7 Health Benefits of Cranberry Juice & 5 Recipe Ideas

Diana Barkley (Senior Editor)

Cranberry juice has been widely enjoyed since it was popularized by Dutch settlers in the late 1600s. In 1930 the arguably world’s best-known cranberry juice was brought to market by Ocean Spray. Here you’ll find all of the health benefits of cranberry juice, as well as tasty tips.

At times, cranberries are even referred to as ‘super berries.’ This gives you some idea how effective cranberry juice is at improving a variety of ailments.

From preventing urinary tract infections to protecting your heart’s health, cranberry juice is a superfood. In this article, we’ll cover just how beneficial cranberry juice is, what risks are associated with enjoying it, and how you can incorporate this vibrant juice into your drinks recipes.

Interesting Facts about Cranberry Juice

Interesting Facts about Cranberry Juice

Cranberry juice is arguably one of the most popular fruit juices in the USA. It’s full of healthy nutrients, tastes refreshing, and can be served in a variety of ways.

But did you know just how many cranberries Americans consume each year? Apparently, 80 million pounds of cranberries are enjoyed during the week of Thanksgiving alone.

This makes up for 20 percent of yearly American cranberry consumption — so around 400 million pounds annually.

Cranberries are even used in skincare, because the vitamin C content helps boost collagen production. Meanwhile antibacterial properties present in these super berries may help treat acne and fight off bad bacteria — even externally.

As far as the juice is concerned, Ocean Spray juice got its name around the early 1900s. All we know is that it was created by a Boston lawyer who was known for marketing a popular cranberry sauce. Why exactly it’s called Ocean Spray appears to be unclear.

What Cranberry Juice Is

What Cranberry Juice Is

Cranberry juice is made from the ripe berries of the cranberry bush. It’s a sweetened or unsweetened drink that can be made at home or bought from shops.

Origin and Where Cranberry Juice Originally Comes From

Origin and Where Cranberry Juice Originally Comes From

Cranberries allegedly got their name from Dutch and German settlers. They called it a ‘crane berry’ for being a popular food enjoyed by crane birds. The name eventually became the ‘cranberry’ we know today, and the juice became popular around the late 1600s.

Ingredients In Cranberry Juice

Both homemade and store bought cranberry juice is made from ripe cranberries, water, and, frequently, sugar or sweetener.

Nutritional Facts, Calories and Protein of Cranberry Juice

Nutritional Facts, Calories and Protein of Cranberry Juice

Pure unsweetened cranberry juice is an excellent source of vitamins, including vitamin C, E, and K1.

It also includes minerals such as copper and manganese, anthocyanins, flavonoids, antioxidants (including polyphenols), and amino acids.

The juice contains almost no fiber, though the berries themselves do. Cranberry juice does contain a lot of oxalate, which can help rid your body of excess calcium.

With that said, some people, such as those suffering from kidney disease, should avoid high-oxalate foods and beverages.

Unsweetened cranberry juice contains around 117 calories per cup, while sweetened juice will have around 136 calories. You can make your own cranberry juice at home (see our recipe section below) to avoid additives and make a healthier version.

Health Benefits of Drinking Cranberry Juice

Health Benefits of Drinking Cranberry Juice: Why It Is So Good for You

Cranberry juice is well known for being a healthy drink particularly women can enjoy. But what exactly does it do for your body? Here is a list of the most common health benefits you’ll reap when adding cranberry juice to your diet.

May Prevent Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in Women and Men

May Prevent Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in Women and Men

Cranberry juice has properties which help boost your immune system and fight off bad bacteria, particularly down below. This is likely why it’s beneficial for preventing urinary tract infections from developing.

Unfortunately, once you already have a UTI, the only benefits you’ll reap from cranberry juice is the added water intake and the fact that it acts as a diuretic.

Might Help Keep Bad Bacteria at Bay for Women

Might Help Keep Bad Bacteria at Bay for Women

Similarly to keeping your body clear of urinary tract infections, cranberry juice may generally keep bad bacteria at bay down below.

This is particularly useful for pregnant women who may develop infections, particularly UTIs, more readily. It’s not proven whether or not cranberry juice helps prevent yeast infections, too.

