When it comes to your urinary wellness, you may have heard that cranberry juice can give you a boost. True, cranberry juice can benefit your sexual health, and overall wellbeing, in a number of ways, but that’s not to say that you should proceed without caution. There is also a fair share of risks when it comes to indulging in the tangy, often bitter, red liquid, so you need to weigh up the pros and cons.
Let’s start with the benefits of drinking cranberry juice. According to award-winning wellness writer Hope Gillette, ‘There is significant evidence to suggest drinking cranberry juice can help prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs), though there are no guidelines on how much juice should be imbibed to stave off those unpleasant episodes. In the early stages of investigation into the benefits of cranberry juice, experts thought the drink made urine more acidic, therefore creating an environment where bacteria responsible for a UTI were unable to grow. That thinking has now been modified; instead of just creating more acidic urine, scientists feel cranberry juice—and other juices as well—can help prevent bacteria from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract system. The exact mechanism behind this is not clear. Some studies have shown cranberry juice alters the bacteria itself, and other studies have indicated the potent juice leaves behind a slippery coating in the body’s system.’
However, while the most well-known benefit of cranberry juice is to urinary health, there are other systems in your body that can benefit from the power of cranberries:
1. Overall Health: Gillette explains, ‘Cranberries are rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals, substances thought to help promote a healthy immune and cardiovascular system.’
2. Oral Health: By decreasing the number of bacteria present on your gums, unsweetened cranberry juice can also help prevent a build-up of dental plaque in your mouth.
3. Kidney Stone Prevention: Gillette points out, ‘Cranberries contain quinic acid, a substance medical experts feel helps prevent the formation of kidney stones; however, at the same time, cranberry juice also contains the chemical oxalate, which contributes to kidney stone formation.’
Moving on to the negative side of drinking cranberry juice, it’s important to not that this remedy is not a cure-all for everything that ails your urinary system. Gillette details, ‘One instance in which cranberry juice is not recommended is in cases of interstitial cystitis (IC). Also known as painful bladder disease, interstitial cystitis occurs when the lining of the bladder becomes damaged and allows urine to come into contact with sensitive tissue. By drinking cranberry juice, which is very acidic, people with interstitial cystitis can find the condition aggravated, and unfortunately, because IC is commonly misdiagnosed as a UTI, cranberry juice is often the first thing women reach for when symptoms occur.’
Let’s look at some other risks associated with drinking cranberry juice:
1. Oral Health: Yes, while cranberry juice has been shown to prevent the build-up of plaque, it may also do some damage to your pearly whites. ‘While some evidence suggests the juice can keep bacteria out of the mouth, due to its high acidity, too much cranberry juice may cause the enamel of the teeth to wear thin,’ says Gillette. ‘Not all juices are pure juice, either, and those with high sugar content will be just as bad for teeth as soda.’
2. Diabetes and Digestive Health: ‘People who are diabetics and those with sensitive stomachs should proceed with caution when it comes to cranberry juice consumption,’ Gillette warns. ‘Too much cranberry juice may cause stomach upset, diarrhoea and elevated blood sugar levels.’
3. Heart Health: Gillette comments, ‘In some reported cases, cranberry juice has also been shown to interfere with certain heart medications. The wrong combination of juice and medication may lead to life-threatening internal bleeding.’
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