Pure cranberry juice is derived from the fruit of the cranberry plant, formally known as Vaccinium macrocarpon. Traditional uses for cranberry include treatment of bladder and kidney diseases, as well as treatment of vitamin C deficiency and certain digestive disorders. Potential modern benefits of cranberry juice include prevention of urinary tract infections, or UTIs, and ulcers.
Cranberry Basics
The fruit of the cranberry plant has significant amounts of vitamin C and compounds called proanthocyanidins, both of which belong to a class of substances known as antioxidants, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC. Antioxidants can help protect your body from the harmful effects of particles called free radicals, which can trigger various types of cellular damage, including cell membrane destruction, cell death and DNA code alteration. In addition to pure juice and juice concentrate, cranberry is available in forms that include tablets, capsules and fresh, frozen or dried berries.
UTI Prevention
Use of pure cranberry juice can help prevent UTIs from occurring in either your bladder or the associated drainage tube called the urethra, the UMMC reports. This preventive effect is especially strong in older women with a history of recurrent infections. Cranberry juice achieves its effects in UTI treatment by reducing the amounts of harmful bacteria in your bladder. However, once bacteria in your bladder trigger an active infection, cranberry juice alone is typically insufficient for effective treatment.
Additional Potential Benefits
Use of cranberry juice or other cranberry products may help reduce populations of ulcer-causing H. pylori bacteria in your stomach, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, or NCCAM. The antioxidant properties of pure cranberry may also help lower your risks for gum disease by reducing the buildup of harmful dental plaque. In addition, the UMMC explains, the antioxidants in cranberries may help reduce the buildup of cholesterol-based plaque in your blood vessels and lower your overall risks for heart disease. However, evidence for these uses of cranberry products is preliminary and requires further research for validation.
Doses
Pure cranberry juice is extremely tart, and most commercially available products contain sugar or other sweeteners designed to diminish this natural acidity, the UMMC notes. Cranberry juice products also often contain added vitamin C. If you purchase a pure juice product, the UMMC recommends a therapeutic intake of three or more fluid ounces per day. If you purchase a sweetened product such as a cranberry juice cocktail, you will need to drink about 10 fluid ounces per day to gain any therapeutic effects. Be aware that high amounts of sweetener in a cranberry juice product may lower its overall value to your health.
Considerations
While intake of cranberry juice is generally safe, you may develop diarrhea or other forms of gastrointestinal distress if you consume excessively high doses, the NCCAM reports. Consult your doctor before using cranberry products if you take aspirin, blood thinners or medications that alter your liver function. If you have a history of kidney stones, be aware that cranberries contain oxalate, a common component in stone formation.
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