Boosts Your Immune System and Helps Fight off Bacteria

Boosts Your Immune System and Helps Fight off Bacteria

The vitamins and antioxidants in cranberry juice help keep your immune system functioning the way it should be. This in turn means your body can kill harmful bacteria more readily.

Antioxidants help ward off free radicals and keep them from damaging your cells.

This also means cranberry juice can offer some protection against a variety of ailments and illnesses.

May Help Improve Heart Health and Prevent Heart Disease

May Help Improve Heart Health and Prevent Heart Disease

The anthocyanins in cranberry juice can help keep your arteries supple and improve your heart health. Studies have shown that cranberry juice can improve levels of bad cholesterol in your body, lower blood pressure, and reduce your chance of developing heart disease.

Be mindful that having too much sugar in your diet can, in turn, increase your risk of stroke and heart disease, so it’s important to choose a low sugar or sugar free juice.

Can Reduce Your Risk of Developing Ulcers

Can Reduce Your Risk of Developing Ulcers

Cranberry juice is full of vitamins and antioxidants, which could reduce your risk of developing stomach ulcers.

Cranberry juice is also said to help ease symptoms of ulcers you already have.

With that said, plain water is generally the most advisable drink if you have peptic ulcers, so you may wish to speak to your doctor before adding cranberry juice or dilute it with water.

Might Be Helpful for Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis

Might Be Helpful for Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis

A study has shown that cranberry juice can decrease disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Adding cranberry juice to your diet may reduce inflammation and, therefore, pain associated with arthritis.

Other antioxidant and vitamin-rich juices recommended for sufferers of RA include pineapple, orange, tomato, and carrot juices.

May Improve Blood Flow and Enhance Libido

The polyphenols in cranberry juice can improve blood circulation, including down below. This may improve sexual function, though whether adding cranberry juice to your diet also enhances your libido is questionable.

Potential Risks of Cranberry Juice

Potential Risks of Cranberry Juice

Cranberry juice is both safe and even beneficial for most people, though it can cause adverse reactions in some. Below are the top reasons you may wish to avoid cranberry juice and what to look out for when buying it from a supermarket or health food store.

May Adversely Interact with Some Blood Thinning Medications

Cranberry juice can increase the way medications, including warfarin, thins your blood. Taking cranberry juice with blood thinning medication may put you at risk of bleeding more. Grapefruit juice appears to have a similar effect, too.

Too Much Sugar May Cause Stomach Problems or Spikes in Blood Sugar Levels

Too Much Sugar May Cause Stomach Problems or Spikes in Blood Sugar Levels

This is one to look out for if you’re buying cranberry juice rather than making it at home. Many store bought varieties contain a lot of added sugar, which can adversely affect your health.

Ingesting too much sugar can cause stomach problems, blood sugar spikes, and even strokes and heart problems.

Bear in mind that artificial sweeteners also increase your risk of many of these issues, so opt for a sugar and sweetener-free juice when you can.

Could Have Adverse Effects on People with Kidney Disease

Could Have Adverse Effects on People with Kidney Disease

Cranberry juice may sound like a good idea for those suffering from kidney disease, given how beneficial it is as a diuretic.

However, cranberry juice has a high oxalate content, which could increase the risk of developing calcium oxalate kidney stones.

If you’re prone to developing kidney stones or suffer from kidney disease, you may wish to steer clear of cranberry juice.

Is Cranberry Juice in Pregnancy Good For You?

Is Cranberry Juice in Pregnancy Good For You?

Cranberry juice is perfectly fine for use in pregnancy, and can even offer some benefits to you and your baby or babies. It’s suggested that you speak to your doctor before taking cranberry supplements if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.

Cranberry juice can help you prevent urinary tract infections, which are common in pregnancy. It can generally help prevent too much bad bacteria from growing in your urinary tract, too.

Cranberry juice also helps reduce the risk of developing kidney stones, and boosts your immune system — helpful as being sick while pregnant is always extra uncomfortable.

Cranberries are full of antioxidants and vitamins, which make them good for you and your baby.

Can Dogs and Cats Have Cranberry Juice?

