Cranberry juice beats infection

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_1412000/1412586.stm

 

Cranberries have been found to cut urinary tract infections.

 

Women have long suspected the humble cranberry can help them beat urinary tract

infections - now it is official.

Scientists from Finland have proved that drinking its juice can cut the risk of

infection by half. Up to 60% of women

have a urinary tract infection at some point in their lives and at least a third

of these will have a recurrence within

the next year.

 

Women in the 25-29 age group and the over 55's are at most risk of urinary tract

infection.

 

The researchers from the University of Oulu selected 150 volunteers with a

history of urinary tract infections and split

them into three groups. The first group was asked to drink 1.5 fluid ounces of

concentrate cranberry and lingonberry (a

similar fruit) juice. The second group was given three ounces of Lactobacillus

GG, a drink containing " friendly "

intestinal bacteria. And the third group received nothing.

 

Drinking cranberry and lingonberry juice can cut infection by half

 

At the end of the six month trial the scientists found that out of the women who

had taken the cranberry and lingonberry

juice only 16% had infections, compared to 36% in the control group. They also

found that the infection rate was even

greater in the Lactobacillus group at 39%.

 

This could drastically reduce the cost of medical bills. In the United States

alone, more than $1.6bn are spent annually

on antibiotic prescriptions for women with urinary tract infections.

 

Success

 

The scientists said: " Our study confirms the common belief that symptomatic

recurrences of urinary tract infection can

be prevented with cranberry juice. "

 

The team said it was unclear why the little red berry was so successful, but

that previous research suggested that high

levels of proanthocyanidins - a form of tannin that may inhibit hair-like

appendages on the commonest urinary tract

bacteria, E.coli.

 

They thought this might prevent the E.coli from gripping to the cells and

infecting them.

 

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Good Health & Long Life,

Greg Watson,

http://www.ozemail.com.au/~gowatson

gowatson