The urinary tract is the body’s drainage system that is responsible for the passing out of urine, which is composed of wastes and extra fluid from the body. For a person to pass out urine normally, all body parts in the urinary tract need to work effectively together, and in the correct manner. The urinary tract is made up of two kidneys, two ureters, a bladder, and a urethra. These organs all work together to ensure easy removal of urine.

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) on the other hand is an infection of the urinary system. Urinary tract infection can affect your urethra (a condition known as urethritis), kidneys (a condition known as pyelonephritis) or bladder, (a condition referred to as cystitis).

Women have more chance of experiencing a urinary tract infection than men, this is because women have shorter urethras than men, so bacteria have a shorter distance to travel before it reaches the bladder.

Some of the symptoms of urinary tract infections include.

• Persistent urge to urinate.

• Having a feeling of a burning sensation when passing out urine.

• Frequent passing out of urine and in small amounts.

• Cloudy urine.

• Urine that appears red, bright pink or cola-coloured.

• Strong-smelling urine.

• Pelvic pain, in women mostly in the centre of the pelvis and close the area of the pubic bone.

3 things you consume that can trigger urinary tract infection include.

1. Spicy food

Spicy foods are causes irritation to the bladder and make UTI symptoms to degenerate, so cool down your meals and opt for other choices to lessen your urinary tract infection risk.

2. Alcohol consumption

Moderate intake of alcoholic drinks may seem beneficial to the body, but it can increase the acidity level of urine and make UTI symptoms to degenerate.

3. Cigarette consumption

The chemicals contained in tobacco are bladder irritants and may make the symptoms of Urinary Tract Infections such as pain, urinary frequency and urgency worsen.