Testing It Up

Cranberry juice is known to prevent urinary tract infection, but a new study reveals it can also help lower blood pressure, according to a feature on Beforeitsnews.com.

In a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it was found that drinking low-calorie cranberry juice may benefit the heart by reducing blood pressure.

The study observed 56 participants that were, for eight weeks, placed on either a controlled diet or a placebo beverage. Participants under the controlled diet consumed low-calorie cranberry juice, while placebo beverage included matching color, flavor, calories, sugar, and vitamin C. Prior the study, blood pressure of the participants was measured, and again in the middle and following the study.

The findings show that those who consumed low-calorie cranberry juice displayed significant reduction in their blood pressure — a drop from 121/73mmhg to an average of 118/70mmhg. Meanwhile, no change had been observed on those in the placebo group.

Janet Novotny, lead researcher of the study, said cranberry juice is rich in antioxidants which in other studies have been associated with lower blood pressure.

“Cranberry juice is rich in phenolic compounds, whether sweetened with sugar or with an artificial sweetener, therefore I would expect regular cranberry juice and low calorie cranberry juice to convey similar health benefits,” she said.

Cranberry juice is a refreshing drink that provides tons of health benefits.  A new addition to the list of benefits is its potential as a non-alcoholic alternative to red wine in helping lower blood pressure and promoting cardiovascular health. A research study conducted at the Queen Mary University of London by Dr. Roger Corder, author of “The Red Wine Diet”, has recently shown that the procyanidins found in cranberries helps in preventing blood vessel constriction with comparable effectiveness to those present in red wine.

Other benefits

The phytochemicals present in cranberries have been linked to prevention of cancer and urinary tract infection. Experts have reported that drinking unsweetened cranberry juice has some inhibitory effect on the growth of bacteria in the mouth thereby reducing dental plaques.

Packed with vitamins

A cup of unsweetened cranberry juice is a good source of vitamin C (23.5 mg, 39% of daily value in a 2,000 calorie diet), vitamin K (12.9 mcg, 16% DV), and vitamin E (as alpha-tocopherol at 3.0 mg, 15% DV).

Buying cranberry juice

Studies have shown that the effectiveness of the health benefits is related to the amount of procyanidins, phytochemicals and other nutrients in the beverage. For instance, a cup of cranberry juice cocktail containing a certain percentage of cranberry juice will not be as effective as a cup of 100% cranberry juice. It will be a good idea to read the ingredient list to maximize the benefits. Note that labels indicating “100% juice” may not necessarily mean “100% cranberry juice” but can refer to a mixture of juices with cranberry juice as the dominant ingredient. Also, some fruit juice options can contain high amounts of sugar which may be counterproductive.