Cranberry can help stave off infection

Like its cousin the blueberry, the cranberry is one of the best food sources of antioxidants. Early New Englanders relied on the ripe red berries to treat gastrointestinal conditions and prevent scurvy, a condition caused by lack of vitamin C. The cranberry’s ability to stave off bacterial infections was confirmed by German scientists in the 19th century. Today, a growing body of research supports the berries’ ability to keep urinary tract infections and heart disease at bay.

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Uses: Cranberries and cranberry-based products are used to prevent and treat urinary tract infections, digestive conditions, kidney stones and sometimes heart attacks, clogged arteries and stroke.

Dose: Cranberry supplements come in juice, pill and powder form. Take two cups of 100% cranberry juice per day or up to 300 milligrams in pill form twice a day. You can also consume at least half a cup of ripe berries or a tablespoon of dried ones daily.

Precautions: Cranberries and cranberry supplements are considered safe and side-effect free, though drinking several liters of cranberry juice in a single day can cause upset stomach. Also, although cranberry products can help prevent infections in adults, they can’t be relied on to cure them -- so people with active urinary tract infections are advised to see a doctor.

Research: A significant amount of evidence shows that cranberry products can prevent urinary tract infections in women when taken daily, but ongoing clinical trials will help determine the proper dose and whether cranberry is effective in both juice and tablet form. More studies are needed to confirm whether cranberry is effective in preventing similar infections in children. Animal and lab research shows that compounds in cranberries keep the bacterium E. coli from attaching to the bladder wall and help clear some common viruses from the intestines. Animal research also shows that cranberry can cut down on skin cancer rates and relax and open blood vessels, suggesting that it may one day prove to be helpful in preventing heart attacks and strokes in humans.

-- Elena Conis

Dietary supplement makers are not required by the U.S. government to demonstrate that their products are safe or effective. Ask your healthcare provider for advice on selecting a brand.