Cranberry Juice: Are There Health Benefits? (2024)

Cranberries (Vaccinium oxycoccos or Vaccinium macrocarpon) are small, red berries native to the United States and Canada. They grow on creeping, low-lying vines, and do best in peat-based soil and damp conditions. Cranberries are closely related to blueberries, bilberries, and huckleberries.

The United States is the world’s largest producer of cranberries. The state of Wisconsin alone produced 4.1 million barrels in 2021.

Cranberry juice might not be as popular as orange or apple juice, but it’s a delicious beverage with many health benefits. Some people drink it to help prevent urinary tract infections. While this is one of the most common reasons why people drink it, cranberry juice offers several other health benefits.

Nutrition Information

In addition to antioxidants, cranberry juice offers small amounts of several vitamins and minerals, including:

One cup of unsweetened cranberry juice contains:

  • 116 calories
  • 1 gram of protein
  • 0 grams of fat
  • 31 grams of carbohydrates
  • 0 grams of fiber
  • 31 grams of sugar

Potential Health Benefits of Cranberry Juice

Cranberry juice is an excellent source of vitamin C and provides 26% of your recommended daily allowance in an 8-ounce serving. Vitamin C plays many important roles in the body. A powerful antioxidant, it helps stop free radicals from damaging cells and DNA in your body. This may help reduce your risk of developing various diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and more.

Vitamin C also helps you heal after injuries, produce collagen, absorb iron, and boosts your immune system.

Vitamin C isn’t the only antioxidant in cranberry juice. An 8-ounce glass has approximately 20% of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin E, which is essential for the health of your skin, blood vessels, and heart.

Cranberry juice also has several other antioxidant compounds, including:

These antioxidants are mainly found in the skins of fresh cranberries. Since cranberry juice doesn’t contain the skins it has lower concentrations of these antioxidants.

Some other health benefits of cranberry juice include:

Improved heart health. Anthocyanins in cranberry juice may help reduce hardening of the arteries. Several studies also show that cranberry juice may help reduce the chance of heart disease by improving cholesterol levels and lowering blood pressure.

Stomach health. Antioxidants in cranberry juice, particularly A-type proanthocyanidins, can help prevent the growth of a bacteria called Helicobacter pylori that causes stomach ulcers. Drinking cranberry juice may help reduce infections of this bacteria.

Immune system strength. Cranberry juice is rich in vitamin C, which helps keep your immune system healthy and functioning properly. It fights against oxidative stress from free radicals and helps kill harmful bacteria. Some studies also link low vitamin C intake to poor immune function.

Infection prevention. One of the most common causes of urinary tract infections (UTI) is the bacteria E. coli. The A-type proanthocyanidins in cranberry juice may help prevent the bacteria from collecting on the walls of the bladder and urinary tract. This reduces the risk of developing a UTI. Keep in mind that while cranberry juice may help reduce the risk of UTI, it can’t cure an active infection once one develops.

Potential Risks of Cranberry Juice

Make sure to read the labels of any cranberry juice brands you buy. Some brands add sugar. Drinking too much sugar can cause an upset stomach, diarrhea, and blood sugar spikes.

Cranberry juice may also cause problems with certain blood thinning medications. If you take blood thinners, be sure to speak with your doctor about how much cranberry juice is safe to drink.

Cranberry Juice: Are There Health Benefits? (2024)

FAQs

Cranberry Juice: Are There Health Benefits? ›

Some preliminary research has linked cranberry juice to prevention of some types of cancer, decreased blood pressure, and increased immunity. Additionally, cranberry juice has been used as a long-time home remedy for the prevention and treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Is it good to drink cranberry juice every day? ›

Although cranberry juice is safe to consume in moderation, drinking too much can cause side effects such as upset stomach, diarrhea, and blood sugar spikes. In the past, it was believed that cranberry juice can slow the growth of bacteria and therefore is useful in treating urinary tract infections.

What organ is cranberry juice good for? ›

Studies show that various ingredients in cranberry juice may improve heart health. Cranberries are high in chemicals called polyphenols that may support heart health. A 2011 study of females with metabolic syndrome found that cranberry juice increased the antioxidants in the blood plasma.

