British blackcurrants beat cystitis

 

British blackcurrants are known to help prevent Alzheimer's disease, fight cancer and combat heart disease. Now this small but mighty home-grown superfood is set to become every woman's favourite fruit, as new research reveals blackcurrants can help beat cystitis and other urinary tract infections.

 

As most women know, urinary tract infections (UTI) are all too common. Most are caused by bacteria, such as E.coli, and can be treated with a range of medicines. But prevention is better than cure and a recent study reveals that eating and drinking blackcurrants can help reduce the frequency, severity and duration of urinary tract infections.

 

British blackcurrants are high in health promoting compounds called proanthocyanidins. It is these proanthocyanidins that successfully interfere with the bad bacteria that cause nasty UTIs, such as cystitis.

 

Derek Stewart, from the Scottish Crop Research Institute says: "We know from a range of studies that proanthocyanidin containing fruit like cranberries are great at reducing the incidence of urinary tract infections.

 

However most people don't know that blackcurrants are also packed with these compounds. "However, blackcurrants also have the advantage in having many other useful chemicals that help fight against infections such as, catechins and anthocyanins, the compounds responsible for giving blackcurrants they're deep colour."

 

At least 50% of women suffer a UTI sometime in their life. The urinary tract is the name given to the group of internal organs that collect, store and remove urine from the body. The most common part of the urinary tract to get infection is the bladder, an infection here is called cystitis. Common they may be, but symptoms such as a burning sensation on passing urine and never being able to stray far from the toilet are no laughing matter.

 

Drinking blackcurrant juice containing high levels of proanthocyanidins can help flush the body whilst successfully hydrating the body. Consumers are encouraged to eat blackcurrant or drink blackcurrant juice regularly, as part of a healthy diet, as an easy, tasty and natural way to help prevent the occurrence of an infection and relieve the symptoms of cystitis.

 

So if you thought blackcurrants were just for adding to sorbets and cheesecake, think again. British blackcurrants are in season from late July until September so make sure you stock up on the home grown superfood this summer, and eat and drink yourself to health.

 

Notes to Editors

 

The facts about UTI

 

• UTI is 50 times more common in women than men
• At least 50% of women suffer a UTI sometime in their life
• UTIs are more common in women than men. It is thought that this is because the urethra is shorter in women than in men
• E.coli is the cause if 65%-80% of all UTIs
• The most common part of the urinary tract to get infected is the bladder. Infection here is called cystitis
• Severe infections of the kidney is called pyelonephritis

 

Symptoms of UTI include:

 

• * A burning sensation on passing urine
• Needing to pass urine more frequently than usual
• Needing to hurry to get to the toilet in time to pass urine
• Having the sensation of needing to pass urine but being unable to do so
• Having cloudy urine, which may be foul smelling
• Having blood present in the urine
• Feeling unwell
• Having a fever

 

For more information on UTI please click here

 

For further information or photography, or to request blackcurrant recipes please contact:

Kate Refson at Cirkle Communications

T: 01494 683 169

F: 01494 675 380

E: kate.refson@cirkle.com