Cranberry juice is a great tasting juice which has tons of health benefits packed into it. Whether you’re looking for your daily vitamins, quick fixes, or long term health benefits, cranberry juice has something for everyone. Below are just a few reasons why we love this wonderful juice and why you should incorporate it into your everyday diet.
First let’s discuss the affect that cranberry juice has on your dental health. Cranberry juice is known to fight bacteria, which is exactly what causes plaque and can lead to gum disease. This leads us to the next benefit…
Urinary tract infections- Cranberry juice is known to fight U.T.I.’s because again it fights bacteria. The bacteria known to cause U.T.I.’s (E. coli) is unable to stick the walls of your bladder because of a component in cranberry juice and is thereby flushed out of your system putting an end to the infection.
Heart attacks- Studies have shown that cranberry juice can reduce heart attacks by as much as 35%. How can a simple fruit juice do this? Cranberry juice contains polyphenols which raise your levels of good cholestrol and lower levels of bad cholestrol.
Cancer- Cranberry juice contains antioxidants which battle free radicals in your system which are known to be a cause of cancer. It is also known to destroy other forms of bacteria which can lead to ulcers and in severe cases, stomach cancer.
Respiratory infections- Again the components in cranberry juice (called proanthocyanidins) are known to fight bacteria, some of which cause the flu. By blocking the bacteria’s ability to attach to your body’s cells it reduces your chances of getting an infection.
This is just a small sampling of the many benefits of cranberry juice. We could go on forever about this miracle fruit and its juice. Be sure to read our other posts about the other great health benefits you can get from this wonderful fruit and don’t forget to drink 2-3 glasses a day for optimum results!
As we all know men and women experience different health issues and one treatment doesn’t work for both of us. Cranberry juice can benefit the health of men and women alike but there are some important benefits for women specifically. Here are just a few of the many benefits women can receive from drinking cranberry juice.
Cranberry juice helps to fight urinary tract infections in both men and women, however women are more susceptible to urinary tract infections so this is a bigger benefit for women. There are a few ways cranberry juice fights this type infection and if you’re interested you can read more in our post about cranberry juice for urinary tract infections.
Cranberry juice contains powerful anti-oxidants which help prevent cancer. This is especially helpful for women who can suffer from breast cancer which is a deadly disease. Diets high in anti-oxidants are believed to be linked to low cancer rates so drink a glass a day to keep the doctor away!
The other benefits that can be received from cranberry juice are more directly related to beauty which nearly all women would say is important. For example cranberry juice helps promote dental health by preventing the growth of bacteria in your mouth thereby reducing your chances of getting cavities and periodontal disease.
Lastly, cranberry juice is known to detoxify the body due to it’s high vitamin content and as we all know detoxification leads to clear skin and healthy hair and nails. For more information on how to use cranberry juice for detoxification read our post on the cranberry juice detox diet. With so many benefits packed into such a tasty drink how can you not make cranberry juice a part of your regular diet?
Many people have heard about cranberry juice’s ability to cure urinary tract infections but do you know why it works? There are four explanations for the effectiveness of this cure. The first has to do with how cranberry juice raises the acidity of your urine and the others have more to do with the biology of the bacteria which causes the infection.
The easiest explanation for cranberry juice’s ability to cure urinary tract infections is that it raises the acidity of your urine due to the citric acid in the cranberry itself. The bacteria which cause the infection need an alkaline environment to survive and with the high acid levels caused by drinking cranberry juice they are unable to stick to the bladder walls and are passed on when you urinate.
As we mentioned earlier the other reasons for cranberry juice’s ability to cure urinary tract infections have more to do with the biology of the bacteria. Interestingly cranberries have a compound in them called proanthocyanidins which disrupts communication between the bacteria’s cells.
So how do you cure a urinary tract infection with cranberry juice? Simply drink 3-4 glasses of pure cranberry juice (or a juice mixture which contains at least 30% cranberry juice) with plenty of water every day for 2-3 months and you should be cured. Still not convinced that this will work for you? Here are the results of a study on the effectiveness of this cure:
Two groups of women participated in a study which studied the effects of cranberry juice consumption on their urinary tract. One group of women was given a placebo which looked and tasted like cranberry juice while the other group was given pure cranberry juice. Over the course of 6 months the researchers found that the group who drank the pure juice had 58% less infections than the other group.
So what is the cranberry juice detox diet and what is it good for? The cranberry juice detox diet is a diet that takes 2 1/2 to 3 weeks and involves drinking a detox drink made of cranberry juice and eating only whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. The purpose of the diet is to cleanse your bowels, kidneys and lymphatic system of harmful toxins.
What ingredients do I need and how does the diet work? There’s a few things you’ll need that you may not already have in your cabinets. For the detox drink you’ll need pure 100% unsweetened cranberry juice (we like Mountain Sun which you can find at Amazon or if you want to go organic Lakewood Organic is even better,) psyllium fiber (Metamucil works but a natural brand is preferred,) apple pectin, and distilled water. You’ll also need astragalus capsules, dandelion leaf capsules, fruit, vegetables, and whole grains.
Once you’ve gathered all of the ingredients you’re ready to begin. To make the detox drink you’re going to need to mix 1 part cranberry juice with 4 parts water (at least 12 ounces total,) a teaspoon of psyllium fiber, and a teaspoon of apple pectin. Stir the ingredients up and drink twice a day, 10 minutes before a meal for the 1st week. Take 2 capsules of the dandelion leaf 2-3 times per day and remember not to eat any meat, dairy, or processed foods. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains only! Snack on apples throughout the day for extra pectin to help flush out the toxins.
During week 2 follow the same steps minus the dandelion leaf and substitute with the astragalus capsules. During week 3 remove the psyllium fiber and pectin from the detox drink and slowly introduce meat and dairy back into your diet but make sure to eat only lean meat and low-fat dairy.
That’s it, you’re done! You should be thoroughly detoxed after the second week and should already be feeling the benefits of this diet. Be sure to check out our article on cranberry juice benefits before you get started. Cheers to your health!
If you’re looking for organic cranberry juice for your health, for a detox diet, or just because you think buying organic is socially responsible then you are on the right track. We are firm believers in the power that cranberry juice has on your health…especially organic cranberry juice.
Cranberry juice is an essential part of your diet along with other fruit and vegetable juices and drinking the organic version may or may not have additional health benefits but we choose organic because often times the growers use sustainable methods for growing the cranberries and other ingredients which we feel is socially responsible.
It is said that certain fruits that are grown organically have higher concentrations of antioxidants so that could be one reason to choose the organic version of this wonderful juice. Whatever your reason there are a few great options out there.
Our favorite just based on taste and price is Lakewood Organic. You can find it online at Amazon (we buy it in bulk to save) or at your local health food store. Smaller health food grocery stores may not have it but if you have a Whole Foods nearby you might find it there.
Another great option is R.W. Knudsen which is well known for their organic soda and juices. The taste is great but you’ll pay a bit more for their name. If price isn’t an issue then R.W. Knudsen is a great choice for organic cranberry juice.
Rounding out our top 3 is Mountain Sun which we recommend for the cranberry juice purist. The price is somewhere in the middle depending on where you buy it and it is unsweetened with no additional juices such as apple for taste. We really recommend this one for the cranberry juice detox diet.
Try out all of the above and see which you like best. For more great info on cranberry juice check out our article on cranberry juice benefits and see how it can contribute to your health and wellness today!
