Myths surrounding UTIs and its relation to cranberries

There are several myths regarding how you can prevent or treat Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). Let us crack a few. UTIs tend to occur more in women as compared to men. Almost 60% women in the world experience UTIs at least once in their lifetime. The symptoms that they normally experience include frequent, urgent and sometimes painful urination. This is a common complaint among women.

At the top of the list is the myth regarding how taking cranberry supplements or just drinking cranberry juice might help in the prevention or treatment of UTIs.

There are however certain active ingredients like A – type proanthocyanidins present in the cranberry juice and cranberry supplements which do prevent the bacteria, especially E coli, sticking from sticking to the walls of the bladder. But many studies have shown that although these components are present in the cranberries, they aren’t present in the sufficient quantity to help in the prevention of UTI.

There are several studies that have been carried out regarding cranberries and their medicinal properties but overall there has been a very mixed response over its effectiveness.

A database in 2012, containing 24 studies has shown that cranberry juice or cranberry extracts do not have a different effect on women as compared to other antibiotics.

Since cranberry supplements are not necessarily regulated by FDA, the quantity of the active component is not exactly known. Therefore there may not be enough quantity of the active ingredient to prevent the bacteria from sticking to the walls of the urinary bladder.

How can you prevent UTIs

There are several myths regarding the prevention of the UTIs. These include avoiding wearing tight fitting pants, urinating after sex, drinking lots of water and also staying away from bubble baths, tampons and bubble baths. While these are widely believed, none of these are backed by any sort of scientific evidence. However there are three easy things that all women can do to help in the prevention of UTIs.

1.      Take precautions after sexual activity to prevent UTIs

The frequency of the sexual activity is strongly related to UTIs. Having multiple sexual partners or a history of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STD) will definitely put you at a greater risk of contracting UTI. If you have been contracting UTIs frequently, then doctors advise to stay away from barrier contraceptives or spermicides. They recommend a dose of oral antibiotics which can be consumed before or after having sex.

2.      Developing good bowel habits

Sometimes bacteria residing in the rectum can stray into the vagina and this in turn can cause several urinary tract infections. This happens more commonly when you are suffering from diarrhoea or constipation. So it is very important to try and be regular.

3.      Balance the bad bacteria with the good bacteria.

For women who are prone to UTIs, doctors often recommended using vaginal or oral probiotics, which are known as the good bacteria. The body requires a high percentage of the good bacteria in order to reduce the quantity of bad bacteria sticking to the walls.

All in all consuming cranberry juice or the supplements is a personal choice. They do however contain the active components required to keep you away from UTIs, although in a small quantity.

Most Frequently Asked Questions About The Goji Berry Juice

1.    

   What exactly is a goji berry?

Goji berry is basically a fruit that if found in the Himalayas. It is also related to a large number of myths that are present in some old Chinese stories. It has been found that the goji berry may actually have some very magnificent qualities for the human body just like they believed in the ancient times.

It has been found to slow down the biological aging of the body which may have led several natives to believe that the fruit can stop the process of aging. Studies have shown that the goji berry contain a very large quantity of antioxidants in them which may help in preventing the negative effects of aging.

Due to these properties, the goji berry juice has been hailed as one of the best supplements present for the human body.

2.       What are the supplements that may have been added to the goji berry juice while preparing it?

No supplements are added other than the preservatives that are required to keep the juice fresh for long and some herbal juices. No artificial colours, sweeteners or artificial colours are used. What you receive is the genuine goji berry juice.

3.       What is the so called original goji berry?

A lot of times, the goji berry was largely compared to the wolfberry found in the west. The goji berry contains of several varieties but the berry that is found growing in the foothills of the Himalayas is considered to be the original goji berry. Studies have shown that these berries are extremely rich in antioxidants and can be very helpful to the body.

4.       How do the antioxidants work?

All the cells present in the body die after a certain period of time. Sometimes the free radicals present in the body, steal away the electrons from the cells. To prevent this antioxidants give away their electrons and save the cells. It also helps the cells to absorb more oxygen leading it to remain damage free and healthy for a very long time.

5.       The herbal juices are advised to be drunk fresh, what about the goji berry juice?

It is true that all the natural and herbal products should be consumed as fresh as possible. But modern technology has found a way to preserve the freshness for as long as possible which would otherwise have been impossible.

Do try to follow all the instructions regarding the goji berry juice to extract the maximum gain from it.

6.       If the goji berry has so many benefits, why wasn’t it for a long time?

The goji berry or the goji berry juice and its benefits were not a secret at all to the natives, but it has only recently come to light in the western region. Using it as a medicine to cure the diseases was also a lost art in the east which later got revived and spread across the world.

With so many wide array of benefits being on offer, adding it to the diet should not be a problem at all.

Noni Juice: Miracle Or A Scam

When people hear about the qualities that the noni juice possess, they seem a little sceptical to try it out since it sounds too good to be true. Some even brush it aside assuming it to be a scam of some sort. So what really is it? Is it a scam or does noni really possess these amazing qualities in it?

Noni basically is a tiny fruit which happens to grow in the region of Pacific islands on small trees that are native to this area. Also known as Tahitian Noni, Cheese Fruit or even Indian Mulberry, the tree is quite hardy and yields a good quantity of fruits.

Claims Made By The Noni Juice

There are several health claims being made by companies that sell these and most of all by the natives who have been consuming this for years. The following are just a few of these claims.

1.       Fights against cancer

2.       Helps in enhancing the immunity of the body

3.       Helps in managing multiple sclerosis

4.       Improves conditions of the asthma patient

5.       Improves the level of cholesterol in the body

6.       Improves the energy level of the body

Nutritional Components Of The Noni Juice

The Noni juice has a very impressive and long list of nutrients like healthy carbohydrates, low fat, niacin, minerals, vitamin C, lean protein etc which are all extremely beneficial to the body. All of these nutrients are known to improve the overall health of the body.

All of these nutrients can be consumed in the form of fruit as well but as it unfortunately turns out the fruit is quite repulsive. Hence an alternative for it, the juice, was made. The pure juice also is super repulsive but the taste is made manageable by adding juices of some other fruits as well.

Studies have again and again proved that the noni juice will do nothing but good for our body which is exactly the reason why the natives have used it as a medicine for several centuries prior to the discovery of this by the western world.

Noni is known to have antioxidants which are largely considered to be the reason behind the anti – aging effects that users claim it to possess. These antioxidants in no way stop the natural process of aging in the body but the just decelerate the rate of aging but protecting the cells of the body by damaging entities known as free radicals.

Enzymes present in the fruit like xanthine oxidase are associated with helping to deal with gout and also the negative effects that it has on the body. It is also known to protect the liver.

Although the studies are still in the preliminary stages and are yet to be completely proven, the noni juice is considered to be a very effective aid to the treatment being provided for cancer. This remains to be proved conclusively.

The fact that Noni juice is very healthy for the body was true centuries ago when its use was limited to the natives and still holds its ground now several years later.