Cranberries are the kind of fruit whose juice is preferred over its raw or dried form because unlike their fresh color, they have kind of a sharp sour taste. Cranberries are from Eastern Europe or North America and they belong to the same family as blueberries. Due to their many health benefits, they can be found in a lot of kitchens.
Nutritional Profile of Cranberries
Fresh cranberries are composed of 87% water content and have a small carbohydrate concentration that is 3.4g per 100g. They prove to be a good source of vitamins and minerals such as beta carotene, calcium, vitamin A and vitamin C. Cranberry juice has a three-time more calory count than that of fresh fruit and has a relatively higher sugar content if compared to fresh fruit.
Benefits of cranberry juice
Find the possible benefits of cranberry juice below. It’s helpful for specific conditions and you can read about all conditions below but if you want to buy a juicer just go and check the collection of juicers which is under 100$.
Good for heart patients:
Cranberries contain a great amount of heart-healthy antioxidant content in their skin. They have a high concentration of flavanol which is a type of polyphenol, that supports heart health. Laboratory produced double-strength cranberry juice has the ability to reduce artery stiffness of arteries that is quite helpful for people with coronary heart disease.
Good in treatment or prevention of Urinary Tract Infections:
Cranberries have antibacterial properties. UTIs occur when bacteria manage to enter the urinary tract that includes the kidney, uterus, bladder, and urethra. Cranberries contain compounds like fructose and proanthocyanidins that help prevent the bacteria from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract.
Fights age-related damage:
The older a person gets the body is prone to oxidative damage. It is due to the chemicals called free radicals, that accumulate in the body as a person ages. The antioxidants in cranberries also help fight harmful free radicals.
Prevents Gut Infections:
The phytochemicals present in cranberries help improve digestive health. Cranberries help inhibit the production of a bacterium known as H. pylori in the digestive tract that helps reduce the chance of gut infections.
Prevents dental plaque:
Dental plaque is a bacterial layer that forms alongside your gums and between your teeth. It keeps growing there because is the saliva combining with food and fluids in your mouth. Cranberry juice makes it difficult for the bacteria to stick to the tooth’s surface. It also reduces the production of gluten, which is the first step in plaque building.
Anti-inflammatory qualities:
As discussed earlier, some contents in cranberries may help fight bacteria and viruses. According to studies, cranberries can help inhibit the growth of seven kinds of bacteria. Also, cranberries are helpful in effectively fighting the norovirus, which is the main cause of food-borne illness.
Good for post-menopausal health:
Menopause can cause a huge decline in the production of estrogen hormone. Oestrogen accumulates in the inner walls of arteries and helps them expand and contract depending on blood flow. Cranberries have a large number of phytoestrogens, that attach with oestrogen receptors and thus act in a way similar to body-produced oestrogen. Taking cranberry juice also helps reduce blood cholesterol levels and thus helps control blood flow.
Reduces diabetes risk:
Cranberries can help treat type two diabetes because of a large concentration of polyphenol present in it.
Reduces flu virus severity:
Taking cranberry juice regularly helps in decreasing flu virus severity if you catch it. It is because it contains NDM, high molecular weight material. It does so by preventing the virus from attaching to cells of the body. Cranberry juice also has a high concentration of vitamin C, which boosts the immune system and suppresses the virus gene activation.
Protects brain health:
Taking cranberry juice constantly may help reduce the chances of brain cells being damaged by excess domoic acid, which can contribute to neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s, dementia, or Alzheimer’s.
Conclusion:
Cranberries may react with certain types of medications. For example, it can make the effect of a blood thinner intense, such as warfarin. So, you should talk to your doctor before adding cranberry juice to your daily diet plan.
Also, you should consider the fact that regular cranberry juice contains three times more sugar than the actual berries so drinking it without a check every day can lead to an upset stomach. If you want to start taking cranberry juice regularly, you should first consult with your doctor or a dietitian to confirm its daily dose.
You must read: The Benifits of Grapefruit