Which cranberry juice is the healthiest? ›

To avoid excess consumption of added sugars and maximize the potential benefits of cranberry juice, it is best to choose pure, unsweetened cranberry juice. While cranberry juice is safe for most people, consuming too much can lead to side effects, like upset stomach and diarrhea.

Is ocean spray cranberry juice good for you? ›

Fruit juices, including cranberry contain micronutrients and vitamins which can help support and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Cranberry juice is especially rich in flavonoids, which are known for their health-promoting benefits.

When should you not drink cranberry juice? ›

Cranberry juice is high in salts called oxalates, which can make kidney stones more likely, especially if you already tend to get these types of stones. If you take the blood-thinning medication warfarin, you should avoid cranberry products, because cranberries can interact with warfarin and cause bleeding.

Is cranberry good for the kidneys? ›

4. Cranberries. Cranberries are low in potassium and high in vitamin C, making them another great choice for people with kidney disease. Cranberry juice has also been shown to help prevent urinary tract infections, which are typical for people with kidney disease.

What juice is healthiest to drink? ›

5 of the healthiest juices
  1. Açaí berry. While research is limited, Açaí juice has been found to offer some benefits. ...
  2. Beet. Also called beetroot juice, beet juice contains a significant amount of nitrates that help to improve blood flow, according to WebMD. ...
  3. Cranberry. ...
  4. Grapefruit. ...
  5. Tomato.
Apr 12, 2024

Why do hospitals give you cranberry juice? ›

Background: cranberry juice is often given to older people in hospital to prevent urinary tract infection (UTI), although there is little evidence to support its use. Objective: to assess whether cranberry juice ingestion is effective in reducing UTIs in older people in hospital.

Do cranberries detox the liver? ›

The presence of several potent antioxidants in cranberry juice like Proanthocyanidins have a strong iron chelating capability, which make it easy for the liver to remove toxins from the body.

What is the healthiest drink in the world? ›

Green tea is generally considered the healthiest beverage globally due to its high levels of nutrients and antioxidants that fight off diseases and keep your organ functioning at its optimum level.

Is bottled cranberry juice healthy? ›

Drinking cranberry juice in moderation can be part of a healthy diet. It can be a convenient way to boost the vitamins and minerals in your day. However, be sure to also enjoy fruit in its whole-food form (whether it's fresh, frozen or canned) as this will allow you to get more fiber.

What's healthier apple juice or cranberry juice? ›

Unlike red cranberry juice, apple juice does not appear to reduce bladder infection risk. Consumption of whole fruits, including apples, seems associated with a lower type 2 diabetes risk, whereas greater juice consumption seems linked to a higher risk.

Is there a lot of sugar in cranberry juice? ›

While cranberry juice and co*cktail contain similar amounts of carbohydrates from sugar, pure, unsweetened cranberry juice is a better option since it has more nutrients and fewer additives. Both cranberry juice and cranberry co*cktail contain around 30 grams of sugar per cup (236 mL).

How much cranberry juice should I drink a day? ›

Drinking 8 – 16 oz of cranberry juice co*cktail each day is recommended to maintain urinary tract heath and prevent urinary tract infections.

Is cranberry juice good for high blood pressure? ›

Several studies also show that cranberry juice may help reduce the chance of heart disease by improving cholesterol levels and lowering blood pressure.

Can too much cranberry juice be bad for you? ›

Cranberry has relatively high levels of oxalate, chemicals that may raise the risk of kidney stones in some people. If you have kidney stones, talk to your doctor before taking cranberry supplements or drinking a lot of cranberry juice.

Is cranberry juice good for your liver? ›

Berries. Many dark berries — including blueberries, raspberries, and cranberries — contain antioxidants called polyphenols, which may help protect the liver from damage.

Is cranberry juice better for you than water? ›

If you replace lost fluids with plain water, you can end up diluting essential electrolytes like sodium until your cells can't function properly. For proper hydration you need both electrolytes and water. So the minerals in cranberry juice can help keep you hydrated, but at the cost of a high sugar intake.

Is 2 glasses of cranberry juice a day too much? ›

Cranberry juice contains a chemical called oxalate that binds with calcium, possibly forming stones in your kidneys when you drink large quantities of cranberry juice. If you have a history of kidney stones, avoid consuming too much cranberry juice by limiting your consumption to two 8-oz. servings or less daily.

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