Cranberry: Power Food and Cure

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My grandmother believed that cranberries could cure most ailments. And now there's scientific evidence that proves that she was right. A recent study in the July 2012 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine discovered that cranberries really do cure urinary tract infections (UTIs). Here's how to use them to start feeling better fast.

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How It Works

Scientists recently discovered that many UTIs are caused by E. coli (Escherichia coli) bacteria. This naturally-occurring bacteria enters your bladder, clings to its walls and multiplies. Once the colony reaches large enough numbers, you start to feel that terrible sensation that we all associate with UTIs. Cranberries (and other Vaccinium macrocarpon species like blueberries) contain proanthocyanidins that loosen E. coli's grip on your bladder's wall.

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"Cranberry Juice or Cranberry Pills?"

It's a question that many of my patients ask. And I've done a lot of research on the subject. For example, a 2003 study on the effects of cranberry juice versus cranberry tablets found that both effectively prevent UTIs.


But that doesn't make them entirely equal in my eyes. One 8oz.-cup of cranberry juice has 130 calories. And the standard treatment is one of those 130-calorie glasses per day. For those of us who are watching our sugar and caloric intake, that's troubling. Add to that the fact that cranberry juice is more expensive (dose for dose) than tablets and that not many people can abide cranberry juice's tart flavor and you have a clear argument for pills.

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An Argument for Fresh Cranberries

While many of us think in terms of juice or pills, I'd like to make an argument for fresh cranberries. Unlike processed juices or pills, fresh cranberries are a great fresh source of fiber, antioxidants and vitamin C. So when they're in season, I recommend stocking up while they're cheap. They freeze well (or just buy them frozen) and will store for up to nine months.

Fresh cranberries are too tart for most people to handle. But you can easily sweeten them with agave and eat them right out of the bowl or in a smoothie. However, I think that that's really limiting their potential. The unique flavor of whole cranberries makes most recipes better.

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A Cranberry Recipe

I love most recipes with cranberry in them. But perhaps my favorite is cranberry relish. Simply toss cranberries, apples, oranges, pecans and a little agave in a food processor. Hit puree and then spread the relish on biscuits, English muffins, zucchini bread or scones.

If you're too busy to even puree, just pop a few cranberries on top of your salad, dessert or breakfast cereal. Whatever you do, keep them raw. Cooking them degrades their healthy properties.


Cranberries are delicious, nutritious and they can help banish your UTIs for good. But before you embark on this home treatment, consult your primary care physician. Your UTI may have another cause that does not involve E. coli at all. And if you're sensitive to the fruit, excess cranberry ingestion can cause gastrointestinal discomfort or diarrhea.

A Few Tips

If you find that cranberry is not an option for your personal treatment, I have a few tips for preventing UTIs from rearing their ugly heads.

• Take 500mg of vitamin C daily. The increased acidity in your urine will help kill off the bacteria in your urinary tract.
• Drink 8, 8-oz. glasses of water a day to help flush bacteria from your urinary tract. 
• Always wipe from front to back to prevent E. coli from entering your urinary tract.
• Avoid feminine hygiene sprays. They can irritate the urethra and lead to a UTI.
• Wear underwear with a cotton crotch. Cotton breaths and frees moisture that would otherwise foster bacteria growth. 
• Wash your genital area both before and after sexual intercourse to help prevent transferring bacteria to your urinary tract.