Is Cranberry Juice Good For Acne?

Changing your diet might help you to get rid of those pimples and cysts a little quicker. The Western diet, which promotes inflammation in your body, disrupts hormonal activity in your body, which can aggravate acne in some people. Nutrients in cranberry juice may help to battle the effects of a Western diet and improve acne. However, more research is needed to confirm the benefit of cranberry juice for acne.

Cranberry Fights Inflammation

Inflammation is a key player in acne, particularly cystic acne. The more deeply that
inflammation penetrates into a pimple, the worse it will be. Cranberries and cranberry juice contain phytochemicals that have potent anti-inflammatory properties, helping to inhibit inflammation-causing chemicals such as cyclooxygenases, according to a study published in the "Journal of Nutrition" in January 2007.

Cranberry's Vitamin C Factor

Cranberry juice is rich in ascorbic acid, more commonly known as vitamin C. This nutrient is a major antioxidant, which helps to fight free radicals that can increase inflammation in your body. Vitamin C is also essential for producing collagen and helps to repair skin. The tolerable upper limit of vitamin C for adults is 2,000 mg daily; for teens, it's 1,800 mg, the Office of Dietary Supplements states. Cranberry juice and other vitamin-C rich foods can help you meet this intake.

Amount

Teens and adults should limit their intake of 100-percent juice to 8 oz. to 12 oz. daily, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia recommends. It's preferable to drink pure, unsweetened cranberry juice than sweetened cranberry juice or cranberry cocktail, especially if you have diabetes or metabolic syndrome. If you cannot find cranberry juice without added sugar at your supermarket, make it at home using raw, dried or frozen cranberries.

Precautions

Cranberry juice is generally safe to consume, even if you're pregnant. However, due to the high acidity of cranberry juice, you should drink it through a straw to reduce acid erosion of your teeth. Also, acidic foods can cause, or worsen, gastrointestinal problems or diarrhea. If you have kidney stones, or are at risk for developing kidney stones, do not drink cranberry juice since this beverage is high in oxalates. Consult your doctor first.