Benefits of Cranberry Juice

Disclosure: I received a compensation in return for this post. This post was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own.

I admit I never really thought much about cranberry juice when I bought it. I just grabbed a bottle off the shelf, usually to mix with other ingredients to make punch for a party. Or to guzzle if I thought I was coming down with one of those -ahem- nasty UTIs.

It turns out I should pay more attention to the labels on bottled Cranberry Juice. Not all cranberry juices contain the same amount of cranberry juice.

What?

Isn’t cranberry juice just cranberry juice?

Nope.

There’s other stuff mixed in with the cranberry juice. To get maximum health benefits of cranberry juice look for a blend that contains at least 27 percent cranberry juice. You also want to make sure it’s a 100 percent juice blend to avoid added sugar and calories. We all want to avoid extra calories, right? You’ll also get the health benefits you expect and that you’re paying for.

And cranberry juice has A LOT of benefits. I wasn’t even aware of most of them. Here are just a few:

• 8 oz. of 27 percent cranberry juice contains the same health benefit as eating 1 1/2 cups of berries.
• Cranberry juice contains flavonoids, a type of antioxidant, which contributes to cardiovascular health and can help prevent cancer.
• Unlike other juices Cranberry contains PAC-A which is what is responsible for helping fight bacteria.
• Cranberry juice may help prevent urinary tract infections.
• An 8 oz. cup of 100 percent juice that contains 27 percent cranberry meets 2010 dietary guidelines as a fruit or vegetable allowance.

I mentioned above that I use cranberry juice to make punch, and sometimes I mix it with lemonade in the summer. Here are a few other ideas for adding cranberry juice to your diet:

• Mix either ¼ cup of pure cranberry juice, or 1 cup 100% juice blend or cocktail with 1 cup of iced tea, add a
  few drops of liquid stevia or honey if you prefer a sweeter flavor. Serve over ice.
• In the Wintertime try a hot mulled cranberry drink. Simply combine 1 cup of cranberry juice, ½ Tbsp maple
  syrup, 1 cinnamon stick, 2 cloves and a slice of orange in a small saucepan. Simmer gently and strain before
  serving.
• When making oatmeal try replacing the water with cranberry juice.

Here’s a list of 10 juices to look for that contain a high content of cranberry juice and that will give you the health benefits you want:

• 365 Organic (Whole Foods) 100% Juice Cranberry
• Kirkland Signature Cranberry Juice Cocktail
• L&A All Cranberry
• Lakewood Pure Cranberry
• Langers Cranberry Juice Cocktail
• Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice Cocktail
• Roundy’s Cranberry Juice Cocktail
• RW Knudsen Family Just Cranberry
• Trader Joe’s 100% Cranberry Juice
• Wild Harvest (SuperValu Inc.) Cranberry 100% Juice

The information in this post was provided by the Be Berry Aware campaign. You can find out more about the health benefits of cranberry juice on their website. Also check out the infographic below for more information.

Next time you buy cranberry juice check the label and make sure you’re getting what you need and what you’re paying for. I know I’ll be turning that bottle around and reading carefully!

Disclosure: I received a compensation in return for this post. This post was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own.