Cranberry juice can help prevent urine infections
Researchers have found that drinking cranberry juice regularly can reduce the risks of getting urine infections for some people.
However, for the effects to really take hold, you must really be able to tolerate your cranberry juice. At least two glasses a day, every day, for a number of years, to be exact. And even then, the positive results aren’t guaranteed, as it is thought that the juice only has the desired impact in some people.
The review in Archives of Internal Medicine evaluated 10 head-to-head trials of cranberries as opposed to no treatment in a further 1,500 volunteers, and found that there was a link between drinking the juice and being able to prevent urine diseases.
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The required outcome was most prominent however in women who already experienced recurring urine or bladder infections. There is no guarantee that the cranberries would act as a long term preventative method for people not currently affected by the illness however.
The science behind the link suggests that cranberries can prevent E.coli from sticking to the walls of the bladder, subsequently preventing the bacteria from causing an infection.
While capsules and tablets containing cranberry can be purchased, the review also stated that the most reliable results came from drinking the juice directly. However, concerns have been raised over excessive consumption of the liquid, due to its high sugar content.
Dr Ruth Jepson of the University of Stirling further voiced her concerns over the findings: "I'm not sure how many of us would want to be drinking this every day for an indeterminate amount of time. It can be costly and calorific and some people just don't like the taste of it."
