Cranberry juice is a rich source of vitamin C and manganese, and contains antioxidant compounds called phytonutrients that possess anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. Research indicates that cranberry juice can provide many benefits, from boosting good cholesterol to combating infections.
Urinary Tract Infections
A urinary tract infection, also known as UTI, is an infection in the lining of the urinary tract caused by bacteria. UTIs are usually treated with antibiotics, but they sometimes recur. Drinking cranberry juice is an easy and effective method that might help prevent UTIs, according to the MedlinePlus health information website.
Staph Infections
Scientists from Worcester Polytechnic Institute investigated the effects of cranberry juice on Staphylococcus aureus, also known as staph infections. Lead author Terri Camesano and researchers found that participants drinking cranberry juice prevented a strain of Staphylococcus aureus from beginning the process of infection compared to those drinking a placebo. Researchers presented these findings at the August 2010 American Chemical Society's national meeting.
HDL Cholesterol Levels
Increasing your intake of cranberry juice might raise high-density lipoprotein, or HDL, cholesterol levels in the body. HDL cholesterol transports cholesterol to the liver, where it's broken down into waste products. Lead author Guillaume Ruel and colleagues from Laval University in Canada discovered that obese men who drank 250 milliliters of cranberry juice for four weeks experienced increases in HDL cholesterol levels, the August 2006 issue of the "British Journal of Nutrition" reported.
Helicobacter Pylori Infection
Researchers from Peking University in China studied the impact of cranberry juice on Helicobacter pylori infection, which is a major cause of ulcer disease and gastric cancer. In the report, which was published in the April 2005 issue of the journal "Helicobacter," Lian Zhang and colleagues discovered that the intake of 250 milliliters of cranberry juice twice daily for 90 days suppressed Helicobacter pylori infection compared with a placebo.
References
- MedLinePlus: Urinary Tract Infection
- Science Daily: Cranberry Juice Shows Promise Blocking Staph Infections
- PubMed.gov: "British Journal of Nutrition"; Favourable Impact of Low-Calorie Cranberry Juice Consumption On Plasma HDL-Cholesterol Concentrations In Men; G. Ruel et al.; August 2006
- PubMed.gov: "Helicobacter"; Efficacy of Cranberry Juice on Helicobacter Pylori Infection: A Double-Blind, Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial; L. Zhang et al.; April 2005
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