Cranberry juice nutritional facts

Cranberry Juice - a Perfect Cup of Health

The most common form in which this highly nutritious and healthy fruit is consumed is juice. Effects on health highlight cranberry from other berries. Cranberries originate from North America, and its healing properties had been known even to American natives.

Cranberries have a sour taste because of high concentration of vitamin C. The fruit (except as a juice) can be consumed fresh, dried, frozen, as a sauce or added to various dishes.

Cranberries are particularly rich in vitamins A and C, potassium and fiber and a variety of protective substances such as bioflavonoids - powerful antioxidants which reduce the risk of carcinogenic diseases. Antioxidants help in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, while hippuric acid which is also found in cranberries, is a natural antibiotic with marked antifungal properties.

This fruit also contains anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins which help in renewing cells responsible for the eyesight. Besides that, cranberries have a very small amount of sugar, and the effect on lowering blood glucose, which is good for diabetics. Scientific researches have shown that three cups of cranberry juice a day increase the level of antioxidants in the plasma by over 120%.

Consumption like this, raises the level of good cholesterol (HDL) in blood, and thus reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases by 40%. The reason why the cranberries have become a real hit, in fact, is their beneficial effect on various inflammation and infection of the urinary tract.

Health Benefits of Cranberry Juice

Frequent and the most unpleasant bacterium of the urinary tract infections is Escherichia coli. This bacterium is pasted on the walls of the urinary tract, but, cranberry juice somehow prevents harmful bacteria sticking to endothelial cells of urinary tract, facilitating the urine discharge from the body and preventing infection. Cranberry also effects on other urinary tract pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis). Recent studies have shown that some components from cranberry positively effect on another dangerous bacterium - Helicobacter pylori, which is the greatest cause of stomach ulcer. Thanks to the presence of bioflavonoids, cranberry prevents the emergence of gum disease, heart and blood vessels diseases and atherosclerosis (narrowing of blood vessels). It was discovered that cranberries act against the accumulation of bacteria on the teeth. Mouth washing with cranberry juice may prevent periodontitis. There are also studies about the cranberry's effects on the prevention of cancer cells and their spread through the organism, especially, breast cancer and colon cancer. Cranberry is especially recommended for people who are exposed to stress or have a heart or blood vessels disease.