Cranberry is a dietary supplement to support urinary
tract functions.
Cranberry contains Malic, Citric and Quinic Acids which are
the active ingredients that acidify the urine and keep unwanted
material from adhering to the cells that line the bladder wall.
These acids also act as antiseptics to promote thorough cleansing
of the urinary tract.
About Urinary Tract Infections (UTI’s)
• Eighty percent of all women will experience a UTI in their
lifetime and approximately 20% of women will have one each
year. In the US alone, 9.6 million doctor visits per year are attributed
to UTIs and they are the second leading cause of lost
work days for women.
• UTI’s also occur in men and may be a sign of serious underlying
conditions such as problems with the prostate gland.
Many conditions affecting the kidneys, bladder, or urethra
are described as urinary tract infections, and most UTI’s are
concentrated in the bladder and urethra.
• An infection can develop when bacteria enter the urethra
(the tube that carries urine out of the body) and travel up into
the bladder. Over 90% of UTI’s are caused by the bacteria
Escherichia coli (E. Coli), which is present in the colon and
rectal area.
Factors that increase UTI possibility are:
• Pregnancy- because the growing baby presses on the
bladder which may prevent it from completelyemptying.
• Sexual Activity- because bacteria can be pushed from the
rectal area toward the vagina and can then enter the urethra
and ascend into the bladder.
• Use of a diaphragm- if not fitted properly can cause pressure
on the bladder and increase the change for infection.
• Menopause- because the decline in estrogen levels leads to
thinning of the urinary tract, making it easier for bacteria to
break through.
• Incontinence- because the bladder does not completely
empty which increases the susceptibility to infection.
• Structural abnormality- because it can restrict the free flow
of urine.
• Suppressed immune system- because it effects the body’s
ability to fight off infection.
• Enlarged prostrate- because it puts pressure on the urethra
and the bladder opening preventing complete emptying of the
bladder and may result in infection.
