Cranberries are best known for helping, preventing or treating urinary tract infections. These infections are about fifty times more common in women than in men, primarily because of the location of the woman’s urethra. They can affect any part of the urinary tract, but most often occur in the bladder.
Every year it is estimated that there are over 15 million urinary tract infections in the United States alone. Infection causes symptoms of frequent, emergency or painful wrinkles, and sometimes abdominal pain or blood in the urine. Most of these phenomena are caused by harmful bacteria called Escherichia coli (or E. coli).
Cranberry benefits are due to compounds that have the role of protectors for retaining certain bacteria (such as E. coli) before attacking the wall of the urinary tract.
The traditional preventative recommendation for help preventing the formation and occurrence of urinary infections is to drink daily 1-2 cups per 100% pure, unsweetened or lightly sweetened cranberry juice. Studies have shown that women who drink cranberry juice suffer less than symptomatic urinary tract infections.
Antibiotics are very effective in preventing and treating these infections, but the side effects of antibiotics – including antibiotic resistance, fungal infections, digestive problems, and more – often deter many women from taking them.
In the United States, antibiotics for urinary tract infections are 15% of the total number of antibiotics prescribed each year. There is evidence that consuming too many doses of antibiotics can lead to many health problems, but fortunately a natural remedy, such as the use of blueberries, has become a popular and effective alternative.
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