How Much Vitamin C Is In Cranberry Juice?

Vitamin C, a water-soluble vitamin, plays an important role in tooth and gum health, the growth and healing of body tissues and the healing of scrapes and other wounds. Vitamin C also aids in the absorption of iron, particularly non-heme iron found in plants. Cranberry juice contains some vitamin C, but not as much as some fresh fruit sources.

Vitamin C in Cranberry Juice

A ½ cup of cranberry juice prepared from concentrate with 3 parts water to 1 part concentrate provides 20 percent of your recommended daily vitamin C intake, according to the USDA. This serving contains 60 calories and 14 g of carbohydrates, including 12 g of sugars.

Other Vitamin C Sources

A serving of kiwifruit, or about two medium kiwis, provides 240 percent of your recommended daily vitamin C needs, and a serving of eight medium strawberries provides 160 percent, according to nutrition information provided by the FDA. One medium guava contains 165 mg of vitamin C, and one medium papaya contains 95 mg. A ¾-cup serving of orange juice from concentrate contains 75 mg of vitamin C, and a ¾-cup serving of tomato juice contains 35 mg of vitamin C, according to the Ohio State University Department of Human Nutrition.

Considerations

Cranberry juice typically contains added sugars. The American Heart Association recommends that women consume no more than 100 calories of added sugars per day and men no more than 150 calories. One g of sugar contains 4 calories. Identify added sugars in cranberry juices by looking for ingredients such as fructose, sucrose, dextrose, high-fructose corn syrup and fruit juice concentrates. Choose cranberry juice without added sugars whenever possible.

Cranberry Juice Health Benefits

Drinking cranberry juice can help prevent urinary tract infections, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Cranberries contain phytochemicals called proanthocyanidins that prevents bacteria from adhering to the cells along the bladder walls, according to Jeffrey Blumber of Tufts University. The vitamin C in cranberry juice can also help increase the acid in your urine, hindering the growth of bacteria.