If you’ve ever experienced the pain of a UTI, it makes sense why some people would do pretty much anything to avoid them. Symptoms like burning, frequent urination, and even fever can leave patients scrambling for solutions, and while good hygiene may help you prevent a UTI, even this can only take you so far. Still, there’s one remedy that seems to have withstood the test of time: cranberry juice. You may have already heard these berries touted as the ultimate cure-all – but will cranberry juice actually help a UTI? Or is this just an odd piece of medical misinformation we need to retire?
While the cranberry rumor certainly offers some hope, chugging a glass of cranberry juice may not be the most effective way to treat a UTI. To find out more, we spoke to ob-gyns about what cranberry juice can and can’t do in terms of pain relief and UTI prevention. Read on to see if cranberry juice can help a UTI, and what other remedies might work better.
Experts Featured in This Article:
Erica Cahill, MD, is an ob-gyn, family planning specialist, and clinical associate professor of obstetrics & gynecology at Stanford University School of Medicine.
Renita F. White, MD, is a board-certified ob-gyn, women’s health advocate, and medical advisor for The Honey Pot Company.
Jenn Conti, MD, MS, MSc, is a board-certified ob-gyn, recognized medical journalist, and an affiliated clinical assistant professor at Stanford University School of Medicine.
Will Cranberry Juice Help a UTI?
Good news for cranberry juice drinkers – experts say there really are some UTI-related benefits – at least in terms of prevention. “Two ingredients in cranberries – fructose and A-type proanthocyanidins (PAC) – can help to prevent UTIs by either selecting against more adhesive strains in the urine or by directly preventing bacteria (and E. coli in particular) from adhering to the bladder wall,” says Renita F. White, MD. “Evidence has shown that cranberries, in the form of juice or concentrate tables, can reduce the risk of recurrent UTIs in low-risk populations of people with a vagina.” However, the same has not been proven in elderly or pregnant people.
“It’s also important to note that cranberry juice does not treat a UTI. It can be used for prevention. The treatment is the use of an antibiotic,” Dr. White says. While it might not hurt to drink cranberry juice while you have a UTI, research isn’t strong enough to suggest it serves as a treatment. “There are some studies evaluating this, and none have shown that cranberry juice actually works [to treat UTIs],” says Erica Cahill, MD. That said, the risks to using cranberry juice are minimal, although Dr. White notes you could potentially experience gastrointestinal side effects like heartburn. If accessible, consult with your healthcare provider for the best personalized medical advice.
What About Cranberry Pills?
Cranberry tablets are supplements made from dried, powdered cranberries (although some brands also contain additional vitamins or probiotics). According to Dr. White, these work very similarly to cranberry juice. “Both cranberry juice and cranberry pills have been shown to be beneficial in preventing UTIs in some people,” she says. “There is not enough data to suggest that juice is better than pills. However, antibiotics are superior in treatment to both.”
Other UTI Treatments
One of the best ways to treat a UTI is even simpler than cranberry juice: drink more water. According to Jenn Conti, MD, in a study of 140 women with recurrent UTIs, drinking an extra 1.5 liters of water every day resulted in fewer UTIs. “For more effective at-home treatment of UTIs, staying well-hydrated, urinating frequently, and avoiding holding in urine is recommended,” Dr. White adds. So if you’re worried about these pesky, painful infections, opt for cranberry juice, and maybe an extra bottle of water while you’re at it.
– Additional reporting by Chandler Plante
Maggie Ryan was an assistant editor at PS. A longtime runner and athlete, Maggie has nearly four years of experience covering topics in the wellness space, specializing in fitness, sports, nutrition, and mental health.
Chandler Plante is an assistant editor for PS Health & Fitness. Previously, she worked as an editorial assistant for People magazine and contributed to Ladygunn, Millie, and Bustle Digital Group. In her free time, she overshares on the internet, creating content about chronic illness, beauty, and disability.
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