Cranberry juice is a popular beverage, with some people drinking it because they enjoy the taste and others drinking it for the possible health benefits that it offers. Some types of cranberry juice are more nutritious than others, with those made from 100 percent fruit juice preferable to those that are sweetened with sugar or high fructose corn syrup. If you are on a diet, cranberry juice made with artificial sweetener is lower in calories.
Nutrition Facts
An 8 oz. serving of cranberry juice cocktail contains 140 calories, 150 percent of the daily value for vitamin C and 2 percent of the daily value for iron, vitamin B-6 and thiamine. This version of cranberry juice is high in sugar, with 35 g of carbohydrates, none of which are fiber.
Health Benefits
Cranberry juice is well-known for helping to prevent urinary tract infections. However, it can provide other health benefits as well. It may lower blood cholesterol levels and lower your risk for developing ulcers and breast cancer, according to MyHealthyFoods.com. Cranberries are a good source of antioxidants, so they also may help to prevent stroke, heart disease and arthritis.
Considerations
Choose artificially sweetened cranberry juice if you are diabetic, because many cranberry juices contain high amounts of sugar.
Cranberries themselves may be even more beneficial to your health than cranberry juice since they contain fiber and more vitamins and minerals than the juice.
Cranberries and cranberry juice contain oxalates, which can increase your risk for kidney stones if you are prone to them.
Warning
Cranberry juice interacts with some medications. It can increase the amount of time warfarin stays in the body, and it can make bruising and excess bleeding more likely. Cranberry juice can also increase the effect of some medications that the liver breaks down, including tamoxifen, ibuprofen and Valium.
Expert Insight
For preventing a urinary tract infection, the University of Maryland Medical Center recommends adults drink 3 oz. of pure cranberry juice or 10 oz. of cranberry juice cocktail each day. No safe dose has been set for children. Cranberry juice should not be used in place of antibiotics, as it is useful for the prevention of these infections, not for treatment.
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