Cranberries are a tart and tangy fruit that are available fresh for only a short period during the year. For the rest of the year it's still possible to include cranberries in your diet through frozen and dried cranberries as well as cranberry juice. Cranberries and their juice may have a number of health benefits, among which may be assistance in raising your HDL -- or "good" cholesterol -- levels. Such claims have not been evaluated by the US government, but clinical studies lend support to this idea.
Research
According to a 2003 article published on the Rutgers University website, a study done at the University of Scranton by Professor Joe Vinson, Ph.D., found that study participants with high cholesterol who drank three glasses per day of either unsweetened cranberry juice or cranberry juice sweetened with artificial sweeteners experienced an increase in HDL, or good cholesterol, on average of 10 percent. A separate study by G. Ruel, published in the "British Journal of Nutrition" in 2006, found that drinking 500 ml of low-calorie cranberry juice cocktail each day was associated with increased HDL cholesterol, without changes to total cholesterol. The participants in the study were all abdominally obese men.
Significance
Drinking cranberry juice each day might help to lower a person's risk of developing heart disease, since it appears to increases HDL cholesterol. The change in HDL levels found in the University of Scranton study would correspond to a 40 percent lower risk of heart disease, states Professor Vinson, the author of the study.
Considerations
Orange juice may also increase HDL, according to the article on the Rutgers University website, so people can switch between the two juices or drink the one they prefer to get this heart-healthy benefit. The studies both used low-calorie cranberry juice, not the type sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup that can be quite high in calories.
Other Benefits
Increased HDL cholesterol isn't the only possible benefit from drinking cranberry juice. Consuming cranberries or cranberry juice may also help to prevent urinary tract infections, bladder infections, heart attacks, macular degeneration, dental cavities, kidney stones and some types of cancer, according to the George Mateljan Foundation. It may also have an antibiotic and antiviral effect, and acts as a probiotic, encouraging the growth of healthy bacteria. A compound in cranberries may even fight the herpes virus.
Warning
Because cranberries contain oxalates, people with existing kidney or bladder problems may want to avoid eating them because the oxalates may worsen existing conditions health problems in these areas. Cranberries may also interact with the medication warfarin and cause bleeding problems, according to the George Mateljan Foundation. Persons using warfarin should not drink cranberry juice.
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