Drinking cranberry juice has long been a popular way to prevent and combat urinary tract infections. Now, science is backing up claims made on behalf of this tonic.
Those who regularly drink cranberry juice are 54% less likely to get a UTI, according to researchers at the University of Oxford, Bond University and the University of Helsinki.
The researchers analyzed 20 prior studies of multiple UTI interventions that involved nearly 3,100 participants worldwide. They also found that drinking cranberry juice can reduce the need to take antibiotics by 59% and provide relief from symptoms in those who already have a UTI.
Cranberries are thought to contain compounds that can stop bacteria from adhering to the walls of the urinary tract. That helps lower the risk of infection.
In a summary of the researchers’ findings, lead researcher Christian Moro, associate professor of biomedical sciences and medicine at Bond University in Australia, says:
“More than half of women experience UTIs, and antibiotics are a go-to treatment prescribed by doctors. With antibiotic resistance increasing, it is vital to identify effective non-drug interventions.”
Simply consuming more water can help prevent UTIs, as can taking cranberry tablets. But neither of these remedies were as effective as pairing cranberry with fluids, as you get in juice, the researchers noted.
For more about foods that can boost your health, check out “7 Foods That Are Good for Your Cholesterol.”
