Optimizes Urinary Tract Health
- Optimizes Urinary Tract Health
- High in Vitamin C
- Promote Heart Health
Cranberry for Urinary Tract Infection
An Ounce of Prevention
Everyone has heard of the common home remedy of cranberry for urinary tract infection relief. However, many people are not aware that cranberry products need to be used as a preventative measure. When you take steps to prevent the infection in the first place, you will feel better in the long run. If you suspect that you have a urinary tract infection, or UTI, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible to avoid lasting damage. Likewise, if you decide to start taking cranberry supplements to prevent future infections, check with your doctor to make sure they will not interact with any medicines you are already taking.
You may be wondering what happens in your body when you use cranberry for urinary tract infection prevention. First off, you need to know that the most common cause of urinary tract infections in E. coli. This bacterium is found in your digestive tract and can invade your bladder. E. coli has very small projections that have a substance called lectin on their surface. Lectin is what causes the bacteria to stick to the bladder wall so effectively, and prevents it from easily being removed through the process of urination.
Fortunately, cranberries contain proanthocyanidins, which are chemicals that attach to the lectin on the small projections of the E. coli. These molecules also create a protective barrier in the bladder by filling up all of the places where bacteria can attach to the bladder wall. This means, when you use cranberry for urinary tract infection prevention, that bacteria will not be able to attach to the bladder wall. When bacteria cannot attach to the bladder wall, it will not cause an infection and you will not experience the painful symptoms that are associated with a UTI.
Studies have also provided definitive evidence that using cranberry for urinary tract infection prevention is beneficial. A year-long study in Canada focused on 150 women. Some of them used cranberry products, while others were given a placebo. The results showed that the women who used the cranberry tablets had a significantly lower rate of urinary tract infections than the women who were given the placebo. Researchers also found that using cranberry was much less costly than using antibiotics. Another study found that women who took 400 mg capsules containing cranberry extract every day also had lower rates of infection. That just goes to show—an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure!