CRANBERRY: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews (2024)

FAQs

What precautions should be taken with cranberry extract? ›

Cranberry has relatively high levels of oxalate, chemicals that may raise the risk of kidney stones in some people. If you have kidney stones, talk to your doctor before taking cranberry supplements or drinking a lot of cranberry juice. DO NOT use cranberry if you already have a UTI.

Cranberry juice and cranberry extracts are likely safe for most adults. Drinking too much cranberry juice might cause some side effects such as mild stomach upset and diarrhea in some people.

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Cranberry may increase the anticoagulant effect from blood thinners like warfarin and lead to bruising or bleeding. If you take an oral blood thinner, check with your doctor before consuming large amounts of cranberry or cranberry juice.

They are packed with antioxidants and can help reduce the frequency of urinary tract infections in some people. Also, they may promote heart health, improve blood sugar control, boost immunity and protect against cancer, cavities and stomach ulcers. Dosages of up to 1,500 mg per day are safe for most.

Kidney stones are a common disorder, affecting around 1 in 11 adults in the United States ( 1 ). While there are many causes of kidney stones, diet plays a major role. In particular, cranberry juice is thought to help get rid of kidney stones, similarly to how it reduces incidence of urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Cranberries provide a good source of various vitamins and antioxidants. Historically, Native Americans used cranberries as a treatment for bladder and kidney diseases, while early settlers from England used them to treat poor appetite, stomach complaints, blood disorders, and scurvy.

Cranberries have two big benefits for heart health: lowering blood pressure and improving cholesterol. Some studies suggest that drinking low-calorie cranberry juice regularly can raise HDL (good) cholesterol and lower LDL (bad) cholesterol.

Cranberries and cranberry products are usually safe for most people if consumed in moderation. However, excessive consumption may cause stomach upset and diarrhea — and may also increase the risk of kidney stones in predisposed individuals.

Drink cranberry juice. In a 2012 study, researchers found that drinking cranberry juice regularly can help drop blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic) by three points. It might not sound like a lot, but it's enough to bump someone from pre-hypertension back into the normal range, for example.

Interactions between your drugs

No interactions were found between cranberry and Tylenol Cold + Mucus Severe.

Is cranberry hard on the liver? ›

There have been no convincing reports of serum enzyme elevations, jaundice or clinically apparent liver injury associated with cranberry use. Likelihood score: E (unlikely cause of clinically apparent liver injury).

Some studies have suggested that cranberry juice may lower levels of a protein called cystatin C, which is a marker of kidney function. Other studies have shown that cranberry supplements improved kidney function in people with early-stage kidney disease.

Studies have pointed out that due to the added sugars and water that dilute the cranberry juice, cranberry capsules are a more effective alternative. In fact, it turns out that the active ingredient in cranberries that helps prevent E. coli from turning into an infection may not even be present in cranberry juice!

Cranberry extracts may also help with cancer protection, teeth and gum health, lower blood pressure, obesity, and inflammation.

Although cranberry extract can be taken on an empty stomach, it is recommended that the capsules are taken alongside meals, especially ones that contain another source of vitamin C, as this will help to augment the absorption of the polyphenol qualities that people are seeking.

Analyses showed that the cranberry extract increases bacterial sensitivity to antibiotics by acting in two ways. First, it makes the bacterial cell wall more permeable to the antibiotic, and second, it interferes with the mechanism used by the bacteria to pump out the antibiotic.