FINLAND – Researchers at the University of Oulu, Finland, have found that eating certain dairy products could lower the incidence of urinary tract infections (UTI) among women.

A trial compared the eating habits of 139 women diagnosed with acute UTI compared to 185 women of the same age with no episodes of UTI over the past five years.

Women who ate fermented milk products, like yogurt and certain types of cheese, three or four times a week, had a 79% lower incidence of UTI than those who ate them once a week or less.

The authors believe that probiotics found in yogurts and cheese might inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, and therefore protect against urinary tract infections.