Study confirms benefits of cranberry for urinary tract health
Researchers have discovered that cranberry juice prevents urinary tract infections by stopping bacteria from adhering to cells.
According to a study in the journal Colloids and Surfaces, the juice creates a barrier of energy that prevents microorganisms from getting close enough to adhere to cells in the urinary tract where they could start an infection.
The findings corroborate generations of anecdotal evidence in favour of cranberry juice as a preventative treatment for urinary tract infections.
"Our results show that, at least for urinary tract infections, cranberry juice targets the right bacteria - those that cause disease - but has no effect on non-pathogenic organisms, suggesting that cranberry juice will not disrupt bacteria that are part of the normal flora in the gut," revealed Terri Camesano, associate professor of chemical engineering at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
The expert added: "We have also shown that this effect occurs at concentrations of cranberry juice that are comparable to levels we would expect to find in the urinary tract."
Researchers have discovered that cranberry juice prevents urinary tract infections by stopping bacteria from adhering to cells.
