Cranberry juice is considered by many to be a "functional food" as it provides health benefits from the ingredients beyond the basic nutrition. Others consider the cranberry to be a "super fruit" for its nutrient content and antioxidants. Regardless of how cranberry juice is viewed, it provides a tart, crisp taste that quenches your thirst.
Calories
There are about 116 calories in a one-cup serving of unsweetened cranberry juice, nearly all of which come from carbohydrates and sugar. Three calories come from the less than 1g of fat in the juice.
Carbohydrates
Thirty-one grams of total carbohydrates account for 10 percent of your recommended daily value. Cranberry juice doesn't contain any dietary fiber and 100 percent of its carbohydrates come from sugars. The amount of carbohydrates and sugars gives cranberry juice an "8" on the estimated glycemic load rating, which is used to estimate the effect on insulin levels. The USDA recommends a daily total of 100 or less.
Vitamins and Minerals
Cranberry juice is rich in several vitamins and minerals, including vitamins C, E and K, whose levels are 39 percent, 15 percent and 16 percent of the recommended daily value, respectively. Other vitamins include vitamins A and B6, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and folate. Minerals include calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc and copper.
Benefits
According to CranberryJuice.com, cranberry juice can help reduce the risk for cancer, prevent urinary tract infections, reduce dental plaque and prevent of kidney stones.
Inflammatory Response
The inflammation factor is used to estimate the inflammatory or anti-inflammatory potential of certain foods. Negative ratings are inflammatory and positive ratings are anti-inflammatory. Cranberry juice has an inflammation factor of minus 45, making it mildly inflammatory.
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