Cranberry Juice
What is the Cranberry? Cranberries are in the evergreen dwarf shrub group.
They grow in acidic bogs throughout the cooler parts of the Northern Hemisphere.
Cranberries are either low creeping vines or shrubs.
The fruit consists of a berry that turns deep red when it is fully ripe.
It is edible and has an acidic taste that tends to overwhelm the sweetness.
Most of the cranberries that are cultivated are processed into juice, sauce, and sweetened dried cranberries.
Cranberry sauce is an indispensable staple for both Canadian and American Thanksgiving menus.
Home Remedies using Cranberry Juice:
Benefits and Uses of Cranberry Juice:
Cranberries contain polyphenol antioxidants, phytochemicals that are currently under active research to determine any possible benefits for the cardiovascular system, and the immune system for cancer fighting agents.
It is also believed that drinking cranberry juice is beneficial to the urinary system.
Several clinical trials were indicative that such an effect occurs when a component of the juice prevents bacteria from attaching to the bladder and urethra, thus allowing it to be flushed out easier.
Though unproven, the consumption of cranberry juice has prevented many people from going to the doctor for medicine for a minor infection.
Even though testing for anti-bacterial activity is promising, there is only limited evidence to support consumption of cranberry juice as to substantiate beneficial effects for protection against urinary tract infections in women.
Clinical trials have been conducted on people with spinal cord injuries who suffer from bladder catheterization, neurogenic bladder, or minimal urination.
Even consuming cranberry juice or tablets failed to successfully prove any benefits of cranberry juice consumption for preventing urinary tract infection.
- Inhibit and possibly reverse the formation of plaque on the teeth
- Possibly benefit in preventing kidney stones
- Possibly benefit in preventing cardiovascular disease
- Enhancing the immune system is under research
- Treatment of minor urinary tract infections or keeping the urinary tract flushed to prevent infections
- Drink in juice form
- Eat as fruit
Side Effects of Cranberry Juice:
People taking Warfarin are warned not to drink cranberry juice because of adverse effects.
Combining Vitamin C with the benzoic acid in cranberries forms small amounts of benzene, a Group 1 carcinogen.
