Cranberries Combat UTIs

Prevention and treatment for urinary tract infections Many women experience the painful and frustrating cycle of urinary tract infections (UTIs), prescribed antibiotics, and re-infection. It’s not surprising that many are turning to the more reliable treatment of cranberries. In a recent article, urologist Anil Kapoor, MD, advocates the use of cranberry capsules for the treatment of UTIs instead of antibiotics. The primary cause of UTIs is E.coli bacteria. In the 1980s, studies revealed that proanthocyanidins, a flavonoid in cranberries, prevents E.coli from adhering to the bladder lining.

We have the choice of taking cranberries in the form of juice or capsules. If we choose capsules, Dr. Kapoor believes it is important to use a full-spectrum supplement that contains the fruit, seeds, skin, and juice of the cranberry. Some capsules have higher antioxidant activity, more fibre, and are more efficient and cost effective at combating and treating UTIs than cranberry juice. To prevent UTI’s, Dr. Kapoor recommends either five to 20 ounces of pure unsweetened cranberry juice daily or a supplement of cranberry fruit powder.

Make your own cranberry juice
Boil four cups of water and add a 12-ounce bag of organic cranberries.
Boil until the cranberries pop. Strain. You will have about 32 ounces of juice that can be further diluted with pure water for consumption. The leftover berry pulp can be used in smoothies.

Facts on UTI’s
• Between 10 and 20 per cent of women will suffer at least one infection during their lifetime.
• Nearly 20 per cent of women who have a UTI will have another, and 30 per cent of those will have yet another.
• In the USA, UTIs accounted for over eight million doctors visits in a single year.