One cup of unsweetened cranberry juice contains 116 calories, nearly all of which come from carbohydrates. Because no sugars are added, the carbohydrates in unsweetened cranberry juice are composed almost primarily of the natural fruit sugar from the cranberries. On the other hand, sweetened cranberry juice and cranberry juice cocktail often contain large amounts of added sugar, which adds calories but no nutrients to the juice. For this reason, unsweetened cranberry juice is often lower in calories and richer in vitamins and minerals than cranberry juice cocktail.
Minerals
One cup of cranberry juice contains 0.139 mg of copper, which provides 15 percent of the daily value. Numerous parts of your body, including your bones and your red blood cells, need copper to form properly. One cup of cranberry juice also provides 4 percent of the daily value of potassium and magnesium. Both of these minerals are necessary for normal nerve function.
Vitamin C
Cranberry juice is also high in vitamin C. One cup contains 24 mg, which is 32 percent of the daily value for women and 27 percent for men. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, so it can help your body fight the damage done to your body by free radicals. Free radicals are toxins produced as your body breaks down food. Your body also produces free radicals when you are exposed to pollution. Vitamin C also helps your tissues heal and supports the production of certain hormones.
Vitamin B-6
Although cranberry juice is low in most B vitamins, 1 cup provides more than 50 percent of B-6. B-6 is needed for your brain to function normally. It also helps your cells reproduce and grow. In addition, B-6 is needed for red blood cell production so it can help prevent certain types of anemia.
Other Benefits
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, cranberry juice can assist in the prevention of urinary tract infections in women. Cranberry juice helps keep the bacteria that cause these infections from adhering to the urinary tract. Although cranberry juice helps prevent these infections, it does not help to cure an already existing infection.
Uses
Because unsweetened cranberry juice is sour, you may find it difficult to drink straight. To make the juice more palatable, mix it with a sweeter juice, such as raspberry, blueberry or apple. You can also add cranberry juice to fruit smoothies to increase their vitamin C and B-6 content.
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