Q I have been drinking cranberry juice to help ward off a urinary tract infection. It has been suggested to me that cranberries themselves may be more effective. Do you know how many cranberries would provide the equivalent acidic protection of 5 to 6 ounces of cranberry juice? Also, cranberry juice may be an acquired taste but it certainly is palatable and even enjoyable. Is the same true for the berries?
A Cranberry juice consumed over a 12-month period can reduce urinary tract infections in women who frequently experience them, but it isn't effective for men or women with urinary catheters.
It's the proanthocyanidins, which are also antioxidants, found in cranberries that seem to prevent bacteria from adhering to the bladder cells. The amount of cranberry juice needed to have an effect has not been determined. There is no evidence that plain cranberries would be more effective than juice. According to Ocean Spray, it would take about ¼ cup of frozen cranberries, 1/3 cup of sweetened dried cranberries or 1/3 cup of cranberry sauce to make 8 ounces of juice.
Cranberry juice is not a substitute for antibiotics. If you have a urinary tract infection, see a doctor. Urinary tract infections are most often caused by E. coli found in the large bowel.
Regarding taste, plain cranberries and unsweetened juice are quite tart and not to most people's taste. If you are concerned about the added sugar content in cranberry juice, try one with artificial sweeteners such as sucralose.
Joanne Larsen, dietitian, www.dietitian.com
Best converter box Q Could you recommend a TV converter box? My discount coupons expire on July 31.
A The Star Tribune's Randy Salas, who has written on the topic, says most casual viewers won't be able to distinguish among the quality of the converter boxes, which all do the same basic function: convert digital TV signals to analog for older TVs. Most stores carry only one or two models. If you want more choices, you'll need to order online from sites such as Watch Digital TV (www.watchdigitaltv.com) and Solid Signal (www.solidsignal.com). If you really want technical details, see the article "Coupon Eligible Converter Box/DTV converter comparison" at www.freelabs.com/~whitis. Look under "Original Content."
