According to the Cranberry Institute, cranberries contain antioxidants and flavonoids that benefit the urinary tract and cardiovascular health, and may prevent cancer. Diet cranberry juice delivers the benefits with reduced sugars.
Types
Ocean Spray makes three lower-calorie alternatives to its cranberry juice cocktail. Reduced Calorie Cranberry Juice Cocktail and Light Cranberry Juice Cocktail both contain 27 percent fruit juice. Diet Cranberry Spray contains 7 percent juice.
Sweeteners
Diet Spray and the Reduced varieties contain sucralose, an artificial sweetener derived from sugar. Light contains calcium saccharin, a chemical sweetener. Reduced juice has the least sodium, 36 mg; Diet Spray has 50 mg, and the Light drink has 80 mg of sodium.
Why Calorie Counts Vary
Fruit juice concentrates fructose, fruit's natural sugar. The calorie count on fruit drinks varies when manufacturers add water or other juices, remove natural fructose or add high-fructose corn syrup .
Size
Nutrition fact panels base calorie counts on an 8-oz. glass of juice.
Calories
Ocean Spray's Reduced drink claims 50 calories per serving; its Light version claims 40. Diet Spray has 5 calories per serving. Ocean Spray's 100 percent juice contains 140 calories per serving.
References
- Cranberry Institute: Rediscover Cranberries
- U.S. Cranberry Marketing Committee: Cranberry Varieties
- Ocean Spray: Juice
- Ocean Spray Food Service: Products
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: The Influence of Low Calories Cranberry Juice on Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease
- U.S. Food and Drug Administation: Code of Federal Regulations Title 21
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