Superfoods: Cranberries- the Superfood to Stave Off Bladder Infections

Posted: Jul 27, 2008 | Comments: 0 | Views: 53 | Bookmark and Share


Cranberries may help to fight off urinary tract infections (UTIs). They reduce the power of certain E. coli bacteria to adhere to and penetrate the walls of the bladder.

In about half the cases of UTIs, the E. coli responsible have special little hairy tips called P fimbria. The bacteria use their fimbria to attach themselves to the bladder so that they can multiply and cause an infection. That's where cranberries--which contain a group of chemicals called proanthocyanidins---come in. They bind to the P fimbria of the E. coli and hinder them so they are unable to sticking to the walls of the bladder.  As a result, the E. coli is flushed out in the urine instead of causing an infection. And because cranberries remove rather than kill the bacteria, there’s less of a chance for the E. coli to become resistant.

It’s imperative that those who are prone to UTIs eat cranberries or drink cranberry juice on a daily basis, because once the bacteria are able to adhere to the wall, the infection sets in, and the cranberries can’t help at that point. 

It’s probably best to use cranberry products twice a day if you are prone, as the effects of the cranberries wear off after about 10 hours.


You should also be diligent about drinking lots of fluids in order to flush the bladder out on a regular basis.  Citrus fruits and fresh vegetables high in vitamin C are also good, as they help boost the body’s immunity and germ-fighting abilities.  Coffee, tea and other caffeinated beverages should be avoided, as well as alcohol. 

Be sure to complement your diet with plenty of foods rich in vitamin B, such as fortified cereals, lean proteins, asparagus, almonds and bananas, as they all assist the body in the digestive process and converting food to energy, which your body will need if it’s working to fend off a UTI.

(ArticlesBase SC #498858)

Rate this Article
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 0 vote(s)
    Feedback
    RSS
    Print
    Email
    Re-Publish

    Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/superfoods-cranberries-the-superfood-to-stave-off-bladder-infections-498858.html

    Article Tags:

    Food

    Cranberry Juice and Your Health

    Does drinking cranberry juice contribute to your health and to reducing the onset of urinal tract infections? Find out more in this video. (00:32)

    What is a Bladder Infection

    A bladder infection, or cystitis, is an inflammation of the bladder. OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson explains what happens when you have a bladder infection. (01:11)

    The Sponge and Bladder Infections

    Find out whether the sponge contraceptive contributes to the occurrence of bladder infections. (00:26)

    How to Deal With UTI Urinary Tract Infections

    Learn about UTI Urinary Tract Infections from Steve Friedman MD Ped Urol DrMDK.com (01:31)

    What is Hemorrhagic Cystitis

    Sasha Wainstein MD FACS Urology Explains Hemorrhagic Cystitis (00:56)

    Food in the 1600’s

    By: Food Web l Food and Beverage > Cooking Tips l Dec 11, 2008 l Views: 1,974

    What is the food web of the grey wolf

    By: Food Web l Food and Beverage l Dec 11, 2008 l Views: 1,565

    Get ready to experience a volume of information of the healthiest foods in the world. Here is a list of the top ten super foods that most health experts agree on.

    By: Vitanet® Health Foods l Health > Nutrition l May 03, 2006 l Views: 1,717

    Pet food slogans such as organic, human grade, holistic and natural may increase sales, but miss the point. If pet health is the objective, a totally new approach is needed.

    By: Dr. Randy Wysong l Home and Family > Pets l Jul 05, 2007 l Views: 156

    Introduction Your dog's health and wellbeing is important to you and your family. Not to mention keeping down the cost of veterinarian bills! So you need to carefully consider the food that you give your dog.

    By: David Amos l Automotive l Jul 11, 2006 l Views: 176

    Food Service: The Mover Of The Culinary Arts The Food Service Of The Present Age There are a few restaurants nowadays that can really sweep you off your feet from merely displaying their exquisite style in food serving. Years ago, food serving was an art that was practiced like a ritual. This is because, for one, people were so deeply religious that even the preparation of the food was a cause of celebration and joy.

    By: Josh Stone l Careers l Sep 13, 2006 l Views: 611

    Whether you have a career in food preparation, entertain privately, or just cook for your family, food handling has some science to it that you should know.

    By: Josh Stone l Careers l Nov 06, 2006 l Views: 243

    Although raw foods have many nutritional merits for pets, they are not without their dangers. Questionable suppliers, formulations, ingredients and the danger of food-borne pathogens must be considered.

    By: Dr. Randy Wysong l Home and Family > Pets l Jul 05, 2007 l Views: 75

    If you think that eating healthy means strict nutrition and staying stick-thin, then you are not only dead wrong, you are also depriving yourself of the many luscious, great-tasting foods on earth that make life worth-living. Eating healthy is enjoying food, filling your tummy to satisfaction, and still staying in good shape.

