Cranberry Juice Health Facts

Cranberry juice, derived from the evergreen cranberry shrub, has been used as a medicinal extract for many years among native American Indian tribes, according to Medline Plus. Cranberry has been used for treatment of such ailments as wounds, diarrhea, diabetes, stomach ailments and liver problems. It is most well-known for preventing urinary tract infections.

About Cranberry Juice

Cranberries and cranberry juice contain high amounts of salicylic acid, which is the same compound found in aspirin, according to Medline Plus. Over time, consumption of cranberry juice helps increase the concentration of salicylic acid in the body and can be effective in decreasing pain and inflammation. Consuming too much cranberry juice, however, can cause gastrointestinal upset or diarrhea, so the benefits of cranberry can also be found in extract, tablet or capsule form.

Urinary Tract Infection

Cranberry juice has the potential to prevent recurring urinary tract infections. Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, involve the presence of clinical signs and symptoms originating from the genitourinary tract in addition to the presence of one or more micro-organisms in the urine, primarily Escherichia coli, according to a 2009 study in the journal "Drugs." This study suggested that although cranberry juice has not been shown to treat UTIs, it has been shown in meta-analyses to reduce recurrence rates of UTIs over one year by approximately 35 percent in young to middle-aged women. A 2009 study in "Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition" says that cranberry juice is effective in such prevention due to the cranberry juice's ability to prevent adhesion of the bacterium to the epithelial cells in the genitourinary tract, which prevents the bacteria from causing an infection.

Cardiovascular Effects

Cranberries contain many beneficial compounds, such as polyphenols and flavonoids, that can aid in reducing risk of cardiovascular disease by increasing the resistance of bad cholesterol, or LDL, to oxidation and reducing blood pressure, among other functions, according to a 2007 study in "Nutrition Reviews." In addition, a 2008 study in the "British Journal of Nutrition" found that daily consumption of 125 to 500ml of cranberry juice cocktail was found to reduce LDL cholesterol as well as decrease expression of cell adhesion molecule, which has been associated with development of inflammatory conditions. The study in "Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition" says that polyphenols act as antioxidants in preventing cell damage and inflammation, which reduces risk of developing chronic disease.

Anti-adhesion

According to a report by the Cranberry Institute, cranberry juice can also prevent adhesion of certain types of harmful bacteria in the mouth and stomach that can lead to gum disease and stomach ulcers. Compounds in cranberries known as proanthocyanidins, or PACs, are responsible for this anti-adhesion property.

Other Health Facts

The Cranberry Institute suggests that the proanthocyanidins in cranberries and cranberry-based juices may help prevent gastrointestinal viruses from attaching to red blood cells or infecting host cells. In addition, cranberry juice may be effective in prevention of yeast infections in women. According to Medline Plus, cranberry has also been used to reduce fever, increase urine flow, kill germs and increase rate of skin healing.