Benefits Of Cranberry Juice
Proven And Possible Benefits Of Cranberry Juice
There are many claims about the benefits of cranberry juice. Most of them are for the most part credible. There's a wealth of information on the Internet regarding the benefits of this juice, and refreshingly enough, the statements made aren't the usual statements promoting a product someone wants to sell. Cranberry juice has long been known to be a healthy drink, we just haven't always been aware of the specifics.
Too Tart? - If there is any one reason we don't all partake in the benefits of cranberry juice, it's probably because many people simply don't like it. Cranberry juice isn't bad tasting, but is quite tart. The tartness can overwhelm the flavor and sweetness of the berry to the extent that for many, drinking cranberry juice is not a pleasure. If you're interested in experiencing some of the benefits of cranberry juice however, one suggestion might be to mix pure cranberry juice with pure apple juice. This will eliminate much or all of the tartness, and at the same time give you the benefits derived from two very healthy fruit juices. You can try other juices as well, but to get the full benefit from the cranberry juice, it should make up at least one-third of whatever combination you come up with.
Just A Few Of The Benefits - Just what is there in cranberries that make the juice so beneficial? The juice contains powerful antioxidants for one thing. Anti-oxidants are proven to be effective in preventing heart disease. Tannins in the juice are believed to help in preventing the formation of dental plaque, reducing the potential for gum disease, and preventing urinary tract infections. The latter is the most widely publicized of cranberry juice's potential benefits. Other compounds present in the juice are believed to be preventatives of certain types of human cancers. While this has been proven in test tubes containing cancer cells, it needs to be taken into account that these same compounds when ingested, are poorly absorbed in our system, and eliminated fairly quickly. Their effect, if any, in actually preventing cancers when introduced into our system is yet to be determined.
There is more evidence available pointing to the effectiveness of cranberry juice in preventing urinary tract infections and kidney infections. Cranberry juice is also believed to help prevent the formation of kidney stones. Whether it helps in reducing the size of stones already present remains unproven. The fact that cranberry juice is very rich in vitamin C lends some credence to its ability to keep the kidneys, bladder, and urinary tract healthy. Among the better known benefits of cranberry juice is its apparent role in inhibiting infections in the ear, nose, and throat. A number of studies point to the fact that elements in the juice inhibit certain types of bacteria responsible for ear, nose and throat infections. In these cases, compounds in cranberry juice appear to prevent bacteria from attaching or sticking to cells and tissues, thus preventing significant growth in bacterial populations and the problems that can then result.
Summary - Cranberry juice is fortunately not heavily promoted as a wonder drink, but there certainly is a wealth of information pointing to it as a drink that is very good for us. Most of the information you'll come across is based upon known facts, or at least if certain benefits are yet unproven, it is generally so stated. Drinking a glass a day (mixed with apple juice if you prefer) certainly seems like a good idea, and there are no apparent adverse side affects to deal with or be concerned about. Drinking ten glasses a day probably won't make one ten times healthier, in fact the sugars in the juice could cause weight gain. Too much of anything usually isn't all that good for us. Adding an occasional glass of cranberry juice to your diet might just not be a bad idea.