Cranberry juice is considered a health supplement preventing urinary tract infections (UTI). KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) and National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) share the health benefits of cranberries and cranberry juice.
The health benefits of cranberries and cranberry juice
Some women are more prone to urinary tract infections (UTI) during their periods, so they take cranberry juice to prevent the infection during this time.
"Cranberries may work by preventing the adhesion of bacteria, most commonly the E. coli bacteria, to the wall of the urinary bladder," says Ms Ang Bixia, Senior Dietitian,
Department of Nutrition & Dietetics at
KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), a member of the
SingHealth group.
However,
cranberries (particularly in the form of cranberry juice) are considered more of an alternative medicine or health supplement for this ailment.
Can cranberry juice prevent urinary tract infections in women?
Cranberry juice has traditionally been used for the treatment and prevention of urinary tract infections (UTI), and there is some research to support its use in the prevention of these infections. Studies have also suggested that regular drinking of cranberry juice may have a protective effect against UTI in pregnancy.
However, to date there is no evidence that consuming cranberry juice has a beneficial effect for women having their period. A moderate amount of cranberry juice has no known harmful effect, but an excessive intake may have a laxative effect.
What role do cranberries play in the battle against cancer?
Cranberries are rich in phytochemicals such as flavonoids, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins and phenolic acids. In experiments on colon oesophageal and breast cancer cells grown in the laboratory, cranberry extracts have been found to slow cancer cell growth. A study reported that the addition of cranberry extract to standard chemotherapy increased the effectiveness of the chemotherapy several fold, when used in the treatment of ovarian cancer cells grown in the laboratory.
Although these reports are interesting and point to a possible role of cranberries in cancer treatment, there is still a long way to go before we say that cranberries have any anti-cancer benefit, and active research is ongoing to further address these questions.
The exact compound in cranberries that is responsible for any anti-cancer benefit needs to be identified. In addition, more studies would be required, first, in laboratory animals, to test the effect of cranberries on the development and/or treatment of cancer, and to determine the optimum dose to be used.
"If proven safe, studies can then be conducted on humans to evaluate the safety, effectiveness and role of cranberries. Only after these studies can we reach a conclusion on their true anti-cancer properties in humans," says
Clincal Assistant Professor Ang Mei-Kim, Senior Consultant,
Department of Medical Oncology at National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS), a member of the
SingHealth group.
Estimated nutrient content of cranberries (raw)
Serving size: 110g
Energy: 51 kcal
Carbohydrate: 13g
Dietary fiber: 5g
Protein: 0g
Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 2mg
Ref: W09
Check out other food and nutrition articles:
Best Foods for Periods/Menstual Cramps
Health Benefits of Papaya
Health Benefits of Coconut
Health Benefits of Spinach
Health Benefits of Pumpkin
Dried Fruits: Nutritional Benefits
Tea, Is It Healthier Than Coffee?
5 Super Foods for Beautiful Skin
Easy Tips to Eat Healthy
