Cranberries Long Term Urinary Health Benefits
UTI a Common Condition Can be Prevented by Simple Cranberry
Jan 27, 2009
Urinary tract infections are a common condition for women. According to the information from the National Kidney Foundation, 20% of women will develop a urinary tract infection (UTI) in their lifetimes. Out of that number, 20 percent will have UTIs recurrently. Cranberry research has some good news though. A research study suggests that compounds in cranberries may prevent UTIs for as long as two years.
Description of UTI
According to the Mayo Clinic website, a urinary tract infection begins in the urinary system, which consists of the kidneys, ureter, bladder and urethra. Any part of the urinary system can become infected, but most occur in the lower urinary tract, which includes the bladder and the urethra.
A urinary tract infection in the bladder can be painful and annoying, but the infection can become more serious if it spreads to the kidneys.
Cranberries' Protective Benefits
The study, which was published in a 2007 issue of Phytomedicine: International Journal of Phytotherapy and Phytopharmacology, examined the effectiveness of cranberry extract to prevent UTIs in women with a history of recurrent infections. None of the women in the study experienced a UTI during the course of the study.
The promise of the health benefits of cranberries is exciting to researchers, especially because of the increase of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics are the typical treatment for UTIs, but taking steps to prevent UTIs, such as eating cranberries, can prevent the infection from occurring at all.
In a press statement, Amy Howell, a research scientist at Rutgers University stated, "The results of this pilot study reinforces the idea that by including cranberries and/or dried cranberries in their diets, women can benefit tremendously by reducing the risk of urinary tract infections...These new findings are particularly exciting in that cranberries offer a long term solution to help prevent UTIs in women."
The ability of cranberries to ward off urinary tract infections has been known for a long time. Cranberries contain unique compounds called proanthocyanidins (PACs), which have an anti-adhesion property that prevents harmful e.Coli bacteria from adhering to the wall of the urinary tract.
How to Eat Cranberries
Cranberries are a natural food may be a useful tool for helping women to maintain a healthy urinary tract. Cranberries can be taken in many forms. Following are serving sizes of cranberries.
- Eight ounce glass of cranberry juice cocktail.
- ¼ cup of fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1/3 cup of sweetened, dried cranberries
- 1/3 cup of cranberry sauce
Eating a ¼ cup of sweetened, dried cranberries counts as one half of the daily requirement for fruit. Cranberries can be used in baking, such as in cranberry muffins, in juice, as a side dish or relish and as dried cranberries in cereal or as a snack.
The study suggests that including cranberries as part of the regular nutrition plan can prevent the uncomfortable, and potentially serious, symptoms of a urinary tract infection.
Ocean Spray and the National Kidney Foundation have a continuing partnership with a shared goal of spreading awareness to the public about urinary tract infections and how to prevent them. The joint venture of these two companies strengthens the educational initiative of addressing one of the most common conditions troubling women today - UTIs.
Resources:
Ocean Spray website
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