Cranberry juice cocktail is more than just a sweet drink for you to sip on a warm summer day. It's a healthy option because it contains approximately 25 percent pure cranberry juice and is often mixed with other fruit juices, such as apple and grape. Although you should avoid sugar-packed formulations that lack high juice content, this nutrient-dense fruit drink may help fight off infections and provide you with essential vitamins to assist in keeping your body in top physical condition.
Urinary Tract Infection Treatment
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Although it may not be quite as potent as pure cranberry juice, cranberry juice cocktail still delivers a figurative punch to E. coli, the bacterium responsible for the vast majority of urinary tract infections in both men and women, according to Nancy Cappelloni, author of "Cranberry Cooking for All Seasons." A substance present in cranberry juice cocktail makes the walls of your urinary tract more slippery, which discourages the bacteria from attaching to them.
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As a general rule of thumb, you can prevent the incidence of urinary tract infections by consuming 3 to 16 oz. cranberry juice cocktail twice daily, as recommended by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health. Once you start experiencing symptoms of a urinary tract infection, such as blood-tinged urine or painful urination, cranberry juice cocktail seems to be less effective, so arrange an appointment with your primary care doctor for testing and a prescription for an antibiotic treatment as soon as you notice signs of a possible urinary tract infection.
High Vitamin C Content
If you're looking for an easy way to meet your daily vitamin C requirement, look no further than a glass filled with this rich, red drink. According to NutritionData.com, 8-oz. of cranberry juice cocktail doles out a whopping 178 percent of your daily recommended value of vitamin C. Not only is vitamin C necessary for proper bone growth and muscle development, but it also helps improve your body's ability to absorb iron.
High Antioxidant Content
Like all cranberry-based products, cranberry juice cocktail possesses a hefty dose of multiple antioxidants, including flavonoids and phenolic acids. Certain flavonoids, substances called proanthocyanidins, are also responsible for the distinctive red hue of cranberry juice. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, cranberries' high levels of antioxidants help buffer your body's defenses by neutralizing free radicals, or toxic molecules that invade your body and often damage or even destroy your cells.