Cranberries against urinary tract infections?

Colorful and beautiful, they elevate every dessert, salad, rice, legumes, meat, and other stews – cranberries are now a part of everyone's menu. Fresh, dried – with or without sugar, cranberry juice, as part of natural granola, and in many other forms. For this reason, it's worth knowing the nutritional value of this special fruit and how to debunk an important myth.

Against Urinary Tract Infections

Cranberries contain special compounds called proanthocyanidins, which work by reducing the adhesion (sticking) of bacteria (especially E. coli bacteria) to the inner walls of the bladder. Why is this important? Because if there are bacteria that could cause a urinary tract infection, they simply cannot stick to the bladder wall, and as a result, they are washed out of the body with urine. This simple action can significantly reduce the occurrence of urinary tract infections, which are so common, especially among women.

Lycopene

Cranberries are rich in the antioxidant lycopene, which also helps against many other diseases, especially cancer. Lycopene is available in both fresh and dried fruit, as well as in juice.

Dietary Fiber for Digestion

Cranberries are rich in dietary fiber that helps with digestion. When it comes to dried fruit, these fibers have an additional property of softening the contents of the intestines, "drawing" fluids into the intestinal cavity due to osmotic value, and assisting with digestion in many people.

Is There a Difference in the Content of This Compound in Different Types of Cranberries?

The proanthocyanidins, which help against urinary tract infections, are abundant in fresh cranberries, but also in natural cranberry juice, dried cranberries, and even cranberry capsules. In other words, anyone who suffers from recurrent infections can incorporate any form of cranberries into their diet, and it may help.

So, What Should You Choose?

Fresh fruit contains less sugar and more dietary fiber compared to juice, making it more suitable for those who want to lose weight or are prone to diabetes. A cup of cranberry juice is considered a snack on its own and doesn’t satisfy as much as whole fruit. Dried cranberries contain a lower percentage of water, and as a result, 100 grams of dried cranberries has about 330 calories, which means a 30-gram serving of cranberries (about 2 tablespoons) equals a snack of about 100 calories, similar to a light pita sandwich with cheese.

Finally, let’s debunk the myth about sugar-free cranberries. Be aware – sugar-free cranberries have no fewer calories than those with sugar. Dried cranberries with or without sugar contain very similar amounts of calories per serving or per 100 grams. It’s clear that cranberries without added white sugar are far better health-wise, but they are not more "diet-friendly."

Despite the unique advantage of cranberries in preventing urinary tract infections, it’s important to remember that, like any fruit – juice also contributes sugar and calories to the body, as does dried fruit. When incorporating cranberries, it’s important to do so within a structured diet with calculated amounts.