Is Cranberry Juice Really Helpful for Women?

tidbits that tantalizeGood For What Ails You?

Think of it. A "Cranberry Research Team," comprised of top scientists from across the country. Their mission? To deconstruct the lore of the humble cranberry, bring scientific method to the mythology, and establish the true medicinal value of the tiny red fruit once and for all. Only in America, right?

Well...

In actuality, the high-power research team is in Israel, headed by Prof. Itzhak Ofek of Tel Aviv University. He's somewhat of a cranberry specialist, having studied its health effects for the past two decades.

Cranberries have long been a part of folk medicine treatments for a variety of ailments. Its fruits and leaves have been used to treat wounds, digestive disorders, urinary tract infections, and liver problems. Prof. Ofek was the first to provide scientific evidence of cranberries ability to fight UTIs.

"We understood that there was something in cranberry juice that doesn't let infections adhere to a woman's bladder," Prof. Ofek says. "We figured it was a specific inhibitor and proved this to be the case."

Cranberries appear to have other medical talents as well. Prof. Ofek, in conjunction with the other cranberry researchers, has shown that cranberries also help to fight cavities and prevent the recurrence of ulcers. Based on these findings, Tel Aviv University patented a cranberry mouthwash.

Not so fast, guys...

Yes, it's true. The luscious little cranberry appears to benefit women only. However, since there is still so much yet unknown about the cranberry, Prof. Ofek recommends that men also drink its juice.

Ah, cranberry juice. The stuff of folklore, scientifically certified. Enjoy!

To read more about the study, see this from ScienceDaily. To read more about cranberries, see this from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.