to take hold. Be sure to drink plenty of water — the stronger your stream, the more bacteria you’ll be able to flush.

But for those of us with stubborn, recurrent UTIs, peeing before and after may not be enough to prevent an infection. Sex is an extremely common trigger for UTIs and once you’ve had one UTI, it becomes much more likely that you’ll have more. While peeing after sex is good practice, you’ll probably need to do more than switching up your bathroom habits to break the cycle.

Vitamin C

Most of us know vitamin C as an immunity booster — think Emergen-C or Airborne that you take to prevent a cold or to feel better faster. But does Vitamin C work to prevent UTIs? The science seems to be split. The theory is that vitamin C makes your urine more acidic, thereby killing bacteria that may lead to a UTI. A 2007 study of pregnant women did show that taking 100 mg of vitamin C had a protective effect against UTIs, cutting their risk of infections by half compared to the control group. However, the study was limited and there isn’t a lot of other evidence out there to support vitamin C as a UTI preventative. It may be worth a try if you aren’t taking a vitamin C supplement as part of your daily routine, but be careful not to overdo it! Too much vitamin C can lead to some pretty unpleasant side effects including nausea, diarrhea, and heartburn.

The natural UTI remedy backed by science

A successful holistic UTI defense doesn’t just mean curing UTIs when they happen — it means maintaining a healthy urinary tract to help prevent infections from occurring in the first place! That’s where D-Mannose comes in. D-Mannose is a natural sugar that can be found in apples, oranges, peaches, and some berries like blueberries and our old friend, the cranberry. It’s easy to access and safe to consume which makes it a preferable alternative to preventative antibiotics for those of us who struggle with chronic or recurrent UTI symptoms. As the theory goes, D-Mannose is able to stick to UTI-causing bacteria to prevent it from adhering to your bladder walls and urinary tract. That way when you pee, the bacteria is washed away with your urine. The question is, does D-Mannose really work to prevent UTIs?

What the research says

The science is still in its early stages, but scientists have seen strong results for preventing UTI Symptoms. A 2013 study with a sample size of 308 women compared D-Mannose to nitrofurantoin, an antibiotic commonly used to treat and prevent UTIs in patients who get them often. The researchers found D-Mannose worked about as well as the antibiotic for preventing UTIs over a 6-month period.

Similarly, a 2014 study compared D-Mannose to the antibiotic trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole for the treatment and prevention of frequent UTIs in 60 women. D-mannose reduced UTI symptoms in women with an active infection and was more effective than the antibiotic for preventing additional infections. While the research is ongoing, D-Mannose has certainly been shown to be safe to take and is worth a try if you’re someone who always finds themselves with recurrent UTIs.

What’s the best way to take D-Mannose?

Wisp’s D-Mannose is one of the most concentrated doses on the market so you can get the most from this powerful ingredient. One round of treatment consists of taking 5 capsules daily for 3 days to help flush bacteria from your urinary tract and prep you to fight off infection naturally. Whether you’re heading to Florida on spring break or going on a romantic getaway with your boo, you can start treatment at the beginning of your trip to maintain your bladder health and prevent a UTI. If you’re especially prone to UTIs, work D-Mannose into your routine to help maintain a healthy urinary tract and manage UTI-causing bacteria. Each bottle of D-Mannose contains 45 capsules (enough for 3 rounds of treatment) so you have a lil extra for when you need it.