Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon)

What is Cranberry?

Cranberries grow throughout the cooler, temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere and are used in cooking for their tangy, acidic flavour. They're also among the most extensively studied fruits, particularly in relation to the urinary tract.

What does the research say about Cranberry?

Cranberries rank highly among fruits for their phenolic antioxidant content, including flavonol polyphenols. These compounds have antioxidant activity, meaning they can neutralise 'free radicals', which are unstable molecules. Cranberry has also been studied in relation to the bladder.

Cranberries are one of the richest food sources of proanthocyanidins. One type, A-type proanthocyanidins, has been studied for how it affects the ability of E. coli bacteria to stick to the cells lining the urinary tract, a property known as anti-adhesion activity. Clinical studies have looked at cranberry juice and cranberry products in children and in adults, including longer-term studies.

Drinking lots more cranberry juice isn't the same as taking an extract. In many juices, the proanthocyanidins are lost in production, and many are also packed with sugar to balance out the tart, tangy taste.

You may also enjoy reading 'What is Bacterial Vaginosis?', 'What you need to know about UTIs' and 'Vaginal Microbiome: How your gut and vagina are linked'.