Cranberries can help curb urinary tract infections

Cranberries can help curb recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), the second most common type of infection in the body, says a study by an Indian-origin researcher.

A lower number of infections would mean less use of antibiotics and less risk of developing antibiotic resistance.

In addition, the unique blend of polyphenol antioxidants -- provided by cranberries -- may assist in preserving heart and cognitive health, and protect against oxidative stress to help promote overall well-being, the findings showed.

"We have long believed in the urinary tract health benefits that cranberries provide, but this new research reveals just how wide-ranging those benefits can be," said Kalpana Gupta, professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine in the US.

Gupta highlighted that rising resistance across multiple classes of drugs has made oral options for UTIs often limited and sometimes non-existent.

The findings suggest that cranberries are powerful and may provide whole-body health benefits.

The findings were presented recently at the seventh International Conference on Polyphenols and Health (ICPH 2015) in France.