Cranberries Good for Menopause

When you reach menopause, your body goes through changes as a result of lower estrogen levels. The reproductive and bladder tissues shrink and become less elastic and the acidity level in your vagina decreases, making you more susceptible to bladder infections and urinary tract infections (UTIs). Cranberries are good for menopaual women as they can help prevent urinary tract infections.

Benefits of Cranberry

• Cranberries are good for menopause as they contain proanthocyanidins, an ingredient that prevents bacteria from attaching to your bladder walls by making the bladder walls slippery. Unsweetened cranberry juice or cranberry juice from concentrate is the most effective when taking it during menopause because the sugar or corn syrup in cranberry cocktail-juices actually feed the infection. Cranberries are only good for prevention because once the bacteria sticks to your bladder wall you will need antibiotics to treat the infection.

How Cranberries are Good

• Your urine is usually neutral to slightly acidic, having a pH level ranging from 5.8 to 7. The acidic nature in your urine is what helps kill harmful bacteria. But after menopause, the acidity levels and healthy bacteria in your urine decline, allowing infectious bacteria to survive. Cranberries are good for menopause because they are rich in Vitamin C, which helps to increase the acidity level in your urine.

Cranberry Dosage

• To prevent a urinary tract infection during menopause, drink one to two glasses of cranberry juice a day. You can also eat dried cranberries or cranberry sauce. Unfortunately, the efficacy of cranberry pills to prevent UTI is undetermined because the proanthocyanidin in the cranberries may become inactive during the manufacturing process.