For thousands of years, Native Americans have used cranberries to treat bacterial infections like UTIs. Despite limited scientific evidence, modern doctors often recommend unsweetened cranberry juice for UTIs.
However, researchers at Bond University, Australia, found in a meta-analysis of 20 studies that cranberry juice significantly reduces the risk of UTIs. Over several weeks or months, cranberry juice reduced UTIs by 27% and antibiotic use by 49%, compared to a placebo. Although not a replacement for antibiotics, cranberry juice may help prevent recurrent infections and reduce antibiotic dependence.