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Urinary Health 

The cranberry is "nature's hero" offering many health benefits. Here are some you might not know about:

 

The anti-adhesion effect

Cranberries naturally contain phytochemicals called proanthocyanidins (PACS) which prevent bacteria from attaching to the cell lining of the bladder. It is this anti-adhesion effect that makes cranberries so unique.  While other fruits such as grapes and green tea contain these PACs, the unique molecular structure of the cranberry means it is one of the few fruits that offers this additional anti-adhesion benefit.

Research has shown that the cranberry PACs are absorbed by the body where they may function as anti-adhesion agents and/or antioxidants in bladder, dental and stomach health.¹

Urinary Tract Infections:

The most well-known benefit of cranberries is in the prevention of recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs). UTIs are one of the most common reasons for visiting a doctor about an infection.About 1 in 2 women and 1 in 20 men will get a UTI in their lifetime, and these conditions can lead to serious complications for some.²

The PACs in cranberries interfere with E. coli bacteria (responsible for 85 percent of UTIs), helping to prevent them from sticking to the cells in the urinary tract, thereby preventing infection.

Regular consumption of cranberries or cranberry products can reduce the risk of a urinary tract infection (UTI) by as much as 50 percent.³ Studies have shown 250ml of cranberry juice drink a day (with minimum 25% cranberry juice content) is often enough to prevent UTIs.

Table comparing different sources of cranberries:

Cranberry form	Equivalency
Cranberry juice	250 mls
Frozen cranberries	28 gms
Sweetened dried cranberries	40 gms
Sauce	70 gms

Sourced from the Cranberry Institute website www.cranberryinstitute.com

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1: Howell AB, et al, In vivo evidence that cranberry proanthocyanidins inhibit adherence of p-fimbriated E-coli bacteria to uroepithelial cells. Federation of American Societies for experimental Biology Journal, 2001, 15:A284.

2: Kidney Health Australia, Urinary Tract Infection Fact Sheet. Available at www.kidney.org.au.

3: Kontiokari, T et al. Randomised trial of cranberry­-lingonberry juice and Lactobacillus GG drink for the prevention of urinary tract infections in women, BMJ 2001;322;1571.