Cranberry juice

CRANBERRY JUICE: DETAILED INFORMATION

The cranberry or American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton, Ericaceae family) is native to the northwestern United States. It is a shrubby plant that can grow up to 30cm, with pink or purple leaves and red berries 10-20 mm in diameter (1).

Cranberries can be eaten fresh, dried, powdered or in juice. They are also used to make cakes, jams and sauces. They are rich in organic acids (citric, malic, benzoic and quinic acids), proanthocyanidins and other phenolic compounds. They also contain sodium, potassium, iron and calcium, manganese, vitamins C, A, E and K, and fibre (pectin) (2-4).

Cranberry juice, thanks to its proanthocyanidin (PAC) content, prevents the bacteria responsible for the vast majority of symptomatic urinary tract infections (uropathogenic Escherichia coli) from adhering to the epithelium of the urinary tract, helping in case of urinary tract infections caused by these bacteria (3). It has also been found that drinking cranberry juice helps to reduce risk of urinary tract infection in people who have recently suffered episodes of these infections (5).

How to consume our cranberry juice

Cranberry juice can be consumed on its own or diluted in water (1 part juice to 4 parts water). You can add sugar, honey, stevia to taste, to give it a touch of sweetness. Shake before using.

CRANBERRY JUICE: BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Rombi et Robert. 120 plantes médicinales: Composition, mode d’action et intérêt thérapeutique… de l’Ail à la Vigne rouge. Éd Alpen. 2006.

2. http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/1875/2

3. Castillo-García E, Martínez-Solís I. Manual de Fitoterapia. 1ª Edición revisada. España: Elsevier Masson, 2011.

4. Fernández (2008) Aplicaciones fitoterapéuticas del arándano rojo. Offarm 27(9): 71-78.

5. Mari et al. (2016) Consumption of a cranberry juice beverage lowered the number of clinical urinary tract infection episodes in women with a recent history of urinary tract infection. Am J Clin Nutr 103(6): 1434-42.