Cranberry Extract - Urinary Tract Infection Remedies Products
|
Cranberry Extract - The Best Urinary Tract infection Remedies
Cranberry juice and cranberry extracts have shown benefit in preventing and treating urinary tract infections in several double-blind studies. For example, in one study of 153 women with active urinary tract infections, 16 fluid ounces of Ocean Spray cranberry drink per day produced beneficial effects in 73 percent of the subjects. When the cranberry juice was withdrawn, 61 percent of the women experienced a recurrence of their bladder infection.
Many believe that the action of cranberry juice is due to acidifying the urine and to the antibacterial effects of hippuric acid, a component of cranberries.
However, in order to acidify the urine, at least 1 quart of cranberry juice would have to be consumed at one sitting, and even then the concentration of hippuric acid in the urine as a result of drinking cranberry juice is insufficient to inhibit bacteria.Recent studies have shown that components of cranberry juice, probably the proanthocyanidin flavonoids, reduce the ability of bacteria such as E. coli to adhere to the lining of the bladder and urethra. In order for bacteria to infect, they must first adhere to this mucosal lining. By interfering with adherence, cranberry juice or extracts greatly reduce the likelihood of infection and allow the body to marshal its own defenses.
Dehydrated cranberry juice and cranberry extracts are available in capsules and tablets. Brand names available include CranActin.Consult a physician if you have symptoms suggestive of a bladder infection, such as pain or burning on urination, increased urinary frequency, or cloudy, foul-smelling, or dark urine.
The typical dosage for cranberry extract in treatment of a bladder infection is 400 mg four times per day. The dosage for prevention is 400 mg twice daily.
Considered safe during pregnancy and lactation.
Suitable for children at one-half the adult dosage.
Seniors - No special precautions are known.
Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary tract infections occur when bacteria invade the bladder. Bladder infections are very common in women because of their anatomy; 10 to 20 percent of all women have urinary tract discomfort at least once a year. Recurrent UTIs are a significant problem and can cause progressive damage, resulting in scarring and, in rare cases, kidney failure.
Warning: Although most urinary tract infections are not serious, it is important that you be properly diagnosed, treated, and monitored. If you have symptoms suggestive of a bladder infection, consult a physician immediately.Burning pain on urination; increased urinary frequency {especially at night); cloudy, foul-smelling, or dark urine; lower abdominal pain; urine analysis that shows a significant number of bacteria and white blood cells.
Most UTIs are caused by the E. coli bacterium. Many factors are associated with increased risk of bladder infection: pregnancy, menopause, sexual intercourse, mechanical trauma or irritation, and structural abnormalities of the urinary tract that block the free flow of urine.
The most important dietary recommendation is to increase the quantity of liquids consumed. Ideally, the liquids should be in the form of pure water, herbal teas, and fresh fruit and vegetable juices diluted with at least an equal amount of water. If you have a bladder infection, you should drink at least 64 fluid ounces of liquids from this group, with at least half of this amount being water. You should also avoid such liquids as soft drinks, concentrated fruit drinks, coffee, and alcoholic beverages.
Antibiotics: aztreonam (Azactam); cefaclor (Ceclor); cefpodoxime proxetil (Vantin); ciprofloxacin (Ciloxan, Cipro); enoxacin (Penetrex); lomefloxacin (Maxaquin); loracarbef (Lorabid); nitrofurantoin monohydrate (Macrobid); ofloxacin (Floxin, Ocuflox); sulfamethoxazole (Gantanol); sulfisoxazole acetyl (Gantrisin) Urinary pH modifiers: methenamine mandelate/sodium acid phosphate (Uroqid acid No. 2)
There is a growing concern that antibiotic therapy actually promotes recurrent infection by disturbing the normal bacterial flora.
Cranberry Extract - Urinary Tract Infection Remedies Manufacturers
|