Sugar, Sugar… 

There’s another problem with using cranberry juice as a method to prevent and treat urinary tract infections. That problem is that regular cranberry juice can be loaded with sugar. The USDA says that a cup of cranberry juice can contain 31 grams of sugar. That’s a lot of sugar when you consider the fact that the American Heart Association (AHA) says that a woman should consume only 25 grams of sugar a day. In other words, just one cup of cranberry juice can contain more than the recommended daily limit. This elevated amount of sugar can increase the chance of infection in general because sugar feeds on bacteria. If you happen to be diabetic, you’re already prone to infection. Plus, sugar and obesity have been found to be linked, and sugar can even increase the risk of heart disease. 

The best method of treatment for urinary tract infections appears to be time-tested antibiotics because antibiotics actually kill the bacteria. That said, some antibiotics used can have an adverse effect when mixed with alcohol, making them a bit of a hindrance if you’re a social drinker. This might make cranberry juice look more appealing -- until you’re going to the bathroom so much that missing out on a little social drinking may not seem like such a big deal. 

Another method of UTI treatment comes in the way of simple prevention. After all, there’s nothing better than not getting a UTI in the first place. 

Prevent UTIs Before They Start 

Here are a few ways to prevent UTIs before they start. Drink a lot of water to flush bacteria out of the system. If you don’t like simple water, consider adding lemon or lime for taste. Most non-sugary fluids can do the trick, too. 

Further, takes steps to prevent urinary tract infections resulting from sexual activity. (Yes, sex and UTI can go hand in hand.) Always urinate before and after sex. Sex introduces bacteria into the body. It can even transfer bacteria from the anus to the vagina, which can cause a UTI.