Why You Should Always Keep Cranberry Juice in Your Fridge


urinary tract infectionsFor a long time now, it has been well known that cranberries can help with urinary tract infections (UTIs). When people suffer them, they often head first to the store to get a carton of cranberry juice. A new major study has looked at all available evidence on this home remedy and arrived at a conclusion. Care to find out?

Published in the “Archives of Internal Medicine,” this bit of health news is no slouch. Researchers have found that cranberry-containing products appear to help prevent UTIs in some people. UTIs are common bacterial infections and adult women are particularly susceptible. Cranberries have long been a folk remedy for them.

RECOMMENDED: A New Herbal Weapon Against UTIs

The new study assessed medical literature from around the world to evaluate whether products with cranberry prevent these frustrating infections.

Here is the gist of what they found: cranberry products tend to be more effective in women who suffer recurrent UTIs, female populations in general, children, cranberry juice drinkers, and people using cranberry-containing products more than twice daily.

This is culled from 10 studies comprising 1,500 people. Those who use cranberries, overall, have an estimated 37% reduced risk of acquiring UTIs than people who never have cranberries on their shopping lists.

So this is a big study that does support cranberries being used to prevent urinary tract infections. The fruit, also a herbal remedy, is best for women who suffer UTIs on a regular basis. That should come as good news for this part of the population.

Let’s look at some more details on this UTI therapy. First, how does it work? It is believed that cranberries may prevent bacteria (like “E. coli”) from clinging to the cells along the walls of the urinary tract and causing infection. On a second note, in your stomach, cranberry may reduce the ability of “H. pylori” bacteria to survive in the stomach.

Overall, cranberry juice is safe, though too much could also cause stomach upset. Doctors should be approached if you think you have a UTI; cranberries shouldn’t be used to treat it. Those who should exert some caution are those who take blood-thinning drugs, any medications that affect the liver, or even aspirin.

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