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A new study published in the most recent issue of Phytomedicine:International Journal of Phytotherapy and Phytopharmacology examined theability of cranberry extract to ward off UTIs in women with a history ofrecurrent infections. During the course of the study, none of the womenexperienced a UTI.
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The promise of cranberries long lasting health benefits were strengthenedwhen two years after the initial study, eight of the women who continue totake cranberry extract capsules, continued to be free of UTIs, a finding thatresearchers find exciting given the rise of antibiotic resistance.
"The results of this pilot study reinforces the idea that by includingcranberries and/or dried cranberries in their diet, women can benefittremendously by reducing the risk of urinary tract infections," said AmyHowell, research scientist at Rutgers University.
"These new findings are particularly exciting in that cranberries offer along term solution to help prevent UTIs in women."
Cranberries have long been known to ward off urinary tract infections(UTIs) due to unique compounds in the fruit called proanthocyanidins, or PACS.PACS offer an anti-adhesion mechanism that prevents harmful E. coli bacteriafrom adhering to the urinary tract wall. Cranberries may be a useful tool forhelping women to maintain a healthy urinary tract, naturally.
In addition to the open label pilot study, another promising new studypublished in the most recent issue of The Journal of Urology studied thepotential of cranberry and its unique PACs against particular strains of E.coli. Scientists found that cranberry's PACs can inhibit the adherence ofE.coli to bladder cells, further strengthening previous research linkingcranberry to UTI prevention. In this in vitro study, researchers utilized acranberry powder and a cranberry PAC extract which were applied directly tocultured bladder cells. Researchers found that this anti-adherence benefitincreased with greater cranberry and PAC exposure suggesting that a diet richin cranberry may limit the occurrence and recurrence of UTIs.
There are a variety of ways to get the cranberry's anti-adhesion benefits.One eight-ounce glass of cranberry juice cocktail contains just as many PACsas a 1/4 cup of fresh or frozen cranberries, a 1/3 cup of sweetened, driedcranberries, or a 1/3 cup of cranberry sauce. In addition, while cranberrypacks a nutritious punch, drinking one 8-ounce serving of any of the Premium100% Juices, or eating 1/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries counts as half yourdaily requirements for fruit.
This year Ocean Spray and the National Kidney Foundation are continuingtheir partnership and shared goal of spreading awareness to the public abouturinary tract infections and how to prevent them. The joint venture of thesetwo companies strengthens the educational initiative of addressing one of themost common conditions troubling women today - UTIs.
Ocean Spray is an agricultural cooperative owned by more than 650cranberry growers in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington,British Columbia, and other parts of Canada as well as about 50 Floridagrapefruit growers. Ocean Spray was formed 75 years ago by three cranberrygrowers from Massachusetts and New Jersey. Florida grapefruit growers joinedthe Cooperative in 1976. Ocean Spray is North America's leading producer ofcanned and bottled juices and juice drinks, and has been the best-sellingbrand name in the
