Cranberry juice, with its deep red color and sweet-tart taste, is a timeless drink.
It's great for satisfying thirst as an alternative to water or fruit juices.
Is cranberry juice healthy, and how much should you drink? We asked registered dietitians about cranberry juice's health advantages and how to find the best in stores.
Cranberry juice reduces oxidative stress and tastes great. Pasquariello adds cranberries include polyphenols, which include phenolic acids, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, and flavonoids.
Staying hydrated goes beyond water. Due to its high water content, fruit juice—including cranberry juice—is suitable.
“Cranberry juice contains compounds like proanthocyanidins and vitamin C, which support immune function,” Carli says. Vitamin C, which produces and functions white blood cells, is crucial for good immunity, she says.
Perhaps cranberry juice's most notable benefit is urinary tract health. It reduces the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs), which cause symptoms like a persistent urge to pee, pelvic pain, and murky urine.
Cranberry juice's antioxidants fight oxidative stress, lowering heart disease risk. Because oxidative stress damages heart cells, it can eventually impair heart function. Pasquariello says flavonoids in cranberries and juice may reduce atherosclerosis.