Cranberry for UTIs

Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are extremely common, particularly in women. Dealing with the often painful and uncomfortable symptoms can be no fun, which is why many people tackle UTI discomfort or to try to avoid repeated infections by turning to home remedies.

Why cranberry for UTI? The humble cranberry is just one of the commonly turned to traditional options for treating UTIs such as cystitis. However, don’t think that a bottle of cranberry juice or cranberry extract supplements can replace a visit to your doctor.

If you think you have a UTI such as cystitis, it is always important that you consult with a healthcare professional. They will be able to determine whether you have a UTI and whether treatment with antibiotics or other medications may be needed.

It’s important to remember cranberry is not a cure for an existing UTI but drinking cranberry juice or taking cranberry extract supplements – such as Ural Daily Supplement High Strength Cranberry – may help reduce the occurrence of medically diagnosed cystitis.

Ural Daily Supplement High Strength Cranberry is available without a prescription from your local grocery store and pharmacies – so if you’ve suffered from UTIs in the past, why not grab yours today and start supporting your daily urinary tract health.

 

What is a UTI?

Before taking a look at why cranberries are good for UTIs, let’s talk about what UTIs are, what causes them and why they can be so annoyingly painful:

• UTIs such as cystitis are very common, particularly for women and older adults.
• They are usually caused by bacteria and are the second most common type of bacterial infection in the world, after middle ear infections! 
• UTIs can occur in any part of the urinary tract, with the bladder and urethra being the parts most commonly infected
• Most infections are limited to the bladder and this common type of UTI is called cystitis
• The bacteria that cause UTIs are usually found in your gut and can easily get into the urine via the urethra (which is short in women) and can then travel up to the bladder and sometimes on to the kidneys
• The bacteria begin to multiply and stick to the lining of your urinary tract – causing the lining to become irritated and inflamed, and triggering tell-tale painful and annoying UTI symptoms that may include:
• Pain or a burning feeling when you urinate
• The needing to urinate more often than normal
• Pain low down in your tummy, side, lower back or pelvic area

 

 

Why are cranberries good for UTIs?

Cranberries, in various forms, have long been used to treat UTIs. We don’t know exactly why cranberries can help prevent UTIs but there have been several reasons suggested over the years for their helpful UTI properties.

Cranberries were once thought to treat bacterial infections by changing the acidity of your urine, making the bladder a less appealing place for the bacteria to grow.

However, the current theory on how cranberries and cranberry products may actually work is down to certain chemicals – proanthocyanidins (PACs) and fructose – contained in the berries. These chemicals are thought to prevent the harmful infection-causing bacteria from sticking to the cells that line the bladder walls.

It could be that the substances in cranberries change the bacteria in some way so that they can’t stick to the cells lining the bladder and urethra. Whatever the reason, harmful bacteria are discouraged from attaching to the walls of your urinary tract – helping any potential future problems to be flushed away.

 

Different ways to take cranberries for a UTI

Whole berries (usually available dried or sometimes frozen), juices, syrups, capsules and tablets – when it comes to cranberries, there are lots of different ways to take them – but not all may be suited to helping with UTIs such as medically diagnosed cystitis.

Cranberry juice is often recommended, but the berry has a tart taste and many products may contain a lot of sugar to help mask its bitter taste. You may also need to choose carefully as some cranberry drinks may only contain a small amount of cranberry juice.

Supplements containing cranberry extract – such as Ural Daily Supplement High Strength Cranberry – provide a simple, convenient, more palatable way of getting your daily dose of cranberry to help reduce the occurrence of medically diagnosed cystitis and support your urinary tract health.

 

When to see a doctor for a UTI

Remember, taking cranberry extracts may help prevent medically diagnosed cystitis, but they do not treat an existing infection.

If you think you may have a UTI such as cystitis, it is important to talk to your pharmacist or doctor as early treatment can help prevent the infection getting any worse.

Watch out for the following symptoms and seek urgent medical attention if you experience any of them:

• Fever
• Vomiting
• Chills
• Back pain

Before taking any cranberry product, it’s important to talk with your doctor or pharmacist so they can check for any possible interactions with other medications you may be taking.

 

Find relief with Ural

Taking Ural Daily Supplement High Strength Cranberry with its concentrated cranberry extract can help reduce the occurrence of medically diagnosed cystitis and help support your overall urinary tract health.

Ural also has you covered for when you do get a UTI and painful symptoms become a problem.

Ural Effervescent Powder, a urinary alkiliser, provides effective relief from the painful, burning symptoms you get with a UTI such as cystitis.

CLICK HERE for more information on preventing UTI pain.

 

Always refer to your healthcare professional for advice if you are unsure if Ural products are right for you.