Your pee on cranberries

New research shows that cranberries do prevent UTIs after all.

IN a nutshell Hello, my health seeking pals! Did you know that urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common outpatient infections in the United States? Today we cover another development in the decades-long debate over whether cranberries can help prevent UTIs. (Spoiler: They can!) We have more details below plus a look at: • Cranberry supplements for UTI prevention • How to tell if you have toxic traits • Waking up at night to pee • A pee color chart for decoding hydration Be well, Ginger Wojcik Newsletter Editor, Healthline

Written by Ginger Wojcik May 17, 2023 • 6 min read

what's got us buzzing Confirmed: Cranberries can help prevent UTIs A brief history of cranberries and UTIs goes something like this: For hundreds of years, humans used cranberries to treat and prevent UTIs. In the 2010s, researchers declared this a myth following the results of a systematic review of studies that found no evidence for the claim. Science comes back to the table in 2023 with an updated review dispelling the myth and confirming that cranberries can, indeed, help prevent UTIs. Riveting. Why should we believe this new review over past research? The new review looked at a much larger sample size. Researchers added 26 additional studies to the last version of the review. In total, this review included 50 studies and 8,857 participants. Why do cranberries help prevent UTIs? Probably because of the acidity, according to researchers we talked to for this article. Cranberries are naturally acidic, and bacteria have a harder time growing in acidic environments. (Important note: Always opt for pure cranberry juice. Cranberry cocktails and other mixed juices won't be as effective.) Did the study find that cranberries can also be used to cure UTIs? No. The findings only showed that cranberries can reduce the risk of developing UTIs. It did not find that cranberries can be used instead of antibiotics to treat or cure an existing UTI. In fact, if you do notice the symptoms of a UTI, it's important to see a doctor ASAP. UTIs can become severe if not treated. Do you have an alternative prevention remedy you swear by? Write in to tell us about it at wellnesswire@healthline.com. (Please note that we may use your name and response in an upcoming edition!) More on UTIs: Does peeing after sex prevent UTIs? It's true, cranberry products can help you avoid UTIs E. coli from meat may cause over 480,000 UTIs every year

great finds Editor faves with health perks       Spring Valley Cranberry Extract So what about cranberry supplements for urinary health, you ask? The aforementioned review included studies where cranberries were taken in a range of forms, including capsules. There have also been a number of other studies showing that cranberry supplements can help cut UTI risk. If adding a pill to your regimen sounds easier than stocking up on cranberry juice, you might opt for a cranberry supplement like this one from Spring Valley, which is made from organic cranberry extract and contains 500 mg per capsule. Shop now Every product we recommend has gone through Healthline's vetting process. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a small commission or other tangible benefit. Healthline has sole editorial control over this newsletter. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. Healthline is owned by RVO Health.

Wednesday Kick Start Waking up with the urgent need to pee? You're not alone Excessive urination at night, aka nocturia, is a common condition that affects as many as 50 million people in the United States. Nocturia is linked to sleep deprivation and other inconveniences that many folks find bothersome. Is it normal to get up to pee at night? While it's totally possible to sleep through the night without getting up (our bodies produce less urine when we sleep) certain medical conditions, pregnancy, medications, and other causes can make this difficult. Ok, so how can I stop waking up to pee at night? That depends on the cause. For some, night peeing can be waylaid by practicing good sleep hygiene. But if your nocturia is caused by an overactive bladder, nocturnal polyuria, or prostatic obstruction, you may need to talk with a doctor about taking medication. You should also keep an eye out for other symptoms of UTIs, as they can present as the excessive need to pee at night. More on urinary health: • Does how often you pee say something about your health? • Are you dehydrated? Our pee color chart will tell you • 7 foods and drinks that may cause cloudy urine

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Thanks for reading! Last week, we asked for reader submissions of near-death experiences. It's been so interesting to read through the responses we got, and we want to thank everyone who took the time to share their stories. We were especially struck by the detail in an account from reader Sue. Here's an excerpt: 50 years ago I was driving home from college in Indiana to New Jersey with some friends. When we got to Washington, PA at about 9 p.m. we hit black ice. A huge semi had jackknifed across the highway and there was nowhere for us to go other than the shoulder. On the shoulder was a car which we hit. We were not wearing seat belts (because no one did at the time) and I smashed into the stick shift with my sternum. I saw my life pass in front of me in a semicircular fashion. The semicircle was divided into sections and each one represented a part of my life. I was asked to review my life and consider any regrets I had. I said that I was dying but my friend in the back seat said, no, you're talking to me. The review suddenly stopped. It seemed as if it was not my time to go.

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