Cranberry cure

SO they were right all along.

Cranberry juice really can help to prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs), Australian researchers found after reviewing 50 trials involving 9,000 participants.

Many women swear by cranberry juice or supple‐ments for preventing cystitis and the Australian re‐view has confirmed that these can reduce the chance of contracting a future UTI by more than 25 per cent.

The odds were slashed by 53 per cent for children and those susceptible to infections following medical interventions, the investigation found.

Experts believe this is due to cranberries’ high con‐centration of the antioxidant proanthocyanidin, which prevents Escherichia coli (E.coli), the most com‐mon UTI‐causing bacteria, from sticking to the blad‐der wall.

Researchers nevertheless warned that cranberries cannot cure an established UTI, for which it is neces‐sary to seek medical attention.