Cranberry juice is full of nutrition, antioxidants, and antibacterial compounds that make it a preventative and cure for many ailments.
Cranberries are known as one of the top foods that boast clinically proven benefits. They are related to blueberries but have a more astringent taste. Due to this, they are most often consumed as a juice flavored with other sweeter juices.
Research has found cranberry juice can fight infections, help to combat many chronic diseases, and even has anti-aging benefits. Pure cranberry juice contains vitamin C, manganese, vitamin E, Vitamin K1, copper, polyphenols, phytonutrients and antioxidants such as quercetin, myricetin, and ursolic acid.
Cranberry Juice Benefits and Uses
Get familiar with the delicious cranberry juice benefits and uses now.
1. Improves Heart Health
Heart disease is a huge problem in the world today, being one of the leading causes of mortality. Antioxidants such as anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, and quercetin are known to effectively improve heart health.
They prevent free radical damage, which has been seen to affect the inner layer of the arteries. Cranberry juice improves heart health through its high concentrations of these important antioxidants. In recent studies, cranberry juice has been seen to decrease many other factors associated with the risk of developing heart disease.
Cranberry juice has even been found to have anti-clotting properties that may help reduce the chance of developing a dangerous blood clot. The polyphenol content of cranberry juice is also responsible for supporting heart health through the reduction of oxidation in the body.
Also cranberry juice benefits the heart through decreasing levels of bad cholesterol, promoting good cholesterol, increasing the flexibility of blood vessels, lowering blood pressure, and reducing inflammation in the veins and arteries.
2. Combats Colds and Sore Throats
Consuming fresh cranberry juice is associated with experiencing fewer colds and a decrease in the severity of cold or flu symptoms, including alleviating sore throats, often through its vitamin C content.
Cranberry juice even has antibacterial compounds, which can help cleanse the throat of pathogenic bacteria and provide additional germ-fighting benefits. The phytochemicals present in cranberry juice give the immune system a boost, which may also help shorten the duration of a cold.
Many individuals also experience a sharp reduction of the symptoms of the flu when consuming cranberry juice over time. Researchers have found cranberry juice can increase the number of antibodies present in the blood, which can defend the body from invading pathogens.
3. Alleviates Pain from Ulcers
In recent years, scientists have begun uncovering cranberry juice’s ability to combat ulcer symptoms and even cure reoccurring ulcers all together. Ulcers are often caused by a type of bacteria that creates inflammation in the stomach tissue’s lining.
These bacteria embed into the stomach lining and may cause chronic problems, irritation, and bleeding. Many individuals who use cranberry juice to combat ulcer symptoms find a decrease in the frequency and duration of a flare-up, in some cases even more so than taking probiotics.
Cranberries have high concentrations of a compound known as proanthocyanin, which is seen to reduce the chance of developing stomach problems caused by the bacteria H. pylori.
Cranberry juice works to prevent this bacteria from attaching to the stomach lining and even suppresses the growth of H. pylori. This alleviates pain from ulcers and can help cure them more quickly.
4. Helps with Urinary Tract Infections
A popular method for dealing with and preventing urinary tract infections is to drink pure and unsweetened cranberry juice. It helps with urinary tract infections through resolving symptoms and reducing the frequency of an occurrence for individuals prone to developing frequent urinary tract infections.
The effects can be fast, effective, and its use has minimal to no side effects. The benefits it has for dealing with urinary tract infections is partly due to cranberry juice’s antibacterial properties, which help the body’s immune system fight infections.
Urinary tract infections typically occur when bacteria such as E. coli colonize in the urethra or the bladder. This colonization causes inflammation and pain during urination.
Cranberry juice also acts as a preventative due to it containing phytonutrients that prevent the bacteria from attaching to the lining of the urinary tract. Acting as a buffer, the bacteria cannot continue to colonize and symptoms may be able to resolve more quickly.
These effects are most powerful in minimally processed cranberry juice, as phytonutrients can be easily destroyed when exposed to heat or heavy processing.
5. Boosts the Immune System
New studies have found cranberry juice also boosts the immune system in addition to the many impressive cranberry juice benefits. Daily consumption of pure cranberry juice is especially recommended for patients with weakened immune systems or who experience chronic infections.
The nutritional content can give the immune what it needs to fight off infections and function more efficiently. Cranberries also have the ability to help protect the cells of the body with antioxidants, strengthening the entire system.
It contains compounds that can even help the immune system flush out bacteria that has accumulated in the cells. The high levels of vitamin C are also known to contribute to a stronger immune system and lower stress that can inhibit the immune system’s function.
In recent studies, cranberry juice has also been shown to improve the production of antibodies, which are a vital part of the immune system’s function.
Via: OrganicFacts | MedicalNewsToday
