Benefits of Cranberry Juice
As with most fruits, it's best to eat whole fruit, but cranberry juice is also nutritious.
Edited and resized image by Evan Wise is available on Unsplash
Cranberry juice is known to help fight urinary tract infections, but that's not its only benefit. Cranberry is a marshy fruit rich in water and nutrients that help improve general health, including stomach and liver problems. When matured, the cranberry falls into water and floats, which increases its contact with sunlight and its nutritional value.
As with most fruits, it is best to eat the cranberry in its whole version, but it is also possible to obtain nutritional benefits from the juice. Check out:
Prevents urinary infections
Cranberry contains proanthocyanidins, which are compounds that help prevent urinary infections by preventing bacteria from attaching to the lining of the urinary tract.
good for the heart
Cranberry also contains phytonutrients, which provide anti-inflammatory effects. Inflammation plays a role in the destruction of blood vessels over time. Damaged vessels attract plaque causing atherosclerosis. By protecting against inflammation, cranberry helps prevent heart disease.
prevents cancer
The phytochemicals in cranberry are powerful antioxidants that help protect the body from cell damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals contribute to the aging process and can also be risk factors for the development of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
A survey published in Journal of Nutrition found that cranberry may play a role in cancer prevention through dietary changes.
Improves digestive health
The same compounds that help protect the heart also improve the function of the digestive system. They can prevent bacteria like the Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), grow and multiply in the lining of the stomach and offer protection against colon cancer.
Choose your juice wisely
When you're looking for healthy cranberry juice, it's important not to fall into the traps of labels. There is a big difference between cranberry juice and cranberry nectar.
Processed nectars contain high amounts of added sugars such as high fructose corn syrup; and very little cranberry. Make your own cranberry juice or look for labels that say “made from 100% fruit” or that list other natural sweeteners like apple or grape juice.
