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STUDY: Cranberry juice could be the key to preventing urinary tract infections

Posted at 6:48 PM, Jun 15, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-15 18:48:44-04

A new study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutriition revelaed women who drink one 8-ounce glass of cranberry juice daily reported a nearly 40 percent reduction in urinary tract infections symptoms. 

“Currently the primary approach to reducing symptomatic events of UTI is the use of chronic antibiotics for suppression, an approach associated with side effects and development of antibiotic resistance. This study shows that consuming one 8-ounce (240 ml) glass of cranberry juice a day reduces the number of times women suffer from repeat episodes of symptomatic UTI and avoids chronic suppressive antibiotics,” said Dr. Kalpana Gupta, infectious disease specialist and Professor of Medicine at Boston University’s School of Medicine.

The World Health Organization reported UTIs are the second most common infection treated by antibiotics. 

Here are a few facts from the World Health Organziation about UTIs:

  • Over 150 million urinary tract infections will occur worldwide this year, accounting for $6 billion in health care expenditures.
     
  • Regularly treated with antibiotics, they’re among the infections that contribute to antibiotic resistance worldwide - in fact, the first case of superbug was recently confirmed in the US, stemming from a UTI. The WHO states a 50% resistance rate to one of the most widely used antibiotics to treat UTIs.
     
  • The study shows women looking to avoid antibiotics and stave off UTIs symptoms might want to consider cranberry juice. It suggests cranberries can be a nutritional role for reducing symptomatic UTIs and as a result, the worldwide use of antibiotics used to treat them.
     
  • It’s a common misconception (among 77% of people) that drinking cranberry juice can treat a UTI, but in fact the key to cranberry’s benefit is consuming a glass daily to help avoid the infection altogether.
     
  • More than 9 in 10 Americans understand overusing antibiotics can be harmful to one’s health, and three-quarters of adults would rather drink a glass of cranberry juice a day than take antibiotics a few times a year.