Cranberry juice and health benefits

Cranberries and their products have been shown in several studies to provide health benefits, particularly in reducing growth and disease due to pathogens. The juice has been used in folk medicine for millennia.

The theory of using cranberries juice to prevent urinary tract infection is appealing and well accepted.

The active antibacterial agents are proanthocyanidins specific to cranberries which prevent bacterial adhesion to the urinary tract.

According to the study, cranberry juice appears to take effect about two hours after consumption and to remain effective for roughly eight hours.

Cranberry and its compounds have also been illustrated to exhibit potent antioxidant activity by protecting against low density lipoprotein oxidation and decreasing cholesterol level, thus possibly reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Consumption of cranberry products is associated with beneficial antioxidant, vasodilator and antiplatelet aggregation properties that may make these products a viable substitute to red wine and Concord grape juice for protection from cardiovascular disease.

Diseases of the oral cavity such as gingivitis, dental carries and periodontitis may be prevented or treated with oral administration of cranberry juice.

Cranberry juice has been shown to decrease adherence of oral streptococci strains to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite, glucan-coated hydroxyapatite and impaired biofilm formation.
Cranberry juice and health benefits