Cranberry: UTI and urinary pH.

Date: Sun, 15 Oct 1995 23:34:35 -0700
Sender: HERB.TREARNPC.EGE.EDU.TR
From: Eagle <eagle.NETCOM.COM>
Subject: Re: cranberry juice

>Many people are under the impression that cranberry juice makes the urine more acidic, thereby more effective at destroying bacteria. Others believe the presence of hippuric acid, found in cranberry juice, adds additional benefit. However, hippuric acid is found in insufficient amounts, and one would have to consume alot (about 2 pints) of cranberry juice to produce acidic urine to be of any value in checking bacteria.
>Most researchers agree that the main action of cranberry juice is that it prevents bacterium from adhering to the lining of the bladder and urethra, thereby inhibiting the development of infection.

If you have a bladder infection and check the pH of your urine, you will find that drinking pure cranberry juice (usually 1 quart or more per day) will alter the pH of the urine if the pH was alkaline to begin with. If the pH of the urine was acid to begin with, drinking cranberry juice is contra-indicated.

Of course this does not always stop the infection, but for chronic suffers the ability to monitor pH of urine and use cranberry to acidify or vitamin C to make more alkaline can stop an infection before it gets started.
--
eagle.netcom.com - David Eagle, OMD, LAc
Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist - Santa Cruz, CA