5 Amazing Cranberry Benefits

This seasonal fruit is for more than just holiday merrymaking.

- Vera Tweed

Cranberry extracts and juices have been proven to reduce urinary tract infections among thousands of people, and the American Urological Association recommends them as the first step in reducing recurring UTIs. But the bright red berry offers even more.

“The bioactives in cranberry juice, dried cranberries, and a variety of other cranberry sources have been shown to promote an array of beneficial health effects,” says Jeffrey Blumberg, PhD, of the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston. “I believe we’ve only scratchedthe surface when it comes to identifying the potential power of the cranberry.”

Studies have found that cranberry juice can reduce risk for heart disease, stroke, and diabetes; eradicate harmful gut bugs; enhance the health of teeth and gums; help protect against cancer; and reduce antibiotic overuse and resistance.

1. Reducing Risk for Heart Disease, Stroke, and Diabetes