What are the benefits of cranberry juice?
There is a specific type of tannin (plant chemical) found only in cranberries and blueberries. This interferes with projections on the bacterium, preventing it from sticking to the walls of the bladder and causing infection. Cranberries also have high levels of potassium and are low in sodium. Cranberries contain quinic acid, an acidic compound that is unusual in that it is not broken down in the body but is excreted unchanged in the urine. The presence of quinic acid causes the urine to become just slightly acidica level of acidity that is, however, sufficient to prevent calcium and phosphate ions from joining to form insoluble stones. In patients who have had recurrent kidney stones, cranberry juice has been shown to reduce the amount of ionized calcium in their urine by more than 50 percenta highly protective effect since, in the U.S., 7585 percent of kidney stones are composed of calcium salts. (Source: George Mateljan Foundation, The Worlds Healthiest Foods List, AZ: Cranberries)
“Besides its high mix of natural vitamins and minerals, cranberry juice is also highly effective in the treatment of urinary tract, bladder and kidney infections. Additionally, a healthy dose of dietary fiber, antioxidants and phytochemical nutrients help to protect you against heart disease and cancer. Rich with Vitamin C, the high amount of acid and other beneficial components in cranberry juice can help break down and prevent the formation of kidney stones. Used for centuries to treat urinary tract infections, its benefit in those areas is already well-known. But perhaps a lesser known fact is that cranberry juice also contains components that help prevent the formation of oral bacteria that lead to gum disease and plaque.
