A new study's findings suggest that this popular remedy could be a good way to prevent repeats of painful urinary tract infections and reduce the need for antibiotics, which are often required to clear up the infection.
In the US alone, 11 million women each year are given antibiotics for urinary tract infections (UTI). UTI symptoms include:
In the new study, Finnish women who were at risk for repeated UTIs who drank a mixture of cranberry and lingonberry juice daily for six months were 20% less likely to get a UTI compared with women who drank a lactobaccillus drink or nothing in particular.
The study notes that as many as 60% of women contract a urinary tract infection at some point in their life. At least a third of women with a urinary tract infection will experience a recurrence during the following year, with women between the ages of 25 and 29 or those over the age of 55 years most likely to have recurrent infections, the study indicates.
British Medical Journal June 30, 2001:322;1571-1573
Although the cranberry juice likely works I would not advise using it. The juice has far too much sugar in it. The main reason is that it, like all fruit juices, is high in fructose.
The fructose, like nearly all simple sugars, is metabolized quickly and disrupts insulin levels, which contributes to most chronic illness.
However, cranberry juice has another carbohydrate that this, and most all studies on this subject, tend to ignore. I do very highly recommend the active ingredient found in cranberries called "D-mannose," which many independent D-Mannose studies have shown can be remarkably helpful to those experiencing or with a history of UTIs.
In the past, D-mannose has been difficult to obtain due to costs and manufacturing capabilities. The pure, high-quality form has recently become commercially available as a natural supplement and you can get it now in our store. Non-toxic and safe, ClearTract D-Mannose:
D-mannose actually adheres to the receptors on the lining of the bladder that attach to the bacteria. This forces the bacteria to slide right off and into the toilet. It is amazingly effective, but one must remember it is only a band-aid, but a far safer one than prophylactic antibiotic use or cranberry juice.
So I would advise taking Clear Tract D-Mannose once or twice a day as a far superior, more effective, and less damaging alternative to cranberry juice for the prevention of chronic UTIs.
D-Mannose may work for mild UTIs, but it is important to note that if the mannose, or cranberry juice is not working, you will want to consider the use of an antibiotic, as the infection can spread into your kidneys and cause some very serious damage if left untreated.
If you do use an antibiotic it is important to take a high quality, high potency probiotic to replace the beneficial bacteria that the antibiotic kills.
It is also important to recognize that prevention of urinary tract infections is also an important principle.
In the 20 years I have been practicing clinical medicine, it has been my observation that one of the most frequent causes of these infections are less than careful hygiene after one develops loose stools or diarrhea.
It is very easy to contaminate one's fingers when wiping oneself with toilet paper, and if those contaminated fingers come anywhere close to the opening of the urethra, there is a high likelihood of infection in predisposed individuals.
Another pearl is for women to ONLY use white unscented toilet paper as many women react to the dyes and chemicals in the other toilet papers Unbleached toilet paper would be even better to reduce any possible chlorine exposure and to help reduce the environmental contamination that comes from the bleaching process.
Related Articles:
Does Cranberry Juice Have Antibacterial Acitivty? Cranberry Compounds Fight Uninary Tract Infection Looking at the Color Of Your Urine Can Diagnose an Infection or If You're Dehydrated
Does Cranberry Juice Have Antibacterial Acitivty?
Cranberry Compounds Fight Uninary Tract Infection
Looking at the Color Of Your Urine Can Diagnose an Infection or If You're Dehydrated