Product reviews: AZO Cranberry tablets – Part 1

Cranberry juice and cranberry supplements such as AZO Cranberry capsules are over the counter herbal remedies, typically used to promote urinary tract health and to lessen symptoms of an existing urinary tract infection. Cranberry juice or a cranberry supplement whether a tea, tincture or capsule can help in the prevention of future urinary tract infections particularly in women who experience frequent infections.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

AZO Cranberry Tablets, Distributed by Amerifit Brands, Inc.

Sold in bottles of 50 tablets at a suggested retail price of $6.99

Active Ingredient: Each Tablet contains 450 of cranberry powder, extract from concentrate

Non- medicinal ingredients: Microcrystalline Cellulose, Talc, Vegetable Magnesium Stearate, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Castor Oil, Titanium Dioxide, Carmine Color and Lactose.

Recommended daily dosage: 2-6 tablets per day, as a dietary supplement

BENEFITS OF CRANBERRY

As well as promoting urinary tract health, cranberries have been shown to have anti- bacterial properties, affecting the formation of certain ulcers and gum disease. According to The Cranberry Institute, “Recent scientific research shows that cranberries and cranberry products contain significant amounts of antioxidants and other phytonutrients that may help protect against heart disease, cancer and other diseases.”

As I have suffered from frequent urinary tract infections myself, I highly recommend adding cranberry to your regular diet. Certainly fresh cranberries are probably best as is cranberry juice, cranberry extracts and supplements come in a very close second. Cranberry tablets in particular, have all the benefits of cranberry juice without the extra calories or high levels of sugar.

Did you know, that 1 cup (4 oz.) of unsweetened cranberry juice has 118 calories and as much as 30 grams of sugar? That is the unsweetened variety. Personally, I prefer the tablets to cranberry juice, because I don’t like the taste of cranberry juice. If you are diabetic or are watching your calorie intake, this may be a consideration.

Azo Cranberry Tablets are odorless and tasteless and have only 1 to 2 calories per capsule. One concern of AZO Cranberry tablets for me, was the size of the capsules. I have difficulty swallowing pills and as such, these capsules are quite large. On the other hand, they contain 450 mg of cranberry per pill, much more than some other cranberry extracts on the market. Thus, enabling me to take fewer tablets per day. You will need to decide what works best for you.

Remember, cranberry tablets are sold as a nutritional supplement and not as a drug. As such, the Food and Drug Administration does not have standards regarding the labeling, marketing or claims made by producers of herbal products. Due to this, not every product is created equal. Read the label every time and know exactly what it is you are taking. If you have any pre-existing health concerns, you should speak to your physician before starting this or any other supplement as they can interact with prescription medications.

Reference: AZO Cranberry Tablets – Product monograph

www.azoproducts.com/press/fact _sheet/azo_cranberry

The Cranberry Institute, www.cranberryinstitute.org/hea lthresearch.htm