“They need that sweetness to be a little bit more palatable,” explains O’Neill.īut that doesn’t mean you need to avoid cranberry juice or dried cranberries. That sugar is added to offset the tart flavor of cranberries. “That’s actually how much added sugar some people can have in a day.” “In general, one serving of dried cranberries has around 25 grams of added sugar,” says O’Neill. But if you get your cranberry fix through juice or dried cranberries, be aware that there’s plenty of added sugar used in both forms. It’s a tricky question to answer, says O’Neill. “We know in general that eating enough non-starchy vegetables and getting enough fruits in your diet reduces your risk of certain cancers,” says O’Neill. So researchers are starting to study if and how they may have anticancer properties. Prevent cancerĪs you’ve probably learned by now, a-type proanthocyanins are a powerful antioxidant. O’Neill says it’s important to know that many of these studies used a low-calorie cranberry juice. “There’s limited evidence that cranberries can potentially help improve someone’s lipid profile by raising their HDL (good) cholesterol,” notes O’Neill.Ĭranberries may also help lower your LDL (bad). Improve heart healthįrom lowering blood pressure to improving your cholesterol levels, cranberries can help improve your overall heart health. More research still needs to be done, but there’s a chance that cranberries could help prevent colon and gastrointestinal cancers. “A-type proanthocyanidins, which are only found in cranberries, can help with reducing the bad microbes that live in your colon,” says O’Neill. If you eat an animal-based diet, cranberries can help put good bacteria into your digestive system. “That’s why it’s recommended to consume enough servings of fruits and vegetables because those foods will use antioxidants.” Maintain digestive health “Antioxidants have been shown to reduce the risk of certain chronic diseases because they can help lower inflammation in our bodies,” says O’Neill. Reduce inflammationĬranberries have anti-inflammatory effects, thanks to their high amounts of antioxidants, especially anthocyanins and flavanols, which give cranberries their dark hue. “Researchers think a-type proanthocyanidins are responsible for preventing bacteria formation in the mouth as well,” explains O’Neill.īy controlling those harmful acids in your mouth, cranberries could help prevent not only cavities, but also gum disease, tooth decay and oral cancer. You may not immediately think of cranberries as a way to prevent cavities, but research shows the same a-type proanthocyanidins that help prevent UTIs can help in other ways. “It could be a proactive approach.” Prevent cavities “If you’re someone who struggles with UTIs, including cranberries as a part of a healthy diet is something that you can do that won’t harm you,” says O’Neill. If you’re someone who gets UTIs often, adding cranberries to your diet can be beneficial. coli in the bladder, which is normally the first step of getting a UTI,” says O’Neill. “ A-type proanthocyanidins prevent the binding of E. But O’Neill stresses that cranberries don’t treat the infection once you have it. Probably the most known benefit of cranberry juice is that it can prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs). Here’s how cranberries can benefit your health. “They’re a powerhouse of antioxidants,” says O’Neill. Health benefits of cranberriesĬranberries can be very nutritious. Registered dietitian Candace O’Neill, RD, LDN, talks about the benefits of cranberries and how to work them into your meals. So is it worth it to add cranberries to your diet? And what’s the best way to eat them? You’ll mostly see cranberries in juice form, but cranberry juice also tends to include added sugars. They also contain vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K and manganese.īut fresh cranberries tend to be sour and are rarely eaten raw. PolicyĬranberries, which are mostly carbs and fiber, contain about 90% water. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.
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