Drinking Cranberry Juice Has Surprising Effects, According to Science

Juice consumption has a troubled past. While some health experts recommend drinking juice to "clean the body," others argue that juice is very sweet and that drinking too much of it might be harmful to your long-term health. However, in many instances, consuming a small amount of a certain type of 100% fruit juice can really improve your health in a number of ways by giving your body the vitamins and antioxidants it needs. Cranberry juice is undoubtedly one of these juices.

Additionally, it isn't just for ladies! Although it's a common recommendation for women's health to drink cranberry juice, there are additional amazing perks that everyone can gain from. Here are several that will most likely persuade you to pick up a bottle on your subsequent shopping run. Then, view our list of the 5 Best Juices to Slow Aging for even more wholesome drinking advice.

1. The antioxidant content of cranberry juice is high.

Cranberry juice is well renowned for being a fantastic source of antioxidants in addition to being nutrient-dense and bursting with vitamin C.

According to Audrey Perkins, Senior Manager at Ocean Spray and holder of a Master's in Nutrition, "[they are] well-known to be one of nature's superfoods, containing tiny bioactive compounds called polyphenols that have been shown through more than 50 years of research to provide numerous health benefits."

Cranberry bioactives have been shown to have beneficial effects on "blood pressure, glucose metabolism, lipoprotein profiles, oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial function," according to a paper from Advances in Nutrition. Antioxidants can be obtained in large quantities, especially through cranberry juice. According to a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, drinking cranberry juice can help people with coronary heart disease feel better.

2 Cranberry juice can help UTI health.

Your mother was correct if she ever advised you to consume cranberry juice for good womanly health. In fact, drinking this juice can improve the health of your urinary system and lower your risk of getting infections.

According to Perkins, the special blend of polyphenols in cranberries has anti-adhesion capabilities that can help keep specific bacteria from adhering to bodily tissues and support urinary tract health to prevent UTIs.

Women who drank 8 ounces of cranberry juice daily were assessed in another study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, and it was discovered that it significantly decreased their risk of recurrent UTIs by 40%. The FDA quickly issued a suggestion for women to frequently drink cranberry juice.

Perkins claims that healthy women can lower their risk of recurring urinary tract infections by following the study's advice and ingesting at least one 8-ounce cup of cranberry juice daily, such as the Ocean Spray® Cranberry Juice Cocktail.

3 Cranberry juice can decrease oxidative stress.

According to Perkins, research has demonstrated that the potent anti-oxidative capabilities of cranberry polyphenols can lower risk factors for cardiovascular disease and promote heart health.

According to a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, the cranberry's antioxidant capabilities decreased cardiovascular risk factors for study participants who drank cranberry juice for 60 days.

4 Cranberry juice can benefit gut health.

The consumption of cranberry products may also aid in maintaining a healthy balance of good bacteria in your gut, which is crucial for lowering your risk of contracting a variety of diseases, including metabolic diseases, cardiovascular disease, immune and endocrine disorders, cancer, bone disease, Alzheimer's, and more, according to Perkins' research.

An animal-based study from Gut demonstrates the advantages of cranberry extract's high polyphenol content, which helps the gut microbiota population and lowers intestinal inflammation. It's crucial to maintain low levels of inflammation in the body since chronic inflammation raises the risk of numerous diseases.