Combatting Urinary Tract Infections with Cranberry Juice
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Combatting Urinary Tract Infections with Cranberry Juice
According to Prevention Magazine, the most effective herb for preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs) is cranberry. The sweetened, diluted juice contains fructose and condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins), which act as a sort of Teflon finish inside the urinary tract. This helps prevent infective organisms, like E.coli, from attaching to the surface cells. Each time urination occurs, the bacteria is swept from the tract before they have the opportunity to multiply and produce an infection.
Drinking as little as 3 ounces (only 1/3 of which is pure juice) of cranberry juice cocktail every day can prevent recurrent infection. If you've got a full-blown infection, up to 1 quart daily may be necessary to be effective - or one could take up to 6 cranberry capsules a day.
Comments
7/2/2008 8:27:08 AMAlyson O'Mahoney said:
While cranberry juice can be an effective preventative for UTIs, Dr. Elizabeth Kavaler, urologist and expert for Cystex, says that ingesting cranberries once an infection is there may not be a good thing. The same acid in cranberries that can help prevent also serve to acifify urine when an infection is present, making it more painful to urinate. The best bet is to see a doctor for proper UTI treatment.
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