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WHAT IS CRANBERRY?

Cranberry (Vaccinium Macrocarpon) is the red acidic fruit historically used by Native Americans as a wound dressing and later adopted by colonial settlers in North America.

  • Cranberries contain hippuric acid and proanthocyanidins, both of which prevent E.coli and other bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract. [1]
  • Cranberry is scientifically recognized as a viable alternative for preventing UTI.[2]
  • Clinical studies have found that cranberry significantly decreased the number of patients suffering UTI per year.[3]

Cranberries are rich in potent antioxidant compounds including anthocyanidins, quercetin, and chlorogenic acid. Cranberry has been found to be one of the richest sources of phenolic compounds demonstrating anti-proliferative effects in human cancer cells.

Cranberry has also been shown to reduce the amount of ionised calcium in the urine by more than 50% in patients with kidney stones.


WHAT IS BLADDER AND URINARY TRACT DISCOMFORT?

Bladder and urinary tract discomfort is often the result of a urinary tract infection (UTI). These infections can occur along any part of the urinary tract, most often in the bladder or kidney.

Urine passing through the tract consists of fluids, salts and other waste products from the blood and is normally sterile. If bacteria enters the bladder or kidney, it can multiply whilst in the urine and result in a urinary tract infection.

UTI is a very common problem which can affect adults and children although women have been shown to have a predisposition to such infections. Antibiotics are frequently prescribed to help treat the problem as a remedy however there has been recent scientific debate over concerns that abuse of antibiotics might result in increasingly virulent bacteria that are resistance to the current antibiotic medication.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

  • Pain or burning sensation whilst urinating
  • The need to urinate more often than usual
  • Feeling of urgency when you urinate
  • Cramps or lower abdominal pain
  • Blood or pus in the urine
  • Leaking urine or incontinence
  • Strong-smelling urine
  • Pain during sexual intercourse
  • Chills or fever (fever may be the only symptom in infants and women)

CAUSES

  • Pregnancy
  • Multiple sex partners
  • Frequent sexual activity
  • Diabetes
  • Heavy antibiotics use
  • Use of birth control pills
  • Use of diaphragms, spermicides or other products that might irritate
  • Blockage of the urinary tract (benign masses or tumors)History of UTI, especially if the infections were less than six months apart

WomenCranUT for Females

  • UTI is the most common bacterial infection in women, though men are not immune. As many as 60% of women will suffer a UTI at some point in their life. [4]

Pregnant MothersCranUT for Pregnant Women

  • Pregnant women are at increased risk for UTIs. During pregnancy, normal changes in the urinary tract increase the risk of infection. The incidence of UTI in pregnant women can be as high as 8%.[5], [6]

Senior CitizensCranUT for Senior Citizens

  • UTI is very common in the elderly. Bacteria can also be present in the urine, without other symptoms, affecting at least 30% of women and 10% of men over the age of 65.[7] Left untreated, this condition might lead to an infection.

References

  1. McMurdo MET, et al. Does Ingestion Of Cranberry Juice Reduce Symptomatic Urinary Tract Infections In Older People In Hospital? A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Age And Ageing 2005; 34: 256–261
  2. Lynch, D. Cranberry for Prevention of Urinary Tract Infections. American Family Physicians 2004; 70:2175-2177.
  3. Stothers L. A randomized trial to evaluate effectiveness and cost effectiveness of naturopathic cranberry products as prophylaxis against urinary tract infection in women. Can J Urol. 2002 Jun;9(3):1558-62.
  4. Eagan M. Cranberry Juice for Prevention of Urinary Tract Infection in Women. Nutrition Bytes Vol. 8 [2002], No. 1, Article 2
  5. Patterson TF, Andriole VT. Bacteriuria in Pregnancy. Infect Dis Clin North America 1987; 1: 807-22.
  6. Mikhail MS,  Anyaegbunam A. Lower urinary tract dysfunction in pregnancy: a review. Obstet Gynecol Surv 1995, 50: 675-83.
  7. Arroll B. Urinary Tract Infections in Elderly Women. NZFP. 32:4, August, 2005.