Thursday, February 10, 2011

The Mighty Cranberry


Cranberries, the UTI champion and highly rumored cure for UTIs (urinary tract infections) no data to support their claim to fame.  Unfortunately, there is no data proving that the mighty cranberry can treat UTIs.  For the sake of the cranberry’s reputation, it has been proven that cranberries prevent bacteria (the UTI culprit) from sticking to the wall of the bladder, which may decrease the risk of acquiring a UTI.  Given this, it is safe to drink all of the cranberry juice you can get your hands on.  Drinking plenty of water will also help reduce the risk of acquiring a UTI by flushing the urinary tract with water.
If you think you may have a UTI, see your physician as the mighty cranberry is not strong enough to defeat E. coli and other bacteria after they have taken residence in your urination tract.   
Common symptoms of a UTI are dysuria (painful urination), frequent urination, back pain, hematuria (blood in urine).  A UTI left untreated will lead to pyelonephritis (kidney infection).

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