Cranberries have medicinal properties, which when used as a supplement helps to keep your urinary tract free of bacteria, thus preventing urinary tract infections. Find out more about how cranberry extract can affect your health positively…
What Is Cranberry Extract?
Closely resembling the blueberry, cranberries are tart red berries that are eaten, made into decorations, and also used medicinally. In the U.S., cranberries are cultivated primarily in two states: Washington and Massachusetts, which is actually the home of Ocean Spray brand Cranberry juice. The medicinal properties of cranberries can be obtained both from the whole fruit and from cranberry extracts.
How Does Cranberry Extract Work?
Cranberry juice is mighty tasty, and when used as a trimming for the Thanksgiving turkey, it definitely lends a certain level of holiday cheer to the plate. But it’s not just regarded as fruit anymore. Cranberry actually has the ability to stop a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) dead in its tracks, which is great news to the nearly one-third of women who will experience this type of bacterial infection at least once in their lives.
First discovered in the 1920’s, eating cranberries actually makes the urine more acidic, converting the usual uric acid form of urine into Hippuric acid, a stronger acid. This form of acid was found to have a strong antibacterial effect on the urinary tract. The strong acid makes an inhospitable environment for bacteria by not allowing bacteria to stick to the walls of the urinary tract. Bacteria need a foothold to be able to replicate and when they do not find one, they are simply flushed out of the body.
Using cranberry also has another great effect on the urine: it acts as a deodorizer. This may be very helpful to those who suffer from incontinence, which can result in strong, odorous, and sometimes embarrassing urine. Also, cranberry is a good source of vitamin C.
How Can I Make The Most Out Of Cranberry Extract?
Cranberry can be useful for both the prevention and treatment of UTIs, either in supplement or juice form. However, it is important to note that persistent UTIs should be treated immediately with antibiotics and monitored by a physician. There is no RDA for cranberry extract, as it is not an essential nutrient. Doses usually range from 400-800 mg/day or 8-16 fluid ounces of juice per day.
Cranberry Extract and Dogs
The administering a botanical vaccinium macrocarpon (cranberry extract), in tablet form has been known to attain the necessary acid pH to dissolve and prevent the formation of magnesium ammonium phosphate crystals and bladder stones. Your Animal's Health Vol 4 Wendell O. Belfield DVM.
Cranberry Extract has proven to be the "magic bullet" needed to treat, prevent, and control the formation of struvite crystals in cats and bladder stones in dogs. This product is toxic free and will dissolve struvite crystals sometimes in a few hours.
Cranberry contains - among other things - the sugar substance D-mannose which has the special ability of being able to prevent harmful bacteria from sticking to the walls of the mucosal wall without harming the friendly-minded bacteria. They also contain the substance arbutin which is effective against certain bacteria and fungi, among others the Candida fungus.
Cranberry prevents E. coli, the most common cause of UTIs and recurrent UTIs, from adhering to the cells lining the wall of the bladder. Cranberry's antiadherence action renders the bacteria harmless in the urinary tract. Cranberry has been shown to reduce bacteria levels in the urinary bladders of older women, which may help to prevent future infections. Cranberry can help people with urostomies and enterocystoplasties to keep them clear of mucus build-up.
Directions for Dogs:
Give 100 mg daily per 25 lbs of body weight. For dogs less than 15 lbs, give 50mg daily. If giving more than 100mg daily, divide amount between AM & PM.
This product is not recommended for continual use. Take the recommended amount for 7-14 days or until results occur.
