written by: Elysia Arseneau, NutriChem staff writer

Here at NutriChem, we are fortunate enough to be surrounded by professionals trained in many fields, who all bring their knowledge and expertise to this large practice. From pharmacists to homeopaths, naturopathic doctors to nutritionists to menopause practitioners, NutriChem has many well-trained people with lots of experience to help with whatever health issue is currently concerning you!

A common issue for many women and men has to do with health "below the belt," to put it colloquially. On a near daily basis, NutriChem has clients in the clinics with these concerns, patients in the pharmacy who are filling prescriptions for these concerns, and customers in the store who are looking for nutritional supplements and homeopathic remedies to help with these concerns.

Last week, our Naturopathic Medical Intern Emma Pollon-MacLeod (licence pending) gave an informative webinar called "Mind Over Bladder." The topic was so popular that we thought we'd do a blog post about some of the most common questions she answered from it!

Q: I’m a woman who gets frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs). What can I do to prevent getting them?

EPM: Luckily, there are many things that you can be doing to help prevent this issue!

• First of all, you need to be flushing the bladder so bacteria don’t get a chance to colonize. Do this by drinking lots of water, urinating after intercourse, and urinating whenever you feel the urge.
• Next, decrease your exposure to “bad” bacteria that are culprits for a UTI by wiping from front to back after going to the washroom.
• Additionally, make sure you’re not disrupting the healthy microbial flora of the urinary tract (and vagina, for women). Avoid bubble baths, limit douching or vaginal scents/perfumes, and wear breathable, non-constricting cotton underwear.
• To help build up your healthy flora, consider taking probiotics, especially during and after a course of antibiotics.
• Unsweetened cranberry juice and D-mannose can also be used as a preventative strategy.

The real question is why you're so susceptible to contracting frequent urinary tract infections in the first place. Visit a Naturopathic doctor to help get to the root cause of this issue.

Q: I feel like I’m peeing 10-20 times a day, even though I’m not drinking that much liquid. What could be going on?

EPM: There are several parts involved in the urination process: kidneys, bladder, brain, hormones, pelvic floor muscles, prostate (for men), even the uterus (in pregnancy). One of the most common causes of urgency and frequency with discomfort is an infection of the urinary tract. If an infection has been ruled out, it could be an issue of weak pelvic floor muscles or hormones. Many women experience urinary symptoms once they enter menopause as estrogen plays a key role in bladder wall strength/contractibility and vaginal health.

It is very important to find the root cause of why you are urinating so often, and treat the cause rather than just the symptoms.

Due to the popularity of this topic, Emma will be giving an in-person seminar called "Mind Over Bladder"! Sign up by clicking here.

Sign up early as space is very limited. This event is guaranteed to sell out soon.

In-Store Seminar Details:

What you'll learn at this in-person seminar:

Join a NutriChem clinician as she discusses the most common causes of bladder issues, including urinary tract infections and interstitial cystitis, and what you can do to get relief today.

The information presented in this seminar is for men and women of all ages!