Cranberry Extract

Brand

Nature's Way

Size

120 Vegicaps

Common Uses

A natural herbal supplement to help maintain a healthy urinary tract and prevent urinary tract and gastrointestinal infections. Especially useful in cases of cystitis and bladder infections, peptic and gastric ulcers.

Suggested Dosage

One capsule three times daily, or as advised by your health care professional. Can be used more intensively if you have a UTI, but seek advice before self prescribing. Works best when used in conjunction with Primadophilus.

Health Information

For nearly ninety years, the Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) has been used by countless women to help prevent and treat urinary tract infections (UTI). Originally, scientists believed drinking cranberry juice cocktail acidified the urine, hindering bacterial proliferation. At the time, this practice was one of the few effective treatments for women with recurrent UTI. Acidification? A 1967 study shows consumption of commercial cranberry juice cocktail did not acidify the urine as was previously believed. Despite this, UTI sufferers continued to use cranberry juice with beneficial results. A second study, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 1994, confirmed the beneficial effects of regular consumption of cranberry juice. In this study 153 female subjects were randomised into two groups, cranberry juice drinkers (10 ounces daily) and placebo, using a cranberry flavoured beverage with no cranberry juice. After six months the results conclusively demonstrated that the drinkers of cranberry juice experienced fewer bacterial infections. Those with bacteria counts indicating an increased likelihood of infection diminished in the cranberry group as reflected by a 25% decrease in positive bacterial urine samples relative to the controls. Because no assessment was made as to urinary tract infection symptoms, the study did not enable researchers to determine if cranberry actually cured full blown infections. Nevertheless, the evidence to support regular use of cranberry to prevent recurrent or chronic UTI is compelling to say the least. Modern research has now led us to the discovery that cranberry helps relieve UTI not by any process of acidification, but rather due to its ability to prevent micro organisms from adhering to the epithelial cells that line the urinary tract. E coli, the most common UTI-causing bacteria, produces chemicals known as adhesions, enabling the organism to cling to epithelial cells where they proliferate and cause infection. Cranberry juice was found to contain two substances which inhibit the adhesion activity of bacteria: fructose and an, as yet, unidentified polymeric compound. This product also helps prevents urinary tract infections and can be taken on a daily basis. A lot of people ask what the difference is between the encapsulated Cranberry fruit and the concentrated Cranberry Extract. Cranberry fruit is encapsulated dried whole cranberry fruits. Cranberry Extract is dried concentrated Cranberry juice powder, making this a far superior product to just cranberry fruit. Ester C is also added to each capsule to increase the vitamin c potency. People also ask about drinking cranberry juice to help with UTI. Most Cranberry juice contains large amounts of sugar. Sugar will feed the bacteria on the bladder wall, making this grow even more. Those with a UTI need to avoid added sugar, as this will only make the problem worse.

Ingredients

Each 1 capsule contains: Cranberry concentrate (berry) 400mg, Ultra Anti-adherence 90MX concentrate, Vitamin C 30mg (as Ester-C Calcium ascorbate) Other ingredients: Plant derived cellulose (capsule), cellulose, millet, magnesium stearate, silica.

Safety Information

Keep out of reach of children. In all cases of illness, seek advice from your health care professional before self prescribing.