The urinary tract is a delicate system comprised of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. After fluids leave the digestive tract, they go to the urinary tract for eventual expulsion. Most often, urine contains only fluids, salt and waste products. Occasionally, though, bacteria passes from the digestive tract into the urinary tract and clings to the urethra, where it can multiply and cause a urinary tract infection. Cranberry juice has some natural properties that help keep the urinary tract clear and healthy.
Weakening Fimbriaed Bacteria
Cranberry juice can modify fimbriaed bacteria that cause urinary tract infections. Fimbriaed bacteria have little hair-like projections called fimbriae that help the bacteria latch onto the cells in the urinary tract. Cranberry juice modifies these bacteria by altering the shape of the fimbriae, rendering the bacteria incapable of latching onto the cells in the urinary tract and causing an infection.
Creating Barriers
Not all malicious bacteria are fimbriaed; one strain of E. coli that can cause a urinary tract infection has no fimbriae. Cranberry juice creates a barrier-type effect within the urinary tract that prevents other, non-fimbriaed bacteria from clinging to cells in the urinary tract.
Kidney Stones
Cranberry juice and its acids can also prevent the growth and development of kidney stones. The quinic acid in cranberry juice makes urine slightly acidic--acidic enough that calcium and phosphates cannot fuse together to create a kidney stone. Cranberry juice also helps the body dispose of oxalic acid, another agent that helps cause kidney stones.
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