# Cranberry juice is vile! (But it works, dammit) Some TMI **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 5, 2003, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cranberry-juice-is-vile-but-it-works-dammit-some-tmi/217201 "2003-12-05T18:26:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cranberry-juice-is-vile-but-it-works-dammit-some-tmi/217201/1 "2003-12-05T18:26:56Z")
I woke up yesterday morning with my bladder feeling like someone was running silver needles through it…sharp _sparkly_ pain. I groaned, having experience with kidney stones, and hoping that wasn’t it. So I ran to the bathroom about four times during the day (normal flow, no pain during peeing, just a cramping feeling mostly) and asked Ivylad to get me some cranberry juice. By the time I got home it hurt to walk, because it jarred my bladder. I drank that vile cranberry juice last night in lieu of dinner. Sweet Ivylad got up at four this morning to get me another bottle, and I drank it down again at work, the nasty stuff. But, no more sparkly pain. I’m going to have another bottle when I get home. Why can’t cranberry juice taste more like chocolate milk? And who drinks that stuff straight voluntarily? ---
**Author:** ![VenusProbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e495f1/32.png) [@VenusProbe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VenusProbe)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cranberry-juice-is-vile-but-it-works-dammit-some-tmi/217201/2 "2003-12-05T18:35:19Z")
I love cranberry juice! I drink it straight, but my favorite is 50/50 orange/cranberry with a shot of vodka. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Second\_Star\_to\_the\_Right](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@Second\_Star\_to\_the\_Right](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Second_Star_to_the_Right)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cranberry-juice-is-vile-but-it-works-dammit-some-tmi/217201/3 "2003-12-05T18:54:44Z")
Same here, \*\* VenusProbe.\*\* \*\* Ivylass, \*\* have you tried White Cranberry juice instead of the regular stuff? It’s MUCH less tart and goes down a lot easier. Just FYI. ---
**Author:** ![Stonebow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Stonebow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stonebow)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cranberry-juice-is-vile-but-it-works-dammit-some-tmi/217201/4 "2003-12-05T18:56:56Z")
I LOVE cranberry juice- not the cran(generic fruit) shit, but the cocktail. Though it’s a bit sweet for me at times, and I have to cut it with water. or gin. I go through a gallon of the stuff a week. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cranberry-juice-is-vile-but-it-works-dammit-some-tmi/217201/5 "2003-12-05T19:02:24Z")
How many of you who say you like cranberry juice are talking about liking 100% pure cranberry juice, rather than a Cranberry Juice Drink? I ask because though I love to use the 100% stuff in making cosmopolitans, it really is as close to undrinkable as you can get, it is just as bitter as bile. I get 100% Cranberry Juice from Traider Joes, shops like Safeways stock it at about $8.00 per bottle, whilst T.J’s is about $4.00 per bottle, so maybe the Safeway’s stuff is less bitter? ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cranberry-juice-is-vile-but-it-works-dammit-some-tmi/217201/6 "2003-12-05T19:03:22Z")
Oops, let me correct something. I was drinking the cocktail, which has sugar in it, but it seemed to do the trick. It still tastes yucky, and I know in cases of possible bladder infection you should drink the straight stuff and not the cocktail, but Ivylad couldn’t find the straight stuff. **SSttR** , I will look for the White Cranberry juice. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cranberry-juice-is-vile-but-it-works-dammit-some-tmi/217201/7 "2003-12-05T19:28:01Z")
I’ll mix it 50/50 with orange juice. Them’s good drinkins! I’m not surprised it cured your problem. Many use cranberry juice to flush/cleanse their system before a drug test. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cranberry-juice-is-vile-but-it-works-dammit-some-tmi/217201/8 "2003-12-05T19:33:25Z")
My doctor told me that _any_ acidic juice is good for bladder or urinary-tract problems. Maybe you can find a better-tasting alternative with the same acid content? ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cranberry-juice-is-vile-but-it-works-dammit-some-tmi/217201/9 "2003-12-05T19:58:19Z")
