Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are unpleasant

They can be an irritating and painful recurring problem. For most people, UTIs are caused by E. coli; though we all have E. Coli naturally in our digestive tracts, it shouldn't be found in our urinary tracts. If certain types of E. coli find their way into the bladder, where there is normally a sterile environment, the bacteria can bring on an infection.

Symptoms of a urinary tract infection include dysuria (pain on passing urine), frequency (of passing urine) and hematuria (blood in the urine). Other helpful signs include cloudy or smelly urine. A urine dipstick test is often useful in the diagnosis.

Common Urinary Tract Treatments

The most common treatments for UTIs are either a course of antibiotics and/or for the patient to drink blueberry or cranberry juice. Antibiotics can work, but there is a 25% recurrence rate of infection with this treatment; also, overuse of antibiotics can render the body immune to that particular drug, which may be needed to fight off some other, more serious infection down the road. The juice option is OK, too, but most juices contain fructose, a simple sugar that can threaten colon health.

Bulk up with Blueberries

Another option that has been getting more and more coverage is to consume some form of blueberry or blueberry extract. Blueberries, like cranberries, are a source of all kinds of nutrients that are derived from their skin, which is full of pigments that release a powerful dye called anthocyanin. To avoid the excess sugar associated with cranberry juice, naturally sweetened blueberries are a choice that is a lot more palatable to most people.

Blueberries contain certain substances and compounds that are able to stop bacteria from attaching to the lining of the bladder; this enables the bladder to "flush out" the bad bacteria when urine is expelled. These substances include tannin-like compounds that are called proanthocyanidins. Plus, blueberries in all their forms are excellent sources of nutrition, and have been proven to be help lower high blood pressure and high cholesterol, improve eyesight and short-term memory, decreasing your risk of cancer, fighting against neurological conditions, and preventing infection and enhancing your immune system.

With all that to offer, plus the fact that they taste a whole lot better than unsweetened cranberries or cranberry juice, blueberries have a lot more to offer than just being a tasty pie filling!

Blueberry Supplements

While its great to incorporate fresh fruits into our diets, often they are unavailable, inconvenient to purchase, or we simply don't have the time to properly prepare them.

Sure, you can throw a handful of blueberries onto your cereal in the morning, but the best way to grab a hold of everything the blueberry has to offer is with the convenience of an extract.

Blueberry juice is another alternative, but often comes heavily sweetened, creating another problem in itself.

A popular and convienient way of guaranteeing that you get the right amount of blueberries daily is by taking a supplement. Fresh blueberries can be very expensive, and sometimes difficult to find, but with a concentrated blueberry extract, you can easily utilize the nutritional benefits of the blueberry.

Also, by taking advantage of blueberry supplements, you avoid the hassle of choosing the "best" berries at the supermarket, or of having to mix up messy powders.

For more information on Blueberries, click here: Blueberries

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Blueberry and UTI References

• Joseph, J.A., Shukitt-Hale B., Denisova, N.A. Bielinksi D., Martin, A., McEwen, J.J., & Bickford, P.C., 1999. Reversals of age-related declines in neuronal signal transduction, cognitive, and motor behavioral deficits with blueberry, spinach, or strawberry dietary supplementation. Journal of Neuroscience 19 (18): 8114-8121.
  
  
• New England Journal of Medicine, Rutgers researchers identify the specific compounds in blueberries and cranberries that promote urinary tract health.
  
  
• Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign December 7, 2004 -- Recently published research findings concluded that specific compounds in Wild Blueberries called proanthocyanidins or condensed tannins may be effective inhibitors the promotion stage of cancer (Source: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 52:6433-6442, 2004.)