Cranberry
Avoid Whole Fruit Cranberry
Enjoy Cranberry Juice
Vaccinium oxycoccos
Urinary Tract Infections
To prevent recurrent UTIs, cranberry products need to contain a dose of at least 36 milligrams of proanthocyanidins per day. The proanthocyanidins (PACs) that is related to prevention of UTIs from cranberry juice. The special structure of these PACs (involving A-type linkages between their components) acts as a barrier to bacteria that might otherwise latch on to the urinary tract lining. This area of investigation has opened the door to an understanding other possible cranberry benefits. Stomach ulcers are often related to overgrowth Helicobacter pylori attaching to the stomach lining. In much the same way as cranberry juice prevents bacterial attachment to the lining of the urinary tract, this may also help prevent bacterial attachment to the stomach lining.
Cranberries are grown on bogs for harvesting initially thought to be easier. Now it is realized that cranberries exposed to the sun giving redder fruit are higher in health giving anthocyanins.
Continue to avoid the whole fruit (high in oxalates) but enjoy the juice for its health giving benefits. Cranberry due to its high oxalate content can be a promoter of kidney stone formation (nephrolithiasis).
Food Sources of Proanthocyanidins
Skin
Within a weeks you may notice, a beautifying and softening of your face skin, a resulting side effect that results from drinking cranberry juice diluted with water. An anecdotal piece of medical wisdom has at last won scientific confirmation: cranberry juice helps clear urinary infections! Cranberries, lingonberries, and blueberries are among the rare fruits which are acid producing. Drinking the juice from these fruits has lowered the number of bladder and kidney infections. The cranberry has a substance in it which prevents the bacteria from sticking to the cell wall. This substance helps to counteract any micro-hemorrhages that may occur within the bladder and kidney. This is perfect for polycystic kidney disease. For a long time Dr. Grantham (Kansas University) has made the observation that there seems to exist an inflammation of the polycystic kidney which leaves behind some residual scar tissue within the kidney itself. This appears to be present in early in individuals with polycystic kidney disease PKD.
Other Cranberry Health Benefits
Drinking the juice seems to help with cholesterol, weight loss, inflammation, preventing plaque formation on tooth enamel (interferes with bacteria that stick to the tooth), Consumption of cranberries turns urine acidic. This, together with the inhibition of bacterial adhesion property of cranberry juice, prevents the formation of (calcium ammonium phosphate) stones in the urinary tract by working against proteus bacterial-infections.
Cranberry Pills
Cranberry pills can increase kidney stones. If prone to kidney infections, avoid cranberry tablets made from whole cranberries. It is better for PKD'rs to drink the juice and toss the pulp. The incidence of kidney stones among PKD'rs is 20% higher than the rest of the population.