Cranberry extract pills help prevent UTI by preventing the e.coli bacteria from sticking to the walls of the bladder. Regular use of cranberry pills can help prevent recurrent urinary tract infections, and in some cases, can even heal an existing uti. There are many good brands of cranberry extract pills available readily without prescription over the counter. You could always drink fresh cranberry juice but most commercial cranberry juices are full of sugar and preservatives. Also you need to drink several glasses of cranberry juice in order to see results. If that is not possible, you can go in for the best cranberry pills for UTI. Always ask your doctor about the right cranberry pills for UTI dosage or take them as per the label instruction on the bottle.
Is it okay to take cranberry pills every day?
Yes. It is completely safe to take cranberry pills for UTI every day. In fact; if you suffer from 3-4 UTIs per year, then regular intake of cranberry pills can help prevent recurrence. There are many good brands of cranberry pills available online and offline. They are free from GMO, preservatives, dyes and sugar. With regular use, these supplements can support urinary health and also cleanse the kidneys. The best cranberry pills to prevent UTI often contain vitamins C and E along with other bladder supporting herbs. I will be shortly reviewing the best cranberry pills containing the right dosage of cranberry extract.
How much cranberry do you need to prevent and treat existing UTI
Experts[i] recommend drinking at least three 8-ounce glasses of unsweetened cranberry juice or 500 mg of cranberry extract 2-3 times a day until the infection clears. As is evident, it is easier to take cranberry pills rather than consume so much juice. Good brands of cranberry pills often contain as much as 12,500 milligrams of cranberries without the sugar or added calories.
How to choose cranberry pills/supplements for UTI prevention?
Look for a product that is:
- Easy to swallow and does not stink
- Has high potency
- Is non GMO, effective and sugar free
- Is high quality and comes with good reviews
- Shows effectiveness
- Contains natural antioxidants to prevent oxidation
- Is made with the whole cranberry including the flesh, seed, juice and skin of the fruit
- Gluten free and free from sugars, colors, dyes, fillers, soy and artificial coloring
Do cranberry pills cause weight loss and kidney detox?
There are some supplement manufacturers that promise weight loss as a side benefit of taking cranberry pills for UTI. These contain appetite suppressants and kidney detoxifying herbs like astragalus, ginger root, green tea extract, turmeric, buchu leaf powder, birch leaf powder, goldenrod, juniper berry, stinging nettle etc. Always speak to a doctor before taking any supplements. Many herbs also interfere with conventional medicines so if you are taking medicines for heart or other ailment, do speak to your doctor first.
Best Cranberry supplements for UTI
Following are some good brands of UTI preventive cranberry supplements.
Azo Cranberry Pills
Azo is one of the best brands known for their UTI products. They make pain killers specifically for UTI sufferers which give long lasting pain relief. The ingredients in these pain pills are also known to specifically combat and target UTI pain unlike Tylenol or other pain relief medicines. Cranberry pills from AZO brand are sugar free-so they are ideal for weight watchers as well as men and women with diabetes. If you feel the symptoms of an UTI coming up, start taking two of these pills once or twice a day and your infection will go away within a short span of time. So this is a great supplement for UTI prevention as well as for treating existing infection. On the downside; these pills are large and could be difficult to swallow. Also they contain soy-so if you are allergic to soy, you may want to avoid them.
Sports Research Cranberry Concentrate
Cranberry pills for UTI from Sports Research contain 250 mg of cranberry extract per pill. They are also fortified with Vitamins C and E which preserve the pills due to their antioxidant action. These pills promote urinary health, are GMO free and gluten free and also rich in proanthocynidins (35mg per pill). They are also free from gluten, sugar and calories/carbohydrates. These cranberry pills are easy to swallow and vegan friendly. They are made in the USA
BRI Nutrition Cranberry Concentrate
The salient features of this highly rated cranberry supplement for UTI prevention include:
- Made in the USA
- Free from GMO
- GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certified
- Each soft-gel is equivalent to 12600 mg of fresh cranberry extract
- It is also fortified with vitamins C and E
- Ideal for elderly patients with catheters
Sunergetic Kidney Cleanse
Many doctors state that it is okay to take cranberry pills every day for UTI prevention. As a part of UTI management, you must also do a kidney cleanse. This can be done using pills that specifically work by detoxifying the urinary system. Sunergetic pills contain cranberry extract along with herbs like astragalus, uva ursi, and juniper berry. All of these support kidney and urinary tract health. They cleanse the kidneys to help them to function optimally.FDA registered Sunergetic makes GMP products and their pills are easy to swallow. If you experience burning sensation or are not able to urinate completely, then these pills are for you.
Contraindications-These supplements are not recommended for chemotherapy patients. Also, astragalus can lead to diarrhea and other gastro-intestinal symptoms. Speak to an herbalist prior to use.
References
[i] Smart Medicine for Healthier Living By Janet Zand, Allan N. Spreen, James B. LaValle