But fresh cranberries tend to be sour and are rarely eaten raw. You’ll mostly see cranberries in juice form, but cranberry juice also tends to include added sugars. That sugar is added to offset the tart flavor of cranberries. “They need that sweetness to be a little bit more palatable,” explains O’Neill. Raz, R., Chazan, B., and Dan, M. [Cranberry juice and urinary tract infection]. Harefuah 2004;143(12):891-4, 909. View abstract. Wang, C. H., Fang, C. C., Chen, N. C., Liu, S. S., Yu, P. H., Wu, T. Y., Chen, W. T., Lee, C. C., and Chen, S. C. Cranberry-containing products for prevention of urinary tract infections in susceptible populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Arch Intern.Med 7-9-2012;172(13):988-996. View abstract.

Santillo, V. M. and Lowe, F. C. Cranberry juice for the prevention and treatment of urinary tract infections. Drugs Today (Barc.) 2007;43(1):47-54. View abstract. He, X. and Liu, R. H. Cranberry phytochemicals: Isolation, structure elucidation, and their antiproliferative and antioxidant activities. J Agric Food Chem 9-20-2006;54(19):7069-7074. View abstract.Cravotto, G., Boffa, L., Genzini, L., and Garella, D. Phytotherapeutics: an evaluation of the potential of 1000 plants. J Clin Pharm Ther 2010;35(1):11-48. View abstract. Ohnishi, R., Ito, H., Kasajima, N., Kaneda, M., Kariyama, R., Kumon, H., Hatano, T., and Yoshida, T. Urinary excretion of anthocyanins in humans after cranberry juice ingestion. Biosci.Biotechnol.Biochem 2006;70(7):1681-1687. View abstract.

Ruel, G., Pomerleau, S., Couture, P., Lemieux, S., Lamarche, B., and Couillard, C. Favourable impact of low-calorie cranberry juice consumption on plasma HDL-cholesterol concentrations in men. Br J Nutr 2006;96(2):357-364. View abstract. Konowalchuk, J. and Speirs, J. I. Antiviral effect of commercial juices and beverages. Appl.Environ.Microbiol. 1978;35(6):1219-1220. View abstract. Duarte, S., Gregoire, S., Singh, A. P., Vorsa, N., Schaich, K., Bowen, W. H., and Koo, H. Inhibitory effects of cranberry polyphenols on formation and acidogenicity of Streptococcus mutans biofilms. FEMS Microbiol.Lett 2006;257(1):50-56. View abstract.

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Aspirin allergy: Cranberries contain significant amounts of salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is similar to aspirin. Avoid drinking large quantities of cranberry juice if you are allergic to aspirin. Stapleton, A. E., Dziura, J., Hooton, T. M., Cox, M. E., Yarova-Yarovaya, Y., Chen, S., and Gupta, K. Recurrent urinary tract infection and urinary Escherichia coli in women ingesting cranberry juice daily: a randomized controlled trial. Mayo.Clin.Proc. 2012;87(2):143-150. View abstract. Cranberries are believed to have cleansing, anti-diarrheal, anti-septic and detoxifying diuretic properties. They help the body eliminate toxins and buildup, plus aid in relieving water retention and bloating. Yan, X., Murphy, B. T., Hammond, G. B., Vinson, J. A., and Neto, C. C. Antioxidant activities and antitumor screening of extracts from cranberry fruit (Vaccinium macrocarpon). J Agric.Food Chem. 10-9-2002;50(21):5844-5849. View abstract.

Some of the most powerful antioxidants in the cranberry include anthocyanins, quercetin, benzoic acid and epicatechins. Avorn J. The effect of cranberry juice on the presence of bacteria and white blood cells in the urine of elderly women. What is the role of bacterial adhesion? Adv Exp Med Biol 1996;408:185-6. View abstract.

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Relatively speaking, cranberries include an astounding collection of phytonutrients, all for a low amount of calories and sugar and next to no fat or sodium. Many of these phytonutrients offer antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer health benefits. Foo LY, Lu Y, Howell AB, Vorsa N. The structure of cranberry proanthocyanidins which inhibit adherence of uropathogenic P-fimbriated Escherichia coli in vitro. Phytochemistry 2000;54:173-81. View abstract.

In Ayurvedic medicine, on the other hand, cranberries are used to stop diarrhea, relieve inflammation and strengthen the liver. They also act as a natural diuretic to flush out toxins and fluid, promoting regularity and providing relief from bloating. Cranberries vs. Blueberries vs. Raspberries From lowering blood pressure to improving your cholesterol levels, cranberries can help improve your overall heart health.

Micro Ingredients Organic Cranberry Juice Powder

Goodfriend, R. Reduction of bacteriuria and pyuria using cranberry juice. JAMA 8-24-1994;272(8):588-590. View abstract. Cranberries, blueberries and raspberries are three of the most common varieties of berries. All of them are favored for their unique flavors and impressive nutrient profiles. Although they all share some similarities, there are also plenty of differences that set these three apart. The vaginal microbiota, that has predominance of lactobacilli, plays a dynamic and often critical role in UTI pathology by maintaining a low pH and avoiding uropathogen colonization by competitive exclusion. However, hormonal change due to estrogen deficiency, antimicrobial therapy, contraceptives, incomplete healing and recurrence of UTIs lead to a shift in the local microbiota (dysbiosis), increasing the risk of pathogens triggering pathologies (UTIs, bacterial vaginosis and yeast vaginitis) [ 69, 76]. Therefore, the instillation of lactobacilli in the vaginal cavity is presented as a potential therapy for urinary tract care [ 29, 77]. After their oral administration, selected strains of Lactobacillus have been found in vaginal exudates and faecal samples [ 30, 78]; Lactobacillus translocation from the intestinal mucosa to distal mucosal surfaces has also been reported [ 79]. A key step in the pathogenesis of infectious diseases is the pathogenic bacteria adherence to host cells. According to Beerepoot et al. [ 35], UTIs are settled in three main phases: microbial colonization, bacteria adherence to uroepithelium receptors, and invasion of urinary tract cells. The initial step in the UTIs pathogenesis is the colonization of the urinary tract and the subsequent rise of the pathogen to the bladder to cause cystitis. If left untreated, uropathogens may ascend the ureters to the kidney and establish a secondary infection (acute pyelonephritis). The next phase is the pathogens adherence to uroepithelium, which is mediated by adhesins that recognize the cells’ surface receptors, allowing the uropathogens to withstand the urine hydrodynamic flow. In this manner, uropathogens, such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus saprophyticus, have the ability to join directly the bladder epithelium causing non-complicated UTIs. However, complicated UTIs are initiated when the bacteria, predominately pathogens such as Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus spp., are attached to a catheter, to a kidney stone or they are retained in the urinary tract by a physical obstruction [ 8]. Once installed in bladder cells, pathogens internalize, multiply and produce infection. It has been assessed that the uropathogen E. coli (UPEC) can access and grow within the bladder cells to form intracellular bacterial communities, which are detected in exfoliated urothelial cells and associated to suffer recurrent UTIs [ 11]. Moreover, internalized UPEC can persist in quiescence for long periods without causing clinical symptoms [ 36].