Niba: You may have heard that cranberries help prevent UTIs, but does it really work? 

Cranberry's efficacy in knocking out a UTI has been contested by doctors for ages, but a 2021 meta-analysis might have nudged us closer to an answer.

UTIs are caused by bacteria, usually E. coli, that enter the body through the urethra and wreck havoc on the urinary tract. Cranberries are rich in phytochemicals like A-type proanthocyanidins, which prevent E. coli from sticking to the bladder cells. At least, that's how it works in the lab. But what about the human body?

Answering that takes a LOT of research, and a lot of people. So, these researchers compared the results of 23 trials on cranberries and UTIs, and found that consuming cranberries was associated with lower rates of UTIs in susceptible populations. They found that drinking cranberry juice is more effective than taking cranberry tablets, possibly because staying hydrated can also prevent UTIs in susceptible people.

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