Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are unpleasant
They can be an irritating and painful recurring problem. For
most people, UTIs are caused by E. coli; though we all have E.
Coli naturally in our digestive tracts, it shouldn't be found in
our urinary tracts. If certain types of E. coli find their way
into the bladder, where there is normally a sterile environment,
the bacteria can bring on an infection.
Symptoms of a urinary tract infection include dysuria (pain on
passing urine), frequency (of passing urine) and hematuria (blood
in the urine). Other helpful signs include cloudy or smelly urine.
A urine dipstick test is often useful in the diagnosis.
Common Urinary Tract Treatments
The most common treatments for UTIs are either a course of antibiotics
and/or for the patient to drink blueberry or cranberry juice. Antibiotics
can work, but there is a 25% recurrence rate of infection with
this treatment; also, overuse of antibiotics can render the body
immune to that particular drug, which may be needed to fight off
some other, more serious infection down the road. The juice option
is OK, too, but most juices contain fructose, a simple sugar that
can threaten colon health.
Bulk up with Blueberries
Another option that has been getting more and more coverage is
to consume some form of blueberry or blueberry extract. Blueberries,
like cranberries, are a source of all kinds of nutrients that are
derived from their skin, which is full of pigments that release
a powerful dye called anthocyanin. To avoid the excess sugar associated
with cranberry juice, naturally sweetened blueberries are a choice
that is a lot more palatable to most people.
Blueberries contain certain substances and compounds that are
able to stop bacteria from attaching to the lining of the bladder;
this enables the bladder to "flush out" the bad bacteria
when urine is expelled. These substances include tannin-like compounds
that are called proanthocyanidins. Plus, blueberries in all their
forms are excellent sources of nutrition, and have been proven
to be help lower high blood pressure and high cholesterol, improve
eyesight and short-term memory, decreasing your risk of cancer,
fighting against neurological conditions, and preventing infection
and enhancing your immune system.
With all that to offer, plus the fact that they taste a whole
lot better than unsweetened cranberries or cranberry juice, blueberries
have a lot more to offer than just being a tasty pie filling.
Blueberry Supplements
While its great to incorporate fresh fruits into our diets, often
they are unavailable, inconvenient to purchase, or we simply don't
have the time to properly prepare them.
Sure, you can throw a handful of blueberries onto your cereal
in the morning, but the best way to grab a hold of everything the
blueberry has to offer is with the convenience of an extract.
Blueberry juice is another alternative, but often comes heavily
sweetened, creating another problem in itself.
A popular and convienient way of guaranteeing that you get the
right amount of blueberries daily is by taking a supplement. Fresh
blueberries can be very expensive, and sometimes difficult to find,
but with a concentrated blueberry extract, you can easily utilize
the nutritional benefits of the blueberry.
Also, by taking advantage of blueberry supplements, you avoid
the hassle of choosing the "best" berries at the supermarket,
or of having to mix up messy powders.
Blueberry and UTI References
- Joseph,
J.A., Shukitt-Hale B., Denisova, N.A. Bielinksi D., Martin,
A., McEwen, J.J., & Bickford, P.C., 1999. Reversals
of age-related declines in neuronal signal transduction, cognitive,
and motor behavioral deficits with blueberry, spinach, or strawberry
dietary supplementation. Journal of Neuroscience 19 (18): 8114-8121.
- New England Journal of Medicine, Rutgers researchers
identify the specific compounds in blueberries and cranberries
that promote urinary tract health.
- Department
of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University
of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign December 7, 2004 -- Recently
published research findings concluded that specific compounds
in Wild Blueberries called proanthocyanidins or condensed tannins
may be effective inhibitors the promotion stage of cancer (Source:
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 52:6433-6442, 2004.)
Blueberry Facts and News
Why all the hype about blueberries? Here we hope to unravel the
myths and fact about blueberries and help you decide whether taking
blueberry supplements are right for you.
Blueberry
facts and news articles
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