Cranberries Further Health Benefits

In the previous article, we discussed how the cranberries helped prevent Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). We also discussed the mechanism that enabled cranberries to prevent UTI. In this article, we will discuss the other important health benefits that cranberries offer us. Before that, we will take a look at some data just to be able to properly comprehend the effectiveness of cranberries in controlling UTI and other related infections of the same kind.

Cranberries and UTI –Some Facts and Figures

The following figures illustrate the effectiveness of cranberries in preventing UTI. The figures here are the outcome of a study conducted at Harvard University and published in the Journal of American Medical Association. The results of the study were stupendous, in terms of the degree of effectiveness that cranberries had in controlling UTI and other related urinary infections.

The study showed that in the case of women that drank cranberry juice daily, the risk of contracting UTI or any other urinary bladder infection plunged by more than 40%, 42% to be precise. The study also detailed how cranberries help prevent UTI, the mechanism of which we have discussed in the article titled The Wonderful World of Cranberries II. Drinking cranberry juice basically helps flush out the bacteria along with the urine of the person.

In another study conducted to determine the effectiveness of cranberry juice in preventing urinary infections, 44 women and 16 men were asked to drink daily an amount of 16oz of cranberry juice. This test group comprised of people that were suffering from UTI. The number of women chosen is more because usually, more women suffer from UTI than men. In this test, the cranberry juice created a positive impact on almost 75% of the test group members (73%, to be precise).

Cranberries and Oral Gum Disease

As much as general body health and hygiene is important to our daily life, so is the need to maintain proper dental hygiene as well.Cranberries have also been found to be effective in preventing diseases of the oral cavity. Cranberries help to prevent both gum as well as teeth disease. Studies conducted at the University of Rochester showed that cranberry juice basically prevented gum/teeth disease by not allowing bacteria of the strain Streptococcus mutans from getting stuck to a person’s teeth. The mechanism for this is mostly the same as the one that helps prevent UTI and other such urinary infections.

The study conducted by Dr. Hyun Koo at the University of Rochester was a very interesting one. In it, a solution that consisted of 25% of cranberry juice was poured onto an artificial tooth surface. The solution prevented the bacteria from sticking to the surface and growing on it. The percentages were amazingly high – between 67 and 85 percent.

As a result of this study, now you can find in the market dental care products that boast of the presence of cranberries as one of the essential nutrients. Some of them even claim to have cranberries as the base product from which the toothpaste is derived.

Cranberries and Heart Disease >>