In my early 20’s I was plagued with chronic Urinary Tract Infections.  Someone turned me on to cranberry juice.  At the time, I didn’t understand how and why it worked…but it did!

Can you say …Proanthocyanidins? This is a compound found in red, purple fruits and vegetables ….like grapes, red wine and apples.  You probably know where I’m going with this. But yes…it’s good for you!

 WIKIPEDIA’s explanation… A class of flavoniods…  Proanthocyanidins can be found in many plants, most notably apples, cinnamon, grape seed, cocoa, grape skin, and red wines.  Apples contain on average per serving about eight times the amount of proanthocyanidin found in wine, with some of the highest amounts found in the red delicious and granny smith varieties.

Proanthocycnidins may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and help protect against internal and environmental stresses….like smoking and pollution.  But let’s get back to the great CRANBERRY!

Who knew that the proanthocyanidins in cranberries were different from the ones in other foods? The proanthocyanidins in cranberry’s has an anti-adhesion effect…says Amy Howell a researcher from Rutgers University.  “The proanthocyanidins in cranberries can prevent bacteria from sticking to the surfaces of cells”…she states in the latest issue of Nutrition Action Healthletter.  

It’s simple…E-coli have little hair tips that will attach themselves to the bladder so they can multiply….STICK, MULTIPLY, & SPREAD  =  UTI!  The proanthocyanidins in cranberries form a compound that can bind to the little hair tips of E-coli…which prevents the little nasty bacterial bugs from adhering to the bladder wall.  According to Howell, you can avoid infections by stopping the bacteria from sticking to cells in the bladder, and instead just… wash them out with your urine.

Cranberry juice has been a staple in my home for many years. I buy the light cranberry juice cocktail (reduced sugar, sweetened with Splenda) variety. To lower risk of UTI’s the researchers suggest 8 to 16 oz of cranberry juice cocktail a day. I drink on average about 4 oz a day.  It’s hard to eat a fresh cranberry…it’s too harsh…the taste is too sharp…which is why they make juice cocktails. Cranberry cocktails should have ~ 25% real cranberry juice. ..which is said to be enough to reduce your risk.  I don’t trust the cranberry blends…because you can’t tell how much real cranberry juice they’ve used.  The researcher says that dried cranberries (craisins), even cranberry sauce works well too. The one thing she mentioned that doesn’t appear to work is …cranberry pills…or supplements!

To reduce your risk for Urinary Tract Infections or UTI’s …EAT CRANBERRIES in as many edible forms as you can find!  I’ve been UTI free for 8 years…let’s EVERY ONE..KNOCK ON WOOD!

Le Greta