Fruit juices can be an important part of a healthy diet, but we may not always be thinking about the specific effects fruit juice can have on our bodies. Yet many fruit juices were once considered both a food source and a medicine. Fruit juices can affect the urinary tract in ways that are beneficial, but can also be less helpful in some situations.
About the Urinary Tract
The urinary tract is one of the body's primary filters for wastes and excess fluid. Normal tissue breakdown and food metabolism produce waste products, which must be removed to prevent damage to the body. Every day, your kidneys process about 200 quarts of blood to remove waste products and approximately 2 quarts of water. Both waste and water are excreted as urine. High blood pressure and diabetes affect kidney function, and some people may suffer from urinary tract infections or kidney stones. Fruit juices have been found to affect urinary tract infections and kidney stones.
Juice and UTIs
According to Medline Plus, urinary tract infection, also called UTI, is the generic term for an infection that may be in the bladder or kidneys. The terms cystitis, urethritis and pyelonephritis may also be used, depending on the actual location of the infection. Women are more likely to be infected than man, but diabetes, pregnancy or an enlarged prostate gland can also increase the chances of a UTI. Cranberry juice has been found to help prevent UTIs, although it will not cure an active UTI. According to naturopathic physicians Sally James and Nicholas Foley, members of the Australian Traditional Medicine Society, lemon juice will change the pH of the blood and urinary tract, which helps to prevent the bacteria that cause UTIs from growing.
Juice and Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are another urinary tract problem; the stones form from mineral crystals in the blood and can be very painful. Anahad O'Connor, a writer for the New York Times, noted in a March 2, 2010 article that fruit juices can be a two-edged sword when it comes to kidney stones. Cranberry juice, helpful in UTIs, also contains high quantities of oxalate, and can increase the chance of developing a kidney stone. But citrus fruit juices, such as oranges, lemons and grapefruit, increase citrate levels and can help to prevent the formation of calcium oxalate stones --- the most common kind.
When to Use Fruit Juice
Your overall health history is important when considering the use of fruit juice for a particular kidney condition. If you have a history of both UTIs and calcium oxalate kidney stones, cranberry juice may not be a good choice for preventing UTIs. And diabetics should remember that fruit juices are high in natural sugars and can affect blood sugar levels. If you think fruit juice might be beneficial for you particular situation, it would be wise to discuss any questions or concerns with a health-care professional.
References
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse: The Kidneys and How They Work; February 2009
- Medline Plus: Cranberry; David Zieve, M.D., M.H.A., Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD; September 2010
- University of Maryland: Complementary Medicine; Cranberry; Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD; November 2011
- Ask a Naturopath: Urinary Tract Infection; Sally James, ND and Nicholas Foley, ND; April 2011
- "New York Times": Health: "The Claim: Fruit Juice Can Prevent Kidney Stones"; Anahad O'Connor; March 2010
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