Cranberries & Kidney Health: A Mighty Little Fruit | Tennessee Valley Urology Center

You may know cranberries as a holiday staple or even as one of the first fruits cultivated in the United States, but did you also know they can provide huge benefits for your kidneys and urinary tract?

Cranberries are known to help prevent urinary tract infections (UTI), which lead to nearly 10 million doctor visits each year and can progress to serious infections of the kidneys. The fruit contains compounds that block e. coli, a bacteria common in feces that causes UTI, from lodging in the walls of the urinary tract and causing UTIs.

A 2019 study report in the journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry indicates cranberries may do even more to promote good kidney health as part of a larger nutritional strategy. The authors indicated “the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects as well as modulation of gut microbiota provided by cranberry phytochemicals” may provide additional benefits, but more study is needed.

The National Kidney Foundation also points out cranberries are a good source of vitamin C and fiber, and they provide antioxidant polyphenols. Research indicates polyphenols may improve digestion issues, help in weight management, provide benefits in the regulation of diabetes, help boost brain health in those with neurodegenerative diseases and can have positive effects for the cardiovascular system.

If you want to get more cranberries in your diet, you don’t have to rely just on a morning glass of juice. Here are some of our favorite recipes for working the little red fruit into a meal plan.

If you’re watching your sugar intake (and we really all should be), opt for low-sugar or no-sugar-added berries.

How to Get More Cranberries in Your Diet

If you want help maintaining good kidney and urinary tract health, contact us at Tennessee Valley Urology Center.