Cranberry

Current uses

Cranberry is thought to prevent and relieve symptoms of urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Women have used pure cranberry juice or cranberry juice cocktail for many years to self-treat their UTIs. This common infection typically causes a burning sensation while urinating as well as a frequent and often intense urge to do so. For a long time, cranberries were thought to directly fight the infection by acidifying the urine to such an extent that bacteria such as Escherichia coli would languish or die.

Today, the prevailing theory is that cranberry juice inhibits microorganisms from adhering to the mucosal cells lining the urinary tract, making it a less hospitable environment for the proliferation of E. coli and other infection-causing bacteria.

Research has suggested that the compounds found in cranberry may exhibit some anti-carcinogenic activity.

Cranberry extract has been shown to inhibit low density lipoprotein oxidation which can lead to heart disease, prevention of oxidation through cranberry consumption can potentially reduce the risk of heart disease.

It is believed that cranberry juice can combat bacteria that cause dental plaque.

Some medical professionals and specialists believe that an acid abundant in cranberry may help to prevent the development of kidney stones.

Recent research suggests that cranberry helps to prevent urinary tract infections caused by
E. coli bacteria, particularly in people with a history of recurrent infections.

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