Whilst they are most commonly known in Australia for their antimicrobial properties, cranberries are also a good source of antioxidants. Cranberry has been shown to help discourage the bacteria that can cause infection, such as E. coli, from adhering to the lining in the bladder or on the wall of the urinary tract.
Cranberries have long been used in North America by the indigenous populations as a source of food and as a medicine. A small, red and very tart berry, it is often made more palatable as a drink by mixing with other juices or adding sugar.
Recommended amounts of Cranberry juice to reduce the frequency of recurrent UTI’s vary from 300 ml to up to 8 cups a day, more than most people would prefer to consume. Henry Blooms has created Cranberry 35,000 Plus in vege capsule form in a simple one a day formulation so you get the benefits of the properties of the cranberry without having to consume the high levels of natural sugar (fructose) in the fruit, or the added sweeteners in some cranberry drinks.
Whilst men may also contract UTI’s it is far more common in women, due to the shorter length of the female urethra. As many as 30% of women may contract a UTI at some time in their life.
There are many types of Urinary Tract Infections (UTI’s), the most common being lower UTI’s such as cystitis or infection in the bladder. These may be characterised by a burning sensation on urinating, frequent but small amounts of urinating, discoloured and strong-smelling urine. In severe cases sufferers may also experience fever and abdominal pain.
