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cranberry

Cranberry

Cranberry evergreen shrubs grow in damp mountainous grounds from Tennessee to Alaska and contain dark pink flowers and cranberries. Why are cranberries so popular to include in the Thanksgiving feast? Well, cranberries are ripe for picking in the fall, and the first time they were eaten in North America was by Pilgrims in 1621. In the mid-1800’s, chemists from Germany revealed that the nutrients in cranberries inhibited bacterial growth in the urinary tract. Today, it is known that cranberries contain organic acids and fatty acids that actually inhibit the attachment of bacteria (primarily E. coli) to the urinary tract lining.

 

Claimed Health Beliefs

  • Keeps urinary tract health

  • Used for prevention and treatment of urinary tract infections

 

Food Sources

  • Cranberries

  • Cranberry Juice

 

Dosage

To treat a urinary tract infection, it is recommended to consume 12-32 oz of cranberry juice per day.

Cranberry capsules should be purchased in standardized form containing at least 30% of total organic acid content. To prevent urinary tract infections, recommended doses in various forms of cranberry products are as follows:

  • 100-500mg of a standardized cranberry extract

  • ½ c of fresh cranberries

  • 1 tablespoon of dried cranberry

  • 3 oz of a 30% pure cranberry juice cocktail

 

Evidence for Health Beliefs

  • A 6-month study done on 153 elderly women showed that only 15% of those supplemented with 9 ounces of cranberry juice per day had E. coli in their urine. In the placebo group, E. coli was found in 28% of the women.

  • A 10-day study done on sexually-active women with urinary tract infections found that those given antibiotic therapy plus 400 mg of cranberry solids had significant decreases in urinary bacteria compared to women who were on antibiotic therapy alone.

 

Cautions

  • Cranberries have been shown to be extremely safe with no documented side effects. However, at high consumption values (3-4L/day), its antibacterial effect might significantly decrease the natural gut bacteria causing diarrhea.

  • If prone to kidney stones, it is important to note that cranberries contain oxalates, which are the compounds that produce stones. Yet limiting consumption to 1 L/day might actually prevent stone formation.

 

Reference

1. SupplementWatch, Inc. (2002) Supplement Decisions Made Easy: Cranberries. Accessed May 7, 2003.