Rena Malik, MD Podcast: Optimizing Health, Sex & Relationships with Science Backed Tips from Leading Experts Cranberry supplements for UTIs Worthless or WORTH IT (YouTube Replay)
Jul 24, 2025
Dive into the fascinating world of urinary tract infections and the age-old belief surrounding cranberry supplements. Discover whether these tart berries hold any real power against UTIs. The discussion highlights scientific evidence about the effectiveness of proanthocyanidines and explores various forms of cranberry products. Can they actually fend off infections, or are they just a myth? Tune in to find out the truth backed by data!
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
UTIs NOT From Dirt or Sex
- UTIs are caused by bacteria in the bladder, not by being dirty or sexually transmitted.
- Women are more prone due to shorter urethral length making bacterial entry easier.
Cranberry PACs Block Bacteria
- Cranberries contain proanthocyanidines (PACs) that prevent bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall.
- This anti-adhesion allows bacteria to be flushed out in urine, reducing infections.
Choose Effective Cranberry Form
- Look for cranberry supplements with at least 36 mg of soluble PACs for best efficacy.
- Avoid whole berry products as the soluble PACs you need come mostly from juice extract or powder.