In a previous entry I wrote about a year ago, we’ve already learned how cranberry juice prevents urinary tract infections:
A specific type of tannin found only in cranberries and blueberries interacts with the little projections on the Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria (the most common cause of UTI), preventing them from sticking to the walls of the bladder and causing infection.
A new study published in the journal Colloids and Surfaces: B looks into the effect of cranberry juice on the bugs in the urinary tract in closer detail. Apparently, cranberry juice changes the thermodynamic properties of bacteria in the urinary …read more

Around this time last year, I recommended using cranberry sauce for your Thanksgiving turkey. I don’t want to repeat myself, but really, time and again cranberries have been demonstrated to help fight bacterial infections, protecting you from illnesses such as bladder and kidney infections, gastroenteritis and tooth decay.
Want to know how? Scientists have employed sophisticated methods and tools such as the atomic force microscope to probe into it and have found that the compounds prevent the bacteria E. coli from adhering to cells in the body (a necessary first step in infections) in several ways.
Read more details here.

Cranberry juice can help fight bladder infections and other bacterial infections. Yes, I know I’ve sung that tune before. But there’s still the question of how.
A new study presented by researchers from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) during the the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society in San Francisco last week suggests that a group of tannins called proanthocyanidins found primarily in cranberries may affect potentially pathogenic bacteria in three ways:

They change the shape of the bacteria from rods to spheres.
They alter their cell membranes.
They make it difficult for bacteria to make contact with cells, or from latching …read more

I first got to know the medicinal properties of this fruit (juice) just recently because a friend of mine drinks this to prevent bladder and urinary tract infections. And yes, there is a sound scientific basis to this.
A specific type of tannin found only in cranberries and blueberries interacts with the little projections on the Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria (the most common cause of UTI), preventing them from sticking to the walls of the bladder and causing infection.
If you’re up for more scientific reading, read the report from the American Academy of Family Physicians.
How much are you supposed …read more