SHOULD YOU DRINK

Cranberry Juice

FOR YOUR UTI?

WRITTEN BY SNEHA EDITED BY STEPHANIE SEAROR, MS, RD, LDN

If you suffer from frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs), it's very likely that you’ve heard all about how cranberry juice can be beneficial for treating or preventing them. But is this actually true? Does the science support this claim?

Cranberry is a native North American shrub, preferred for the management of UTI by the Native Americans back when antibiotics did not exist.  Research has found that proanthocyanidin (PAC), a component of this fruit, prevents the adherence of E.coli and other bacteria on the urinary tract

CRANBERRY JUICE FOR UTI?

The research done on the effectiveness of cranberries has given very conflicting results.  For instance, a study, consisting of 13 trials and 1616 participants observed that those who consumed cranberry juice and pills had less UTI’s, whereas another study observed no significant change.

If selecting cranberry juice for UTI you want to be going for the tart unsweetened 100% juice and not the commercially produced versions full of added sugars or artificial sweeteners.

JUICE

That said, You should not rely on cranberry juice during an active urinary tract infection. Antibiotics are still the most effective and curative treatment .

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What About Cranberry Pills?

Unsweetened cranberry is very astringent and some people cannot tolerate it as it can upset the stomach. For these people, pills and capsules are the only option.

When compared to cranberry juice, pills are less efficient. Some studies even show no effect at all. This is most likely the reason why cranberry pills are dietary supplements, and therefore don't need the approval of the FDA in order to reach the store-counters.

There's no harm drinking cranberry juice.  It's a good source of antioxidants and will provide some great health benefits. If you are going to use cranberry as preventive measure trying it as a juice rather than pills or capsules would be superior. 

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