Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are caused by bacteria getting into the urinary tract. These bacterial infections can result in pain and frequent urination due to inflammation of the urethra and other parts of the urinary tract. Cranberry juice or products made with cranberry can be used to treat or prevent urinary tract infections due to some of the compounds found in cranberry.
Urinary Tract Infections
Most urinary tract infections are caused by E. coli getting into the urethra and colonizing the urinary tract, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders explains. Urinary tract infections are more common in women because their urethrae are shorter and closer to the anus, which is a common source of E. coli. If you are a woman, sexual intercourse may trigger an infection, as can using a diaphragm as a method of contraception.
Cranberry Juice and Urinary Tract Infections
Cranberry juice contains many different chemicals, including proanthocyanidins. These proanthocyanidins may be able to prevent or treat urinary tract infections because they can interfere with the ability of certain strains of E. coli to bind to the walls of the urinary tract, a 2002 article in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" reports. Cranberry juice can inactivate proteins that the bacteria use to bind to the cells which line the urinary tract, allowing the body to flush out the bacteria during urination.
Dosage
If you are trying to prevent a urinary tract infection, the Mayo Clinic recommends that you consume between 3 and 16 oz. of cranberry juice cocktail twice per day. You may also drink 0.5 to 1 oz. of unsweetened cranberry juice twice per day instead. The beneficial compounds found in cranberry juice can also be found in other cranberry products, including capsules, tinctures and cranberry concentrate. Also, 1.5 oz. of cranberry juice concentrate twice daily or 4 to 5 mL of cranberry tincture taken three times each day may be effective.
Safety
Only consume cranberry products for a urinary tract infection if you are not allergic to cranberries or blueberries, the Mayo Clinic notes. Because cranberry juice cocktails are sweetened, be careful when consuming these juices if you are diabetic. You should also be vigilant for signs that a urinary tract infection has spread to the kidneys, where it can cause flank pain, shivering, a fever and chills, as well as blood in the urine. Kidney infections are serious and can result in permanent damage and require medical attention.
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