Nutritional Guide

Why you need it?

Functions:

Cranberry is a member of the same family as bilberry. Grown both in Europe and North America, cranberries have long been recommended for persons with recurrent urinary tract infections.(UTI's)

Cranberry has been used to prevent kidney stones and "bladder gravel" as well as to remove toxins from the blood.

Cranberry prevents E. coli, the most common cause of UTIs and recurrent UTIs, from adhering to the cells lining the wall of the bladder. This anti-adherence action renders the bacteria harmless in the urinary tract. The constituents in cranberry responsible for this anti-adherence activity have yet to be identified.

Parts Used:

The ripe fruit

Constituents:

Cranberries are very rich in anthocyanins. They also contain fructose (fruit sugar) and small amounts of vitamin C and fiber.

Other constituents include catechins and triterpenoids, as well as malic, citric, and quinic acids.

Cranberry also contains an unidentified factor that counteracts bacterial chemicals known as adhesins.

Precautions

GRAS - Generally recognized as safe. No adverse reactions, side effects or overdose symptoms expected when taken within the recommended amounts.

As a precaution, avoid high doses and prolonged use in pregnancy. With very high doses, diarrhea may occur, but it has been reported only with the consumption of a large quantity of juice (roughly 3 to 4 quarts).

Although cranberry juice contains some tannins, it has not been reported to interfere with the absorption of iron supplements or other minerals.

In older people with too little stomach acid or in patients taking strong acid suppressors such as Prilosec, vitamin B12 absorption may be impaired. Cranberry juice appears to improve the absorption of this crucial vitamin in such cases.

Cranberry should never be used as a substitute for antibiotics during an acute urinary tract infection.

The safety or otherwise of the use of cranberry during pregnancy or lactation has not been determined.

The information provided on this site is for educational purposes only. Neither the information provided nor products supplied or offered should be construed to be in any way substitutes for medical attention or prescribed medication. Consult with your healthcare professional before taking any supplements or herbal remedies if you are suffering from an undiagnosed illness or if you are on prescribed medication.

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