What does drinking cranberry juice do for your urinary system?

1 Answer
Dec 31, 2016

Quick answer: Probably not much.

Explanation:

Most urinary tract infections (UTIs) are caused by bacteria invading and sticking to the urinary tract.

Cranberry juice contains compounds called proanthocyanidins (PACs) that prevent bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract.

There is conflicting evidence on the effectiveness of cranberry juice in treating UTIs.

However, most specialists agree that cranberry juice doesn't contain enough PACs to be effective.

You would have to drink so much cranberry juice that the cost and the added calories might cause even the most dedicated individual to quit.

Bottom line: Drinking cranberry juice might be worth trying if you have recurring UTIs, because the risk in doing so is quite low.