The smell and color of your urine can be a major indicator of your health.
Normally, urine has no smell or a mild smell, which is not very pungent. However, certain health issues like liver disease, diabetes, urinary tract infections, or high blood pressure can make your urine smell pungent.
Foul-smelling urine can also be a symptom of dehydration. Sometimes, certain foods like onion, asparagus, or garlic can also cause a foul smell in your urine. The foul smell caused by these reasons can be resolved with simple home remedies.
Foul-smelling urine can occur in both men and women of all ages. We all have walked across streets smelling of urine or walked into a public bathroom with a strong pungent smell. Here are some home remedies that can help you treat foul-smelling urine naturally.
Home remedies for treating foul-smelling urine
Drink water
Dehydration is one of the most common causes of foul-smelling urine. Drinking 7-8 glasses of water every day is highly recommended to keep your system hydrated. You can also add fruits and vegetables rich in water content. Herbal teas and buttermilk are also excellent choices to replenish the fluid in your body.
Water helps in flushing out the toxins from your body which can cause a foul smell in your urine. Drinking enough water can also help in treating urinary tract infections as it might help fight against bacterial infection.
A 5-year-old girl started holding back her urine in school. This resulted in stomach pain and UTI. Her parents could not understand the reason and took her to the doctor. There they discovered that the child was having a foul smell in the urine which caused embarrassment and anxiety. Her smell was triggered by less water intake. Just by taking care of her hydration, her UTI, stomach pain, and foul-smelling urine were corrected.
Add probiotics
Probiotics like yogurt and tofu can help in curing the foul smell of urine. Probiotics contain healthy bacteria that can help maintain the balance in your gut. It further aids in preventing UTI which is another cause of foul-smelling urine.
I have recommended probiotics to many patients having smelly urine. Just adding 100g of curd to their diet could be the simple answer to UTI, gut problems, and foul-smelling urine.
Cranberry juice
Cranberry juice is an excellent home remedy for urinary tract infections. It has been used for centuries to treat UTIs. This is because of the antibacterial property of cranberry. In addition to this, cranberry juice has many bioactive compounds that promote the excretion of hippuric acid. Cranberry juice clears your urinary tract and eliminates the foul smell in your urine.
I always recommend unsweetened and natural cranberry juice to my patients. Sugary cranberry juice can do more harm than good.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a natural immune booster that can help flush toxins out of your body. It further acidifies your urine and limits the growth of bacteria. One of the main causes of foul-smelling urine is increased toxins in your body. Rather than going for supplements, you can try adding natural foods rich in vitamin C like oranges, papaya, and other citrus fruits.
I always recommend having seasonal fruits and vegetables that are locally grown.
Drink green tea
Green tea is a rich source of antioxidants that can help flush toxins out of your system. It also improves your hydration and promotes frequent urination. Drinking green tea is one of the most effective home remedies for foul-smelling urine.
Natural Tips for women to avoid foul smell urine
- Do not hold the urge to urinate.
- Make sure to pee after sexual intercourse to prevent harmful bacteria from spreading.
- Wipe from front to back to prevent urinary tract infections from causing a foul smell.
- Wear loose clothing to avoid infections.
Your takeaway!
Foul-smelling urine can result from a number of reasons. Try these simple home remedies to treat the foul smell of urine caused by not drinking enough water, eating certain foods, pregnancy, ovulation, urinary tract infections, or sexually transmitted diseases.
However, the foul smell of your urine can be an indicator of major health issues too. It can be caused by certain medications, diabetes, liver or kidney problems, pelvic inflammation, or other metabolic diseases.
If the foul smell of your urine does not go away with these home remedies then consider visiting your doctor. The doctor may suggest you some tests to identify the underlying cause and initiate the treatment.
