Cranberry juice has tremendous health benefits and with only 45 calories per cup, it is often recommended as a supplement to diets. It is full of vitamin C and also has salicylic acid. It contains many antioxidants which are good for the skin. Containing 87.13g water for every 100 g, cranberry juice is excellent for providing energy and the necessary dose of proteins and carbohydrates. Consuming cranberry juice gives the benefits of vitamins, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, vitamin-6 and vitamin K. There are also essential minerals, such as calcium, iron, magnesium, sodium, zinc, potassium and sodium, present in this sweet drink that gives many benefits.
Cranberry Juice Benefits
The cranberry is found in North America and is a versatile fruit that makes it beneficial to be used as food, as well as in medicines. It is used to relieve a variety of symptoms, diseases and disorders. The health benefits of cranberry juice are as follows:
1. Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections or UTIs develop by bacteria or fungi in the urinary tract that reach the bladder and eventually cause pain while urinating. These microorganisms in the urethra can reach the bladder, or in severe cases, kidneys and cause serious symptoms like shaking and fever. Cranberry juice is a common known cure for UTIs as it contains proanthocyanidins, a substance that has properties that prevent the bacterium from attaching to the cells present on the bladder wall. Cranberry juice has compounds that discourage the bacteria from burgeoning and spreading further and helps get rid of them through urination.
2. Cardiovascular Health
One of the cranberry juice benefits is that it's noted to improve conditions of the heart and sustain cardiovascular health. Cranberries have flavonoids that aid in reducing atherosclerosis. This is an illness of the heart where the arteries get narrow due to high consumption of fat and cholesterol in the food. When the arteries are blocked or obstructed, blood rich in oxygen cannot reach other parts of the body in a timely manner and this may result in strokes and heart attacks. The essential compounds found in cranberries slow down the oxidation of LDL, which is a lipoprotein low in density and also helps stimulate blood platelets.
3. Prevention of Tooth Decay
Cranberries, along with providing multiple benefits, also help relieve tooth cavities. There is a compound called Proanthocyanidine existing in cranberries that prevents the bacteria in the food from clinging onto the teeth. When bacteria aren’t present, acid production is reduced and periodontal disease is prevented as there is no plaque. By practicing good dental hygiene and consuming cranberries or cranberry juice, dental cavities and problems can be avoided. It is best to consume natural cranberry juice as those available commercially contain excessive sugars.
4. Cancer Prevention
Cranberries also contain compounds that hinder and prevent the development of cancer cells. Many studies have proved that dietary foods that contain flavonoids help in reducing the threat of cancer by preventing growth of its cells. Cranberry juices have anti-carcinogenic compounds that particularly prevent the growth of prostrate and colon cancer cells. Consuming cranberry juice regularly not only prevents cancer cell growth but stops tumors from developing as well. It is also beneficial in hindering the progress of cells that cause breast cancer.
5. Peptic Ulcers
Peptic ulcers are usually produced by a bacterium known as Helicobacter pylori. The protective layer that covers the duodenum and the stomach is attacked by Helicobacter pylorus which often leads to swelling of the stomach lining. Cranberries, along with certain other foods such as apples and garlics aid in reducing the menace of stomach disorders and stomach ulcer. They also help in preventing further growth of the H. pylori bacteria. Cranberry juice is highly recommended by doctors for stomach infections as many studies have shown that patients who consumed the juice had 50 percent better stomach related health compared to patients who did not take cranberry juice.
6. Fighting Common Infections
Cranberry juice benefits also include its effectiveness in treating some common infections and viruses like cold, flu and throat ailments. Cranberry juice is known to have a soothing effect on the respiratory tract which helps prevent causes of respiratory and ear infections in children.
7. Anti-Ageing Properties
Cranberry juice contains high concentration of antioxidants and vitamins C, B3 and B5 that increase the cell turnover and help against the development of wrinkles, pigmentation and fine lines on the skin. All these are caused majorly by environmental factors and exposure to the sun. Thus, cranberry juice has components that help fight the ageing factors we experience daily.
8. Preventing Scurvy
There is a high content of vitamin C in cranberry juice that aids the growth of collagen in the body and hinders the development of diseases like scurvy.
Side Effects of Drinking Excessive Cranberry Juice
Though there're many cranberry juice benefits such as reducing and curing diseases like urinary tract infections and stomach related disorders, taking large quantities of cranberry juice does have its side effects.
1. Gastrointestinal Problems and Diabetes Complications
As with many other juices, consuming cranberry juice in large quantities may cause an upset stomach or diarrhea. Commercial cranberry juice has a high dosage of sugar so patients with diabetes and glucose intolerance should avoid drinking too much of it.
2. Kidney Stones
Oxalate is a chemical present in cranberry juice that causes the development of kidney stones. Patients with a history of kidney stones should consult their doctors before consumption.
3. Drug Interactions
Cranberry juice has been known to interact with warfarin that is a blood thinner, to cause bleeding in people. There are some medications that interact negatively with cranberry juice so patients should avoid taking it with their medications.These drug interactions in most cases are not life threatening.
4. Allergies
Some people are allergic to aspirin. Cranberry juice contains a lot of salicylic acid that is the same ingredient found in aspirin, so people allergic to aspirin should not take it.