Cranberry Could Cure UTIs

(Newswire.net — February 17, 2018) Cheyenne, Wyoming — Typically, cranberry is a fruit reserved for the Thanksgiving season in most households across America, other than that flooded bogs with two dudes wearing water suits, talking about cranberry craisins is the next imagery that comes to mind. But cranberry is such a potent and culturally entrenched crop, in fact it’s one of the few plants indigenous to the American soil. The health benefits of cranberries are still being explored by scientists as the bounty of use it holds continues to impress the medical world. 

“Compounds in cranberry juice have the ability to change E. coli bacteria, a class of microorganisms responsible for a host of human illnesses (everything from kidney infections to gastroenteritis to tooth decay), in ways that render them unable to initiate an infection,” explains a press release issued by Worcester Polytechnic Institute. “The results of this new research by scientists at Worcester Polytechnic Institute suggest that the cranberry may provide an alternative to antibiotics, particularly for combating E. coli bacteria that have become resistant to conventional treatment.” 

As with most fruits, eating it fresh and unprocessed is best but due to an overpoweringly strong tart flavor when in its most natural state, cranberries are often found diluted or as a mix with other beneficial fruits. Juice cocktails that contain roughly 25% are the common selection for women in the know looking to keep urinary tract infections at bay, which is a wise move since they are 40% to 50% more likely to contract an UTI than their male counterparts.

“Focusing on urinary tract infection (UTI) prevention became a major goal because of their recurrent nature, increasing antimicrobial resistance and medical costs,” explains The U.S. National Library of Medicine. “The current management of recurrent UTIs involves either repeated courses of antibiotics or low-dose, long-term antibiotic prophylaxis. Although effective, these treatments have side effects, such as fungal super-infection (oral or vaginal thrush) and gastrointestinal infections, notably Clostridium difficile.” 

Consuming cranberries regularly throughout one’s diet is sure to decrease the chances of a urinary tract infection developing, it’s not 100% foolproof but it certainly tips the odds in favor of sustaining better health. 

“The American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) was historically used by North American Indians to treat UTIs,” reveals the National Institute of Health. “Cranberries are composed of water (88%), organic acids (including salicylate), fructose, vitamin C (high levels, i.e., 200 mg/kg of fresh berries), flavonoids, anthocyanidins, catechins and triterpinoids. Cranberry also contains anthocyanidins and proanthocyanidins (PAC) which are tannins (stable polyphenols) found only in vaccinium berries and function as a natural plant defense system against microbes.” 

Some of the known ways cranberry stops bacteria from attaching themselves and multiplying within the body is by manipulating the bacteria’s shape, changing it from a rod to a sphere, modifying the bacteria’s cell membrane and interfering with the bacteria’s ability to get in direct contact with cells, thereby steaming an infection.

The effects of cranberry are amazing in combating and preventing urinary tract infections so if there’s a suspicion of a urinary tract infection then testing a sample of urine is the quickest way to get answers. The HealthyWiser™ Urinary Tract Infection Test Strips are known to be amongst the most accurate DIY tools for easy at home results, so if need be, start stocking up on cranberry juice.