Cranberry supplements are incredibly popular for effectively warding off bladder infections. But with so many supplements to choose from these days, finding a good quality product that is also budget friendly can be mind boggling. So I have looked at the best cranberry supplements available and chosen five top contenders to share with you today.
- NATURAL, MAXIMUM STRENGTH SUPPORT - This formula brings you a 50:1 cranberry concentrate with the power of 12,600mg of...
- CLEAN FORMULA: GLUTEN FREE, NON GMO & MORE - We're proud to offer you one of the cleanest urinary tract support formulas on...
- CONVENIENT, ONCE-DAILY SOFTGEL - Just one convenient softgel per day and you can rest assured that you have promoted a...
- WHY NUTRACRAFT CRANBERRY CONCENTRATE -We start with the best quality ingredients, and keep our supplement pure by not adding...
- PREVENT DREADED UTIs - Prevent the horror of bloody urine and the pain and suffering from another urinary tract infection....
- WHY OUR CRANBERRY COMPLEX IS THE BEST - 50:1 concentrated capsules with a massive 12,600mg Cranberry Fruit equivalent per...
- Nutritional support for healthy urinary tract
- Washes away undesirable particles
- High potency capsules are equivalent to 5,600 mg (700 mg - 8:1 extract) whole cranberries
- Helps promote urinary tract health
- Washes Away Undesirable Particles
- Promotes bladder & urinary tract health
What are Cranberries?
Cranberries are the fruit of an evergreen shrub which grow abundantly throughout the northeastern and northcentral parts of the United States. Although mainly thought of during the festive season, cranberries offer more than just a flavorful Thanksgiving dish or string on the Christmas tree.
Similar to blueberries, they’re packed with antioxidants and have been used for hundreds of years for medicinal purposes, most notably in the treatment and prevention of urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Although the many benefits cranberries have to offer can be obtained by drinking cranberry juice, using cranberry supplements is a good way to pack your diet with antioxidant power without any added calories and sugars.
Benefits of Cranberries
Prevent UTIs
Studies have shown that consuming cranberries (supplements or juice) can decrease the number of symptomatic UTIs over a 12 month period, particularly for women with recurrent UTIs.
They do this is by preventing bacteria from clinging to the urinary tract, by making it an inhospitable environment for bacteria, most commonly E.coli, to multiply and cause cystitis or inflammation of the bladder.
Although research confirms the benefits of using cranberry supplements to fight recurrent UTIs, they should never be used to replace traditional antibiotics. If you have a UTI speak to your doctor and use cranberry supplements on a regular basis in order to stop the infection coming back.
Suppresses Gastric Ulcers
Research has shown that consuming cranberry juice suppresses gastric ulcers by keeping the bacteria Helicobacter pylori infection (a major cause of peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer) at bay.
Protects Your Teeth
Similarly to how cranberries prevent bacteria from clinging to your urinary tract, studies show they also prevent bacteria like Streptococcus mutans – the bacteria responsible for plaque – from clinging to your teeth.
This means your risk of cavities and tooth decay is reduced. While never a replacement for toothpaste, consuming cranberries can for sure improve your dental hygiene. It’s safe to say a cranberry a day keeps the dentist away!
What to Look for in a Cranberry Supplement
When it comes to cranberry supplements there are a few things you should look for. Firstly, how much and what kind of cranberry is in the product? In order to get the most antioxidant power, you want something made from cranberry juice.
Also, check for other ingredients and added sugars. Cranberry is a natural substance, so why would you need a list of ingredients as long as your arm in a cranberry supplement?
Be mindful of the sugar content. Often tablets or capsules are the best option for being low on sugar.
Lastly, you may want to choose a product grown and manufactured in the USA. Other countries do not have the same regulations and manufacturing laws for pesticides and other harmful ingredients and toxins as we do in the US.
The Best Cranberry Supplement
I appreciate how difficult it can often be to choose a quality supplement. With so many products available and so much information out there making the right decision in your local health food store can be a major task.
I have taken a look at all the available options and have chosen five of the best cranberry supplements on the market to share with you today. I have listed pros and cons for each product to help you make an informed decision as well as left you with my overall favorite product.
Zhou Nutrition
Cranberry Maximum Strength Urinary Tract Support This cranberry supplement from Zhou Nutrition offers 12,600 mg of cranberry concentrate per serving at a reasonable price. Free from most allergens and non GMO this is an excellent quality product in a convenient once a day soft gel.
Natrol
Natrol Cranberry Fast Dissolve Tablets Here we have a good cranberry supplement from Natrol. This company always offers quality products that are excellently priced and their cranberry supplement is no different. When it comes to value for money, you can’t go wrong with this one. This supplement is in the form of a slow dissolving tablet. You simply place it under your tongue and let it do its magic. They offer 250 mg of cranberry extract per serving and are made in the USA. The only downfall is the taste. As they can’t be swallowed or chewed, for some people allowing them to dissolve was very difficult if the flavor is not something you can bear.
Nutracraft
Nutracraft Triple Strength Cranberry Extract Supplement This product from Nutracraft offers a triple strength cranberry supplement that has 15,000 mg of cranberry fruit extract per serving. However, this is very strong and can cause gastrointestinal discomfort. This product is made in the USA in a GMP facility with FDA approval. These are slightly higher in price than other options, however, if you’re recommended a strong cranberry supplement by your doctor, this could be a good choice.
NOW Foods
NOW Foods Cranberry Capsules This cranberry supplement is in the mid range in terms of price with just under 2 months of capsules. These capsules from Now Foods offer a very high potency supplement with 700 mg of cranberry extract made from whole cranberries, per capsule, with the recommended dose being two caps per day. These are friendly to vegetarians however the capsules are very big. Therefore, for anyone like me who isn’t a fan of swallowing pills, you may wish to try a different brand.
Natural Factors
Natural Factors Cranrich 500mg Capsules This product from Natural Factors offers a capsule form cranberry supplement that has 500 mg of cranberry extract per serving, made from 100% natural cranberry fruit solids. Made in Canada and designed to promote urinary tract health, this product is slightly let down by its high price which may not be ideal for those looking to find a supplement for everyday use.
our #1 rated
Pros
12,600 mg per serving
Softgel form
Good price
Non GMO
Gluten, wheat, soy free, milk & egg free
Made in the USA
Produced in a GMP and FDA certified facility
Cons
Softgels melt easily
our #2 rated
Pros
250 mg cranberry extract per serving
Fast dissolve tablets
Made in the USA
Excellent price
Cons
Taste bad
our #3 rated
Pros
Triple strength
15,000 mg cranberry extract per serving
Made in the USA
Produced in a GMP facility
FDA approved premises
Lab tested for purity
Non GMO
Cons
Higher price
May cause gastrointestinal discomfort
our #4 rated
Pros
Made from whole cranberries
1400 mg cranberry extract per serving
Reasonable price
Vegetarian friendly
Capsule form
Made in the USA
Cons
Very large capsules
our #5 rated
Pros
Made from natural cranberry fruit solids
500 mg cranberry extract per serving
Capsule form
Made in Canada
Cons
Highly priced
Our Choice
For me it has to be the Zhou Nutrition cranberry supplement. Being made in the USA in a FDA approved facility following good manufacturing practices assures confidence in the quality of the product. Plus as it is free from common allergens, they’re safe to use for most people. All in all, a good quality supplement for anyone looking to try adding cranberry to their diet.
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