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- Cranberry
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Cranberry is a bitter red berry derived from a low-lying evergreen (Vaccinium macrocarpon) native to North America. Most of the cranberry harvest is use to make sweetened juices but many people now take encapsulated dried extracts for their health benefits. |
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| Do scientists know how it works? Researchers initially suspected that cranberry juice turned urine more acidic, making the urinary tract less hospitable to bacteria that can cause an infection. Recent studies indicate that the herb’s effects are due more to an ability to prevent bacteria from sticking to the lining of the bladder and urinary tract. Exactly which compounds are most active in promoting urinary tract is still being determined. |
| Recent findings: Cranberry extracts may help prevent two major diseases: heart disease (by inhibiting oxidation of harmful LDL cholesterol) and cancer (an in vitro test showed potential anticarcinogenic activity in the fruit’s proanthocyanidin fraction). A recent study added to findings on how the herb treats urinary tract infections by determining that cranberry juice acts on the cell wall to prevent proper attachment of E. coli bacteria. |
| Safety: Avoid medicinal doses of cranberry concentrate if you are taking drugs for urinary or kidney problems. It is safe for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It shouldn’t be used as a substitute for antibiotics during an acute urinary tract infections. |
| What types of cranberry products are available? Most tablets, capsules, and softgels contain dried, unsweetened juice powder or concentrated extract. Some products combine cranberry with vitamin C. Unsweetened cranberry juice, available in some natural food stores, is the most potent cranberry drink but many people find this difficult to consume due to the extremely sour taste. Sweetened cranberry juice drinks and "cocktails" are more palatable; those that have only 10 percent or less of the healthful juice need to be taken in greater quantities than higher-quality drinks with 30 percent or more cranberry juice. Even the highly sweetened commercial cranberry juices may have therapeutic effects, according to some studies. For example, a 1994 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that ten ounces per day of a commercially available cranberry juice cocktail was almost twice as effective as a placebo in reducing bacteria in urine. |
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