Can Dogs and Cats Have Cranberry Juice?

Cranberry juice, as well as dried or fresh cranberries can cause stomach upset in your furry friends. Fresh cranberries may be good as an occasional snack food for birds, hamsters, or guinea pigs.

They’re not particularly harmful but also not great, and certainly not necessary, for dogs or cats.

You’ll want to avoid giving cranberry juice to your dogs or cats, particularly due to the juice’s high content of sugar and possible additives in store bought varieties.

Delicious Recipe Ideas with Cranberry Juice

Delicious Recipe Ideas with Cranberry Juice

Cranberry juice can be a little tart and even a bit bitter on its own. As such it’s really down to individual tastes, and some may prefer cranberry juice paired with other flavors or made entirely different. Here are some of our favorite cranberry juice recipe ideas.

Homemade Cranberry Juice

Try Homemade Cranberry Juice

Homemade cranberry juice is incredibly easy. You can use either fresh or frozen cranberries, and add a cup of water per cup of berries.

Keep it unsweetened or add a sweetener you like, such as honey or maple syrup. All you need to do is boil the cranberries in the water, then simmer them for around 20 minutes or until most of them have split.

Strain the cranberry juice, sweeten it if and as you wish, and cool before you enjoy it.

Hot Cranberry Juice for the Colder Months

Hot Cranberry Juice

If you like cranberry juice but it’s getting colder outside, you may enjoy this hot version. Simply heat up some cranberry juice but add in some orange slices, cloves, a cinnamon stick, some lemon juice, and a bit of honey.

This makes a delightful, warming drink that’s a little like mulled wine, but minus the alcohol. It’s also full of vitamins and minerals, making it helpful when you’re feeling a little under the weather.

Cranberry and Orange Juice

Tasty Mix: Cranberry and Orange Juice

Cranberry juice mixed with orange juice makes for a lovely drink — it’s even better with a few added ingredients, for a healthy mocktail. Just mix some orange juice, cranberry juice, maple syrup, and seltzer water. Garnish with a slice of orange and some fresh cranberries, and enjoy over ice.

Tips for Using Cranberry Juice

Tips for Using Cranberry Juice

As you can see, cranberry juice is full of health benefits and makes for a versatile ingredient in a variety of cold and hot drinks. Here are some final tips for you to incorporate cranberry juice into your favorite drinks as well as foods, plus how to best keep homemade cranberry juice.

How to Store Cranberry Juice — Store Bought vs Homemade

How to Store Cranberry Juice — Store Bought vs Homemade

Store bought cranberry juice will stay good for two to three weeks after opening, so long as you keep it refrigerated. Unopened, it’s usually fine for around a year.

Properly sealed homemade juice will have a similar shelf-life when kept unopened, but should be consumed within 3 days once opened, and kept refrigerated in the meantime.

Cranberry Juice and Apple Cider Vinegar For Detox

Cranberry Juice and Apple Cider Vinegar For Detox

Both cranberry juice and apple cider vinegar have long been lauded for their health benefits.

Mix up a delicious detoxifying cocktail by pairing sparkling water with unsweetened cranberry juice, apple cider vinegar, the juice of half an orange, and some raspberries for garnish.

Apple cider vinegar fans enjoy it for its ability to promote weight loss and kill bad bacteria in your body.

Cranberry Juice Cocktails with and without Alcohol

Cranberry Juice Cocktails with and without Alcohol

You can readily enjoy a cranberry juice mocktail by simply pairing some sugar-free juice with seltzer water and a sprig of mint.

If you like an alcoholic drink, cranberry juice pairs nicely with a variety of spirits and more: mix it with vodka, gin, red wine, rum, or even champagne. Pour it over ice and garnish with some berries or a slice of orange, and enjoy on a hot day.

Delicious Cranberry Sauce

Delicious Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce is a hugely popular condiment, particularly when it comes to Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Some of the simplest recipes call for brown sugar, orange juice, and fresh or frozen cranberries. That’s all you need to make a scrumptious homemade cranberry sauce.

Use less sugar or replace it with maple syrup for a healthier version.

(40 votes, average: 4.90 out of 5)
You need to be a registered member to rate this.

Loading...