Cranberry, a fruit high in antioxidants -- including proanthocyanidins that give the berries their color and vitamin C -- have a number of health benefits. Cranberries may help prevent recurrent urinary tract infections in some women. Cranberry has few side effects and is generally considered safe, even for pregnant women, although its high oxalate content may contribute to kidney stones in susceptible people, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Cranberries have not undergone extensive testing as a weight-loss product.
Research
Only one study found a positive effect on weight during cranberry ingestion, but this study was originally designed to test the effects of cranberry juice on cholesterol levels in overweight men. Over a 16-week period, researchers did find a reduction in body-mass index as well as weight and waist and hip circumference as well as a rise in high-density lipoprotein, or "good" cholesterol. Triglyceride levels also dropped, probably due to weight loss, according to researchers.
Claims
Many alternative websites claim that cranberries can help with weight loss, but they offer no clinical proof for these statements. Author and nutritionist Ann Louise uses cranberry in her fat-flush diet because it may have a favorable metabolic response, referring to a Winona State University article published in the November 2008 issue of the "Journal of Food Science." The article found that cranberry raised blood glucose levels less than sugar water. Louise says that in her experience cranberries emulsify and help eliminate fat, although she offers no clinical backup for her opinions. She also claims that cranberry acts as a diuretic.
Cranberry Benefits
Substituting cranberries for less healthy snacks or drinks could possibly help with weight loss. Researcher Guillaume Ruel, the lead author of the Canadian study on cranberries, hypothesized that weight loss in men drinking cranberry juice could have resulted from substitution of cranberry juice for high-caloric, low-nutrient drinks such as sodas.
Cranberry's Drawbacks
Some sweetened brands of cranberry juice contain large amounts of sugar, which makes them as calorie-dense as sodas. If you want to substitute cranberry juice for higher calorie drinks to lose weight, choose brands with the lowest amount of sweeteners and calories.
References
- The Heart; A Cup of Cranberry Juice a Day Increases HDL Cholesterol; A. Gandey; October 2004
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Cranberry; Steven Ehrlich; November 2008
- "Journal of Food Science"; Favorable Glycemic Response of Type 2 Diabetics to Low-Calorie Cranberry Juice; T. Wilson, et al.; November 2008
- Ann Louise; Cranberry, Antioxidant Superstar: A Sneak Preview of Fat Flush for Life; December 2009
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