    By: Sean Jordan l Health > Wellness l Feb 10, 2010
    Sanjana Sharma

    Today everyone is obsessed with being healthy and fit. Personal training is one of the aspects of health industry that has seen a significant growth in the past few years.

    By: Sanjana Sharma l Health > Wellness l Feb 10, 2010 l Views: 2

    The hope for cure for Alzheimer's has been ongoing for decades but recent discoveries, understanding and technologies in stem cell research may offer researchers a step in the right direction.

    By: Shumaela l Health > Wellness l Feb 10, 2010

    Do you know that 60 million Americans spend 40 billion dollars on bodybuilding supplements, vitamins, herbs, and alternative remedies? Let's face it, when it comes to results, most bodybuilders, fitness buffs, and weight loss enthusiasts are rather impatient and want instant success.Bodybuilding supplements are widely used to increase muscle mass, reduce recovery time after an intense workout, and to make workouts more beneficial. However,

    By: john l Health > Wellness l Feb 10, 2010

    Here different typical symptoms of painkiller addiction are given in order to determinate it at its first stage. Be conscious enough to call for a treatment at the drug rehab centers.

    By: Joseph Warner l Health > Wellness l Feb 10, 2010

    As soon as people experience a problem with their bowel movements they want to know how to get rid of constipation. The symptoms we are talking about are a bloated and upset stomach, indigestion and sometimes pain in the large intestines.

    By: Chrysten Priaulx l Health > Wellness l Feb 09, 2010

    Don't buy Clear Body Cleanse until you read this first. Colon cleanses are great for your body. They flush out harmful toxins that can cause fatigue, weight gain, fluid retention and many other things that keep you from feeling your best.

    By: mdiles l Health > Wellness l Feb 09, 2010 l Views: 1

    If I was to tell you that you are committing suicide as we speak what would be your response? You would probably tell me I'm “out to lunch” or something along those lines. If you take a hard look at you the foods you are consuming on a daily basis and they are loaded with cholesterol – then you are committing suicide!

    By: Don Beres l Health > Wellness l Feb 09, 2010
    Nicholas Tan

    It’s not an easy job to selling a house. It’s a process. You just don’t publish your house, meet a buyer, negotiate and sell it, but there is a checklist to sell your house. The home selling checklists include some procedures you must do in the correlation of home selling.

    By: Nicholas Tan l Finance > Real Estate l Jun 21, 2009 l Views: 255
    Nicholas Tan

    What do buyers need when they plan to buy a home? In fact, there are so many aspects one needs to consider. In the seller's point of view, you should follow some home selling advice. Here are some advices for your success of selling home:

    By: Nicholas Tan l Finance > Real Estate l Jun 21, 2009 l Views: 57
    Nicholas Tan

    Someone you know is selling a home? Had successful experience in doing so before? For someone who’s never done it, home selling can be frustrating. If you think you can help selling a home, it usually means you’ve had enough satisfaction doing it before, and is willing to do it again. Good for you (and for the confused homeowners).

    By: Nicholas Tan l Finance > Real Estate l Jun 21, 2009 l Views: 69
    Nicholas Tan

    How can a buyer get interest for purchasing your house? Impression is the keyword. You just need to get your house ready to sell by doing some preparation. Get inspected by a professional if you want to pay a little effort for maximum results, or if you don’t want to spend much money by paying professional you can do by yourself for getting your house ready to sell.

    By: Nicholas Tan l Finance > Real Estate l Jun 21, 2009 l Views: 127
    Nicholas Tan

    At this very moment, home is not just a place to live or a shelter from a harsh weather. Home also reflects the personality of the people living there. Nevertheless, home is now become an investment that a person can have. Lots of people invest their money in the form of their own home. And they invest a huge amount of money in it.

    By: Nicholas Tan l Finance > Real Estate l Jun 21, 2009 l Views: 45
    Nicholas Tan

    Now that you’re pregnant, you’re wondering if your decision to become vegetarian can still be carried out successfully during your pregnancy.

    By: Nicholas Tan l Health > Nutrition l May 10, 2009 l Views: 252
    Nicholas Tan

    Many people think if they just eliminate red meat and poultry from their diets, their eating healthier. This is partly true, but there are hazards to eating fish and seafood as well. The harm that humans have done to the environment has had a direct effect on the fish and seafood we eat.

    By: Nicholas Tan l Health > Nutrition l May 10, 2009 l Views: 393
    Nicholas Tan

    When people talk about detoxification and cleansing the body of harmful toxins, it’s often seen as a fringe element of vegetarians. People really don’t like to think about harmful toxins building up in their colons or in their arteries, but it’s often a by-product of a carnivorous diet. A diet that’s high in fat and processed foods tends to slow down our digestive systems, and our elimination processes are also interrupted.

    By: Nicholas Tan l Health > Nutrition l May 10, 2009 l Views: 131

    Add new Comment

     
    * Required fields
    Author Box
    Articles Categories
    All Categories
    1