Battling infection
Pain is something nobody would 
want. Unfortunately, most women experience pain more often than men. Monthly menstruation alone sometimes gives women indescribable abdominal pain; in addition, more than men, women are more prone to urinary tract infection (UTI) – an infection which affects at least 50 percent of women once in their lifetime. The pain that urinary tract infection brings can tremendously put down one’s productivity at home or in the workplace. For this reason alone, it is worth spending for something that can cure or prevent UTI.
Cranberry is one food that is positively associated with UTI, perceived as something that can cure and prevent it from occurring or recurring. As science behind this goes further, a new study on the consumption of a supplement containing whole cranberry powder showed that it may reduce the risk of recurrent UTI.
In the study, doses of 500 mg per day of the whole cranberry powder reduced recurrence of UTI by 36 percent and by as much as 65 percent when doses reached 1000 mg per day. This puts cranberry as an acceptable alternative/adjunct measure to conventional antibiotic therapy for recurrent UTI in women.
Proanthocyanidins in cranberry help reduce the adhesion of certain bacteria (called E.Coli) to the urinary tract walls. While this active component called proanthocyanidins can also be found in other foods like apples, grapes, green tea and chocolates, the ones found in cranberry are seen to prevent bacterial adhesion. In a recent French study, the group receiving cranberry supplement showed a significant reduction in the bacterial concentrations, amounting to 25 to 40 percent bacterial reduction in urine after 10 days of cranberry consumption and this was maintained over 90 days; while those who did not receive the supplement did not show any changes.
Aside from having low bacterial count, 40 percent of women who were subjects to the above study experienced complete relief and remission of itching, burning sensation and even frequent urination. Cranberry is not only beneficial by preventing bacteria to adhere in the urinary walls but its hippuric acid also makes its difficult for the bacteria to survive.
More than just being an adjunct therapy for UTI management, cranberry, through its essential nutrients ( Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Vitamin C, Folate, Choline, Vitamin E, Beta Carotene, Fibers and Luetin) can help raise good cholesterol (HDL), assist in fighting carcinogens, be a powerful antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage and early aging, and combat dental plaque build up. - Article courtesy of Manila Bulletin
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