No, Cranberry Juice Won’t Cure Your UTI

Medicine has advanced by leaps and bounds in the past century alone. The development of antibiotics, vaccines, the understanding of germ theory, advances in surgery, and other breakthroughs have lowered global fatalities. 

However, millions of people still find themselves leery of medications, caused by concerns about side effects, not understanding the drugs, fears of dependence, and general medical mistrust, despite the benefits medication offers. This is one of many reasons home remedies are a frequent solution for many people. 

While some homeopathic solutions, such as ginger, turmeric, magnesium, and eucalyptus, have shown effectiveness, cranberry juice is a popular choice for treating urinary tract infections. While you may enjoy the taste of this popular drink, and it does have some benefits, it shouldn’t be relied on for treating UTIs. 

If you’re looking for solutions to treat your UTI and live in the Chicago, Illinois, area, our medical team at Michigan Avenue Primary Care has the tools and expertise to help you get better. Let’s review why people rely on cranberry juice to treat UTIs and what research reveals about its use.

Why people think cranberry juice works

This juice and the supplements made from it are a go-to solution for managing UTIs because they contain compounds that have some medical benefits, namely phenolic acids and flavonoids. 

These two chemicals help reduce inflammation, support your gut bacteria, and decrease the number of harmful bacteria in your bladder and gastrointestinal tract. So, the idea of drinking cranberry juice to help a UTI isn’t entirely without merit, but how well does it work on its own?

The facts about the effectiveness of cranberry juice

The main sticking point in advising people to use this miracle drink lies in the data, and research shows very mixed results in what it does to help. 

According to the information in these studies, the significant issues lie in the amounts of the active ingredients in cranberry juice drinks and supplements. This means that the results are too varied, as different products contain inconsistent ingredient amounts, leading to both positive and negative results.

Results may also vary due to the difference between trying to prevent a UTI versus treating an active infection. Although studies show some advantages to using cranberry juice as a preventive measure (240–300 mL daily), the lack of consistent active ingredients makes it less effective for eliminating a UTI once it’s developed.

Other home remedies to help

When you're at home, the best solutions for preventing and treating UTIs are even more basic than cranberry juice. Hydration is always an excellent solution for maintaining your body's health, and with UTIs, it’s a basic choice to flush your urinary system of harmful bacteria. 

Urinating after sex helps prevent infection, as does wiping from front to back after using the bathroom and avoiding holding in your pee, keeping bacteria from accumulating.

If you enjoy cranberry juice, by all means, drink it, take in the flavor, and even enjoy some health benefits. But for treating UTIs, make an appointment with us instead. Call our office or schedule an appointment online with our team at Michigan Avenue Primary Care today.