The Evidence Based Diet: The Benefits of Cranberry Juice

My mother always told me to drink cranberry juice so that I wouldn’t get urinary tract infections.  Since I never got a urinary tract infection she may have been on to something.  However, now that I have been out of the house for two decades, I have stopped drinking cranberry juice, and I still never get urinary tract infections.  Is this a myth?

It turns out that cranberry juice does prevent urinary tract infections. A Cochrane review conducted by Jepson and colleague determined that cranberry juice reduced the number of symptomatic urinary tract infections over a 1 year period, more so in women with recurrent urinary tract infections.  Guay explains that cranberries contain compounds called anthocyanidins and proanthocyanidins that may prevent certain bacteria from sticking to the lining of the urinary tract. 

Some added benefits of cranberries are their ability to lower the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol levels in type-2 diabetics who take oral glucose lowering medicine according to Lee et al.  Vinson et al found cranberries to be an excellent source of high quality antioxidants.  They also pointed out that 100% cranberry juice retained more antioxidants than cranberry sauce or jellied cranberry sauce on a per-serving basis.  Something to think about for Thanksgiving. 

Simple Cranberry Juice Sparkler:

Makes 5 servings

32 oz 100% Cranberry Juice (check the label to make sure it is not a mixture of other juices or sweetened with corn syrup or sugar).

12 oz sparkling water such as San Pellegrino.  Selzer can be used in a pinch.

3 tablespoons honey OR Agave Nectar

Juice of one Lime. 

Mix ingredients together in a pitcher with ice.  Serve with wedges of lime.  Cheers!

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FoodFitnessFreshAir
Posts: 1

Re: The Evidence Based Diet: The Benefits of Cranberry Juice for the Prevention of Urinary Tract Inf
Reply #1 on : Mon November 16, 2009, 16:36:17

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I have a bottle of unsweetened 100% cranberry juice in my fridge right now. It's a bit tart, but makes a great spritzer add in and has no extra artificial sweeteners.

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