What is more effective for treating bladder infections: cranberry pills or cranberry juice?

Answer by  malone (4817)

If you use the pills, drink lots of water, which you should anyway. Juice is fine, but not a substitute for water. Cranberry juice helps prevent bladder infection; it does not cure it. Only antibiotics can do that, so see your doc if you are ill.

Answer by  DrMom (854)

Cranberry juice, with its acidic qualities, is beneficial for bladder infections and may actually prevent them. However, cranberries are not a substitute for medical intervention if that becomes necessary.

Answer by  Marybeth (841)

Either one is equally effective,and you can do both, but also drink plenty of water, avoid soda pop. Watch your hygine, if you are a female make sure you do not wipe yourself from the back to the front and cause contamination with fecal matter.

Answer by  janeplowmanwindstreamnet (292)

I would go with the cranberry juice. I know of several people who drink a glass of cranberry juice every day for prevention. It is possible that the infection is not getting cleared up entirely if you keep getting so many infections.

Answer by  wikkiwikki (175)

Depending on how much juice you drink, they can be equally effective. Eating a handful of pills is easier than chugging a gallon of juice.

Answer by  lemonade123 (5)

I would think cranberry pills, as long as they were 100% cranberry. Cranberry juice tends to have a lot of other fruit juices (such as apple), and contains sugar which helps bacteria grow.

Answer by  tamarawilhite (17883)

Cranberry juice is more effective. Pills require water to be digested, and they may not be well absorbed. Cranberry juice hydrates you, a critical factor to help clear a bladder infection, and it's nutrients are more readily absorbed by the body. However, if the infection is severe or long lasting, contact a doctor for what may require antibiotics.

Answer by  diva25 (4016)

They both work equally as well. Cranberry anything is good for you when you have an infection. You can you one or the other or you can also use both of them at the same time.

Answer by  cindy1645 (128)

Cranberry juice can be good to use during bladder infections, as the acid in the juice binds to the walls of the bladder and eliminates the infection. Although, cranberry pills are much better to use, due to the fact that juice contains loads of sugar, which lowers your immune system.