Cranberries.(in urinary tract disease prevention and treatment)

The natural way to keep on "tract" with urinary health

Traditional Chinese Medicine considers kidneys the source of health and longevity and pays special attention to keeping them strong. It's no wonder; the kidneys contain a million tiny filters designed to remove waste products from the blood. It is all part of an elaborate filtration and disposal system in which refuse is sent to a holding tank--the bladder--where it is diluted in a watery bath to make it less toxic before being discarded as urine. Filtering waste from the body is an important job, but kidneys have other responsibilities. They control blood pressure, balance electrolytes and acid/alkaline, signal when more red blood cells need to be produced, and recycle vital nutrients like glucose and amino acids from the urine back into the blood.

Unfortunately, the urinary tract is a victim of civilization. It must eliminate not only waste products from body metabolism, but all sorts of modern toxins that you breathe, eat, and absorb through skin. Solvents, gasoline, paint, synthetic fragrances and colors, and preservatives all stress the kidneys. In addition, any infection, even tooth decay, and by-products such as nitrogen waste from a high-protein diet can tax them. A puffy face, dark circles under the eyes, pale complexion, and dizziness point to kidney weakness. While bladder problems are fairly easy to self-treat, kidney inflammation or infection can lead to serious complications. These include anemia, electrolyte imbalance, high blood pressure, heart problems, poor circulation, and water retention. Since kidney infection often begins in the bladder, play it safe by seeing your doctor at any hint of trouble, and especially if you have a fever or dull aching pain in your middle back.

Berry good idea

Infection is the most common problem facing the urinary system. Although it's designed as a one-way street, the pathway (the urethra) that urine uses to reach the outside world also serves as a gateway for bacteria to enter the bladder. The culprit that causes most bladder infections is E. coli, a bacteria normally found in the bowel. Another increasing source of bladder infection is the sexually transmitted disease, chlamydia. Early signs of infection are cloudy urine, a burning sensation when urinating, and a heavy feeling or pain in the bladder, especially when it is full or just emptied. Eventually, irritated nerves relay false alarms that send you running to the bathroom unnecessarily.

Several herbs work well to prevent bladder infection. The best known is cranberry. Studies show that cranberry juice drinkers get far fewer infections than do people who don't use it. This popular folk remedy creates an inhospitable environment for the alkaline-loving bacteria by making urine more acidic. Israeli researchers at the Weizman Institute of Science and Tel Aviv University have discovered that cranberries do much more than slightly acidifying urine. They prevent bacteria from attaching to the bladder's wall so infection can't take hold. That's good news for people prone to repeated infections since cranberries can be taken for a while without fear of side effects.

Since commercial cranberry juice is loaded with sugar, use unsweetened concentrate or cranberry capsules from the natural food store. The recommended daily dose to treat or prevent bladder infection is about six ounces a day of pure cranberry juice.