http://www.bladder-health.org/e-coli-cranberry.htm.

Cranberry is great for simple, infrequent UTIs, which are usually caused by e. Coli bacteria. The bladder and urine should remain sterile and slightly acidic when healthy.

But too often, UTIs become frequent or chronic and both sufferers and doctors continue to treat (or self-treat) without investigating to find the root of the problem – you know, it’s the weekend/holiday/you’re out of town/something inconvenient – and you call the doc, he/she calls in a Rx for everyone’s convenience, and everyone is happy, for a while. Or you self treat and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.

Frequent or chronic UTIs can strip the interior of the bladder’s protective coating (similar to the the inside of the cheek) and set up a situation for UTI-like symptoms on a frequent or constant basis, but often without the bacterial infection. It’s called Interstitial Cystitis (when bladder cells have cell walls are “leaky”, creating irritation, inflammation, pain and muscle spasms, which feel like simple UTIs. The urine is usually already too acidic in people with Interstitial Cystitis. Chronic or frequent UTIs should be investigated and IC ruled out by a urologist (specializing in female urology if the patient is female, which is more typical).

In the case of Interstitial Cystitis, cranberry juice will increase the urine acidity and inflame the “leaky” bladder cells even more. In this case, because the cystitis is caused by inflammation, not bacteria, making the urine less acidic with 1/4 tsp of baking soda in a glass of water a couple times a day helps a lot and calms the inflammation.

After many UTIs between ages 20 and mid-30s (my high carb, high sugar years, too), multiple doctor abd urologist appts and tests, many Rx for Macrodantin – even a low daily dose for an entire year, and drinking cranberry juice ad nauseum, I learned about moving the urine pH the other direction after having a UTI on vacation in Dublin, Ireland. The urgent care doctor I saw told me to eat soda bread and drink the “soda” water I described above. Not much later, in an attempt to get the, um, bottom of my UTI issues, I read a book by a female urologist about Interstitial Cystitis and it made perfect sense, in that context. After that, I downed a glass of baking soda and water 2 x day at the first sign of a UTI and usually nipped it in the bud.

I shared the book on Interstitial Cystitis with 2 women I worked with who were experiencing frequent UTIs while they were approaching menopause – the baking soda water worked for them, too.

I haven’t even had a hint of symptoms since going low starch and low sugar four years ago.

UTIs should never be ignored. If self-treatment doesn’t improve symptoms rapidly (in one day), or if the UTI returns or remains chronic, see a health care provider asap. An infection can move up into the kidneys and cause scarring, resulting in impaired kidney function, and no one wants that.

FYI, I like to make Cosmopolitan cocktails with 100% (unsweetened) cranberry juice (not the same as cranberry juice “cocktail” blended with other juices – those have added concentrated fruit sugars). I also use Sogu (or Shochu) neutral distilled spirit instead of vodka because it has half the alcohol (25% or 50 proof), plus a bit of triple sec and fresh lime juice. It’s sweet-tart, but can be sweetened to taste, too.

Supplemental forms of cranberries such as concentrates, extracts, and the D-Mannose sugar found in cranberries and some other fruits, also works very well. You can even find these in the grocery store now.

Every time I get a UTI I am eternally grateful that I have this berry at my disposal.

BTW Mark your website is wonderful.

I wouldn’t buy the stuff at the grocery store that is full of sugar and water. At the health food store you can find 100% cranberry juice. Mix 2-4 oz. with water to taste. Not bad at all, especially if you need it.

So it is just not going to work for me.

Ah well.

Cheers!