My doc said the same thing (sugar issues, need to stay awary from the cocktail) - or to take the cranberry tablets and drink a lot of water and lemon juice (about 1 tbs lemon juice to 1 cup of water). I haven’t had a bladder infection in over 5 years, and I had about 2 a year before I start this. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cranberry-juice-is-vile-but-it-works-dammit-some-tmi/217201/10 "2003-12-05T20:00:35Z")
What about lemonade? Or orange juice? Or are they too sweet? ---
**Author:** ![MissBHaven](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missbhaven/32/7170_2.png) [@MissBHaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissBHaven)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cranberry-juice-is-vile-but-it-works-dammit-some-tmi/217201/11 "2003-12-05T20:03:32Z")
Does anybody know WHY it works? ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cranberry-juice-is-vile-but-it-works-dammit-some-tmi/217201/12 "2003-12-05T20:07:03Z")
I think the acidity counteracts the infection and irritants—but that’s just a guess. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cranberry-juice-is-vile-but-it-works-dammit-some-tmi/217201/13 "2003-12-05T20:27:26Z")
> [@](#): > > _Eve_ > My doctor told me that any acidic juice is good for bladder or urinary-tract problems. Maybe you can find a better-tasting alternative with the same acid content? This is true, in that the acidity makes for a less hospitible environment for the bacteria, but cranberry, as opposed to other acidic juices, has a secondary benefit. In simple terms, it prevents the bacteria (E. coli, mostly) from adhering to the cell wall in the bladder. Skeptics can search on Medline for _tons_ of peer-reviewed research on cranberry’s efficacy. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cranberry-juice-is-vile-but-it-works-dammit-some-tmi/217201/14 "2003-12-05T20:54:21Z")
On the topic of the vileness of cranberry juice, while I think it’s yummy going in it makes my poo smell indescribably awful on the way out the next day. AFAIK cranberry juice is the only thing that has this immediate and dramatic effect on my poo. Anyone else notice this effect on themselves or is it just me? ---
**Author:** ![CaptBushido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@CaptBushido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptBushido)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cranberry-juice-is-vile-but-it-works-dammit-some-tmi/217201/15 "2003-12-05T21:31:26Z")
I love straight, real cranberry juice. I drink it like it was water, in fact. I don’t have it often, though, because I’m too busy guzzling the other juice that most people I know say is disgusting: grapefruit. ---
**Author:** ![Loneraven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c0e974/32.png) [@Loneraven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loneraven)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cranberry-juice-is-vile-but-it-works-dammit-some-tmi/217201/16 "2003-12-05T21:40:01Z")
**Otto** , your willingness to go straight to the point still amazes me. (says a girl who has never even _seen_ cranberry juice) ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cranberry-juice-is-vile-but-it-works-dammit-some-tmi/217201/17 "2003-12-05T21:46:10Z")
I love Grapefruit juice, which is why I can’t understand anyone liking Cranberry juice straight. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cranberry-juice-is-vile-but-it-works-dammit-some-tmi/217201/18 "2003-12-05T21:53:39Z")
AFAIK when I buy cranberry juice I get the stuff that’s not a cocktail… I used to not like it but I acquired a taste for it… Grapefruit juice on the other hand ugh it tastes like bile… ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cranberry-juice-is-vile-but-it-works-dammit-some-tmi/217201/19 "2003-12-05T21:58:31Z")
[juice hijack] Hey, re grapefruit juice: it’s mostly too acidic for me to drink much of (though I like the taste) but I stumbled on a combo that tastes pretty yummy: 1/2 grapefruit juice, 1/2 carrot juice Carrot juice to me if fairly vile by itself, but the two mixed together is yummy! [/juice hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cranberry-juice-is-vile-but-it-works-dammit-some-tmi/217201/20 "2003-12-05T22:52:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Loneraven \* > \*\ ***Otto** , your willingness to go straight to the point still amazes me. > > (says a girl who has never even _seen_ cranberry juice) \*\* Heh, well, I’ve been wanting to ask that question for about a year, when I switched my regular drink from amaretto sours to vodka/cranberry. This seemed like the perfect opportunity. But no one’s answered the question. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cranberry-juice-is-vile-but-it-works-dammit-some-tmi/217201.md?page=2)