Health Benefits of Cranberries - Exposed

Cranberries and Cranberry Juice: Fighting heart disease and infection, or just plain fluff…?

 

The Rumors:

Antioxidant this, and antioxidant that. Cranberries and cranberry juice is said to be loaded with them…and it is! But, can cranberries and the derived products, such as juice, really do anything to help fight heart disease? And what about urinary tract infections? Both of these problems have been rumored to be reduced with cranberries. Lets take a look at what the reality is.

The History:

Cranberries are one of 3 commercially grown fruits that are native to north america. Cranberries were used by the natives of north america for hundereds of years as a dye for fabric, food, and as a medicine. The word itself is from a pilgrim name for fruit "craneberry". It is called this because the blossoms bear a resembalance to a Sandhill Crane. As time went on, the word was skewed to sound like it does today... "Cranberry"

The Real Deal:

Well, According to a study published in a journal put out by the American Chemical Society, the first concrete link between high antioxidant juices and lower heart risk has been established. In this study, 19 people underwent a 4 month experiment in which they were to drink an increasing amount of cranberry juice over the period. At the end of the trial, they were drinking 3 glasses of cranberry juice a day. This resulted in an increase of 10% in HDL (high density lipoprotein), A.K.A. : Good cholesterol. A 10% increase in HDL corresponds to a 40% reduced risk of heart disease. Although it was a small study, the results are statistically significant, and in human subjects. It should be taken at face value that cranberry juice does indeed lower the risk of heart disease and heart attacks by up to 40%!

 

But what about UTI? Well, in the American Family Physician, a study was published that states that new evidence shows that cranberry juice can help reduce the risk of contracting a bladder or UTI infection. This is based off a Finnish study where women who had experience chronic bladder infections were to drink cranberry and lingonberry juice.

 

Cranberry Exposed:

 

Ok, so it turns out cranberries do reduce the risk of bladder infections, and if you drink enough, it will lower your risk of heart disease by up to 40%! As for side effects… None that we know off, aside from the possibility of being allergic to cranberries. So for now, drink up, because 3 glasses a day can substantially lower your risk of heart disease.