If you have a healthy genitourinary system, congratulations! You’ll want to keep it that way, avoiding problems such as kidney stones, low libido, UTIs, prostate cancer, and more. Your urologist and men’s health specialist in Phoenix, AZ, recommends many lifestyle modifications to support a healthy urological system. Here are just a few.
Keep a Healthy Body Weight
You and your primary care physician can determine what body weight suits your age, gender, overall health, medications, and life circumstances. But, take heed: a body mass index of 30 or higher is considered obese.
So, watch the number on the scale closely and exercise regularly. Just simple walking, swimming, or cycling can improve your heart health and the health of all your bodily systems.
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
Water runs your entire metabolism and flushes toxins out of your system. Aim for at least eight eight-ounce glasses of water daily–more if you are involved in heavy physical labor or strenuous athletic training. More water helps combat kidney stone formation as well.
Improve Your Daily Diet
Eating impacts your genitourinary tract. Actually, what’s good for your heart is good for your kidneys, bladder, prostate, etc. So, modify your current diet by:
- Increasing your intake of fresh fruits, vegetables (leafy greens in particular) and whole grains
- Eliminating as much processed food, including artificial sweeteners and white sugar, as possible
- Limiting caffeine and alcohol
- Consuming blander foods and limiting very spicy ones
- Choosing low-fat dairy and proteins
- Shifting your diet away from animal sources to plant sources
Ensure to read food package labels for calorie counts, serving sizes, and ingredients, such as sodium. The more you know about what you eat, the healthier your diet can become. Plus, increase your intake of healthy choices, crowding out the less-than-healthy items.
Work on Kicking the Smoking and Vaping Habits
Nicotine and the toxins contained in cigarette smoke irritate the urinary tract, and smoking deprives it of essential nutrients and oxygen.
Also, cigarettes contribute to:
- Bladder and kidney cancer
- Incontinence
- Interstitial cystitis
- Infertility
- Erectile dysfunction
- Kidney stones
So, make the decision to speak with your primary care physician and get on a monitored smoking cessation program as soon as possible.
Use the Bathroom Frequently
That means urinating four to eight times a day to keep the bladder empty and to reduce irritants and bacteria. Ensure to do this soon after sex as well.
Also, keep yourself clean. Wipe front to back after a bowel movement, and wash the genital area at least daily with mild soap and water.
Expert Care with Your Urologist and Men’s Health Specialist in Phoenix and Gilbert, AZ
Ironwood Urology delivers exceptional urology and men’s sexual health services. Headed by board-certified and fellowship-trained urological surgeon Dr. Desiderio Avila, Jr., our team listens to and cares for patients by offering state-of-the-art treatments and compassionate follow-up. We treat everything from kidney stones and erectile dysfunction to vasectomy reversal and low-T.
To learn more about lifestyle modifications you can make or to schedule a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Desiderio Avila, Jr., call us today at (480) 961-2323 or use our online appointment request form.
