Product Review: Cystex Liquid Cranberry Complex

The very curvy, Beyonce-shaped bottle really catches the eye, (remember how she looked in the video "Single Ladies-Put A Ring On It"?), compelling you to further read the bright, colorful info and check out the contents.

(Two statements on the bottle also catches the eye: "Twice as effective as cranberry tablets" and "1 tablespoon= 8 glasses of cranberry juice." That's a lot of medicinal power!)

As I opened the bottle and took out a tablespoon, I was fully expecting a cranberry taste, scrunching my nose up in dire anticipation. Imagine my total surprise-and great relief-as I encountered the sensational taste of fresh pineapple (I love pineapple) instead! (Many women do not like the bitterness of pure cranberry juice and to be expected to drink several glasses daily...it's an issue! And cranberry juice cocktail is loaded with sugar and calories.)

The other cool thing about Cystex Liquid Cranberry Complex is that you don't have to just take it when you have a recurring UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) problems; even "in the picture of health" it's highly recommended to keep your urinary tract "intact" (If you currently have a UTI, take TWO tablespoons of Cystex and drink plenty of fluids).

Did you know that UTIs affect more than 60% of women and are the second most common type of infection in the body? UTIs have a recurrence rate of more than 40% and account for 8.3 million doctor visits each year.

Cranberries are very effective in UTI prevention because they contain proanthocyanidins (PACs), which prevent E. coli bacteria from sticking to the cell lining in the urinary tract. 91% of women taking daily Cystex Liquid Cranberry Complex (with Proantinox) remained free of recurring UTIs. Cystex provides 17 times more (!) "PACs" than cranberry tablets, is totally sugar-free and is only one calorie per tablespoon.

The medicine formula contains Natural cranberry concentrate, D-Mannose, an active ingredient from cranberries, Bromelain, a natural anti-inflammatory from pineapples (and that great flavor!), Vitamin C and FOS (insulin).

Cystex Liquid Cranberry Complex is available nationwide at drugstore chains and mass market retailers, like Walgreens, Walmart and Rite Aid. Or you can go to www.cystex.com.

Kinoko AHCC (Active Hexose Correlated Compound) was first used in Japan about 20 years ago, but has been commercially available in the U.S. since 1992. Very few people know about, however. I recently acquired this and was most impressed. Upon first glance, they're very unassuming-looking (long oval-shaped tablets and oatmeal or beige colored), but are actually quite powerful!

They build up a weak immune system, help the body fight off a variety of health conditions, and increase the number of NK (Natural Killer) cells, the body's first line of defense, T-cells, which provides backup to the NK ones, and Cytokines, which activate the immune system, among many other good things.

This can be considered as a daily vitamin for your immune system. Kinoko AHCC should be taken twice daily on an empty stomach (30 minutes before a meal or two hours after one) for the best absorption. BUT, the cool thing about this is that AHCC is well absorbed even when taken with a meal and is effective even when taken in a single daily dose. AND, it enhances the power of a flu shot!

Kinoko AHCC is available at independent health food stores, Vitamin Shoppe and select Whole Food stores, as well as online. To learn more about AHCC, go to www.ahccresearch.com.
The suggested retail price is $ $59.49 (7.6 fl oz).