Concentrated Cranberry Cran-Max Provides Answers to Unusual Sources of UTIs

KEARNY, NJ--(Marketwired - Mar 18, 2016) - Urinary tract infections are one of the most common bacterial infections in the developed world and the bacterium that causes them are now showing up in some unexpected places, including our grocery stores' meat and poultry sections. It's an alarming fact that only adds to the exasperation of the nearly 60 percent of women who experience painful UTI symptoms annually. A study found that ingesting strands of E. coli bacteria found in contaminated chicken and poultry could be the source of a specific type of UTI infection known as foodborne UTI, or FUTI. Many bacteria that cause FUTI have become resistant to antibiotics that are typically prescribed for the classic UTI, but research shows that the clinically studied Cran-Max cranberry ingredient, found in concentrated cranberry supplements, may have efficacy against certain foodborne bacteria such as Klebsiella.

"Unlike antibiotics, which kill bacteria, cranberry works by changing the bacterial structure and preventing adhesion to tissues so it works effectively for prevention without the risk of developing antibiotic resistance," said Sherry Torkos, a holistic pharmacist and author of more than a dozen books on natural health and healing. "The effects of cranberry go beyond E. coli and also well beyond the bladder."

The George Washington University's Milken Institute School of Public Health studied all available brands of chicken, turkey and pork at a major grocery store and found 17 percent of the samples tested positive for FUTI-causing E. coli. They also detected the bacteria in urine and blood samples of local UTI sufferers. UTIs occur when gastrointestinal bacteria move into the urinary tract and research suggests that some of those bacteria are being introduced to the gut from food contaminated with strains of E. coli, leading to the FUTI infection.

"E. coli is the primary causative organism of UTIs, and the normal course of action in traditional medicine has been to prescribe antibiotics," said Torkos. "However, we are seeing a growing number of infections caused by other bacteria such as Klebsiella, Proteus mirabilis, Staph aureus and Enterobacter, many of which are resistant to commonly prescribed antibiotics."

Torkos says a specific active ingredient in cranberries, that has been identified to prevent bacteria from adhering to the bladder wall, particularly E. coli, called A-type proanthocyanidins (PACs), can be found in Cran-Max.

"Concentrated cranberry supplements are more effective for defense against UTIs because drinking cranberry juice, often recommended by experts, can be counterproductive for preventions of UTIs as these juices are loaded with sugar," said Torkos. "When taking a cranberry supplement, it is important to make sure it contains high concentration of PACs and has been studied for efficacy."

A recently published study proved that the cranberry ingredient, Cran-Max has very high concentrations of proanthocyanidin, and has been proven to prevent bacteria from sticking to the wall of the urinary tract. PACs are potent antioxidants, and are the active component in cranberries that inhibit bacteria from attaching to the bladder wall. PACs also have the ability to create the formation of new, healthy collagen, which has a youth-enhancing effect that keeps internal organs and skin more youthful.

This is not an issue that affects only women. While nearly 50 percent of women will develop a UTI at some point in their lifetime, an estimated 12 percent of men experience pain while urinating, blood in the urine and pelvic pain. Moreover, once you've had a UTI, the likelihood of having another one escalates.

Cran-Max is a concentrated form of raw cranberries that contains its fruit, seed, skin and juice. It is the most widely studied cranberry supplement and has been clinically proven effective with severe cases of UTIs. A peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy found that Cran-Max was comparable to an antibiotic for UTI prevention. No negative side effects of Cran-Max have been reported (www.cranmaxinfo.com).