Content
The benefits and harms of cranberry juice have been known since ancient times and are actively used for personal purposes. This drink has become famous for its many positive characteristics and healing properties and is often used for the prevention and complete cure of many diseases.
Chemical composition of cranberry juice
Cranberry juice contains a large amount of vital biologically active substances, due to which the product has a lot of beneficial properties. It contains many organic acids. The most important of them:
- lemon (303.8 ppm);
- apple (190 ppm);
- cinchona (311.7 ppm);
- ascorbic acid (9.6 ppm).
Chemical composition:
Vitamins
| Minerals | ||||
macronutrients | microelements | ||||
A | 1.6667 mcg | Potassium | 155 mg | Bor | 130 mcg |
IN 1 | 0.02 mg | Calcium | 19 mg | Copper | 120 mcg |
AT 2 | 0.03 mg | Phosphorus | 16 mg | Rubidium | 44 mcg |
AT 5 | 0.05 mg | Sodium | 14 mg | Nickel | 17 mcg |
AT 6 | 0.03 mg | Magnesium | 12 mg | Cobalt | 10 mcg |
AT 9 | 2 mcg | Sulfur | 6 mg | Fluorine | 10 mcg |
AT 12 | 13 mg | Silicon | 6 mg | Vanadium | 5 mcg |
WITH | 13 mg | Chlorine | 1 mg | Molybdenum | 5 mcg |
E | 0.4 mg |
|
| Iron | 2.3 mcg |
H | 0.1 mg |
|
| Iodine | 1 mcg |
PP | 0.1664 mg |
|
| Zinc | 0.19 mcg |
Cranberry juice is recognized by nutritionists as one of the most useful compositions that can cope with excess fat and at the same time saturate the body with a large amount of additional energy and a number of vitamins that will help strengthen the immune system.
Beneficial features
Cranberry juice has proven itself well and is actively used in many industries, namely in medicine, cooking, and cosmetology. Due to the large number of beneficial properties, the drink has become the object of research, which has attracted the interest of many specialists in various fields.
For diabetes
People with diabetes often complain of atherosclerosis, but published positive results from a 12-week study show that drinking cranberry juice regularly is the real way to reverse the disease. This remedy significantly reduces the level of unnecessary cholesterol in the blood and prevents the development of heart disease and blockage of blood vessels.
University of Massachusetts researchers studied the effect of the drink on blood glucose levels. It turned out that after using cranberry juice, the absorption of carbon by cells decreased by up to 40%.
For heart and vascular health
Scientists have proven that cranberry juice can constrict blood vessels and reduce the speed of blood flow.This is due to the influence of cranberry extract on the human humoral system, and, in particular, on the synthesis of the vasoconstrictor endothelin, which is responsible for the speed of blood flow.
For dental health
Employees of the Rochester Medical Center studied caries and came to the conclusion that cranberry juice rids teeth of bacterial plaque and thereby eliminates the formation of caries. But you need to take into account that the juice contains a substance such as citric acid, which negatively affects dental health by destroying the protective layer of tooth enamel.
For heartburn
The main cause of constant heartburn is a weakened sphincter, which is located between the stomach and esophagus. If there are no deviations, it does not allow digestive juices to enter the esophagus. Heartburn most often occurs during pregnancy or obesity; it can be a consequence of smoking, hernia, vomiting, or taking any medications.
People with low acidity often experience heartburn. This can provoke poorly digested food into the intestines, which causes active fermentation and the release of hydrogen. Gas negatively affects the functioning of the sphincter and interferes with its functioning.
If the cause of heartburn is slow digestion of food, then cranberry juice is an excellent alternative to increase acidity levels and speed up the functioning of the digestive organs.
But with increased acidity of the stomach, additional acidic foods only aggravate the work of the sphincter, so cranberry juice and other products that also affect the human body must be discarded or consumed in limited quantities.
For acne
Fatty and smoked foods, unbalanced and irregular nutrition are the main causes of inflammation. Acne is one of the symptoms of inflammation in the body. After an interesting experiment, it became known that one of the components of cranberry juice - resveratrol - can get rid of acne in a fairly short time. When using a cosmetic product based on this component, it was recorded that the number of acne is reduced by more than 50%.
For urinary tract infections
A fairly common complication after most illnesses is bladder infections. Cranberry juice has a positive effect on the body’s immune system and can resist infection in the early stages, but if the disease is advanced, then the drink will be of little use; here you need to resort to medication.
Contraindications
Seriously exceeding the daily dose of cranberry juice will have an extremely negative impact on the body. If you drink more than 3 liters of the drink per day, stomach upset or diarrhea may occur. In addition, the product contains substances that provoke the deposition of oxalates in the kidneys.
Typically, cranberries are grown in unfavorable places where they can absorb more than 10 types of pesticides into the pulp. This can negatively affect a person’s well-being and cause the development of many diseases. Therefore, you should purchase only those berries that meet safety requirements or prepare the juice yourself.
How to make cranberry juice
Making cranberry juice at home doesn't require much effort. The only negative is the high cost of cranberries; many people believe that it is cheaper to buy cranberry juice right away. But store-bought products contain substitutes and flavoring additives, and if you prepare the drink yourself, you can have no doubt about its quality.
List of ingredients:
- 450 g cranberries;
- 1 liter of water;
- 450 g apples (less possible);
- sugar and cinnamon to taste.
Step by step recipe:
- Wash the fruits thoroughly.
- Cut the apples into small pieces.
- Boil water and pour all the fruits into it.
- Simmer over low heat for 10 minutes until the berries crack.
- Add sweetener and desired spices, remove from heat and let steep.
- Grind the mass using a blender.
- Filter everything through a strainer and cool.
Another cooking method:
Cranberry juice with soda
Natural cranberry elixir can be combined with soda to create a healthy and incredibly tasty cocktail. If desired, you can add a little more rum to enhance the piquancy and taste of the drink.
List of ingredients:
- 400 g cranberries;
- 50 ml soda;
- sweeteners to taste.
Step by step recipe:
- Boil water, add cranberries and cook for no more than 10 minutes.
- Sweeten and let cool.
- Grind in a blender and filter using a strainer.
- Add soda after cooling.
Cranberry-lemon juice
The combination of cranberries and lemon is quite successful, since the taste properties of this product exceed all expectations. The refined taste with moderate acidity and excellent aroma will impress everyone.
List of ingredients:
- 3 tbsp. cranberries;
- 1 lemon
- sugar to taste.
Step by step recipe:
- Wash the cranberries, grate the lemon zest and squeeze out all the juice.
- Boil water, add berries, lemon zest and boil for 5 minutes.
- Add sugar and remove from heat.
- Pour in lemon juice, let cool and grind in a blender.
- Strain and cool.
Conclusion
The benefits and harms of cranberry juice are useful information for every lover of this berry. Its use can have a positive effect on a person’s health and general well-being and provide all vital substances.