The side effect | The Cranberry Capsules

The side effect

In general, cranberries are also healthy and well tolerated thanks to their natural origin, which is why they have few side effects. Side effects also occur very rarely. Most of them are caused by excessive consumption, which is why short-term abstinence alone usually promises an improvement.

Anthocyanidins are bitter substances that some people cannot tolerate well and show symptoms of intolerance. These include stomach pain, flatulence or nausea. High intakes can also lead to more frequent formation of kidney stones.

In most cases these are harmless. However, a spontaneous loss of kidney stones can cause severe pain. If cranberries are eaten more often when kidney stones are already present, this can lead to a deterioration.

The danger here is that the kidney stones grow too much and block the urine flow paths. Cranberries can also slow down blood clotting. In some cases this can have serious consequences, such as bleeding in the brain.

Especially people with a coagulation disorder or with a medication that reduces blood clotting should discuss this with their doctor before taking cranberries. The effects of cranberries on the child during pregnancy and while breastfeeding are not clear, which is why they should not be taken during this period. Overall, all the side effects described are rare.

When can cranberry not be given?

For some conditions the use of cranberry is not advisable and should not be given. If kidney stones are already present, they should be avoided to prevent them from growing further. Even if you are intolerant of cranberries or their ingredients such as anthocyanidins, the use of cranberry is not advisable as it can cause problems.

However, special contraindications for the administration of cranberries are pregnancy or lactation as well as an already existing anticoagulation or a coagulation disorder. This is necessary because the effects of an anticoagulant or a coagulation disorder can be very serious. The effects on the child during pregnancy and breastfeeding are not yet known.

Other forms of application besides capsules

In addition to capsules, the ingredients of cranberries can also be absorbed into the body through some other forms of application. The easiest way is to eat fresh or dried cranberries. These can be bought well in grocery stores.

They can also be taken in the form of tablets or powder. If you pour hot water over dried cranberries, you can enjoy them as tea after a few minutes. Cranberries are also available as juice.

The dosage

The dosage or the daily dosage cannot be determined in a well-founded way so far. There are no generally accepted dosages that have been tested in studies. In addition, the maximum daily dose depends strongly on individual circumstances.

This means that heavier people can receive a higher dose than lighter people. It also means that the active substance is broken down faster in some people than in others. If in doubt, it is worth reading the package insert of the product carefully or asking a doctor for advice.

The usefulness of high-dose cranberry capsules must be doubted. This is due to the fact that on the one hand the intestine can only absorb a certain amount of cranberries or their ingredients at once. This means that some of the ingredients of the capsules are not absorbed into the body and are excreted without being metabolized.

On the other hand, the body can only metabolise a limited amount of the active ingredient at once. This means that not all the cranberries that have been gutted into the body can be used effectively. Maybe a small part of it can be stored for later use.