Cran\u00adberry juice is a classic remedy for urinary tract infections\u2014and is one of the home reme\u00addies that has been rela\u00adtively well studied. However, the key point is often over\u00adlooked: cran\u00adber\u00adries are prima\u00adrily effec\u00adtive as a preven\u00adtive measure.<\/p>\n
Preven\u00adtion rather than treatment<\/p>\n
Studies show that the effect is parti\u00adcu\u00adlarly evident in women with recur\u00adrent urinary tract infec\u00adtions. The number of new infec\u00adtions can decrease with regular consump\u00adtion. Accor\u00adding to a Coch\u00adrane review, the risk of recur\u00adrent infec\u00adtions is reduced by about 25\u201330% in women; the effect appears to be slightly stronger in children. Some groups, such as pregnant women and nursing home resi\u00addents, did not benefit.
\nIn cases of acute bladder infec\u00adtions, there is hardly any posi\u00adtive effect. Once the infec\u00adtion has taken hold, the mecha\u00adnism simply comes too late\u2014the bacteria have already atta\u00adched them\u00adselves to the mucous membrane and are multiplying.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s Behind the Effect<\/p>\n
Accor\u00adding to studies, simply drin\u00adking more water alone can signi\u00adfi\u00adcantly reduce the number of recur\u00adrent urinary tract infec\u00adtions. However, the effect of cran\u00adber\u00adries is not about \u201cflus\u00adhing,\u201d but rather the active compounds contained in the plant: proan\u00adtho\u00adcya\u00adni\u00addins (PACs), which make it diffi\u00adcult for bacteria to attach to the bladder lining. E. coli, the most common cause of urinary tract infec\u00adtions, relies on this adhe\u00adsion. Without it, it becomes signi\u00adfi\u00adcantly harder for the bacteria to estab\u00adlish them\u00adselves in the urinary tract.<\/p>\n
Juice, capsules, or extract\u2014and how much, exactly?<\/p>\n
And how and in what quan\u00adtity is it best to take cran\u00adberry? There is no stan\u00addard dosage recom\u00admen\u00adda\u00adtion. Studies often use about 36 mg of proan\u00adtho\u00adcya\u00adni\u00addins per day. It is not possible to give a general figure for how much juice is needed, as the proan\u00adtho\u00adcya\u00adnidin content varies signi\u00adfi\u00adcantly depen\u00adding on the product. When taking dietary supple\u00adments, you should pay atten\u00adtion to the infor\u00adma\u00adtion regar\u00adding PAC content.<\/p>\n