Cranberry juice: benefits and harms, properties

Among the most useful berries are cranberries, which belong to the Heather family. Evergreen shrubs grow in swamps, mainly in the Northern Hemisphere. It is noteworthy that all types of cranberries are edible. Berries are widely used not only in cooking, but also in folk medicine. The beneficial properties of cranberry juice are due to the unique combination of valuable substances.

Chemical composition

Nectar is obtained from both fresh and frozen berries. A natural product contains a lot of valuable components:

• vitamin C;
• Group B compounds such as thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine;
• retinol;
• vitamin K;
• trace elements, including iron, molybdenum, cobalt, copper, iodine and zinc, manganese and chromium;
• macronutrients, in particular potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus;
• organic acids, for example, malic and citric, oleic, benzoic, quinic, ursolic, chlorogenic;
• glucose as well as fructose;
• polysaccharides;
• bioflavonoids, represented by catechins, anthocyanins.

The nutritional value of cranberry juice is 46 kcal (per 100 g of product)

Why is cranberry juice useful?

The composition of the nectar is identical to the nutrient content of berries. Drinking cranberry juice contributes to:

• improving performance during mental and physical stress;
• ARVI treatment and prevention;
• strengthening the immune system;
• prevention of the development of caries, scurvy, urolithiasis, malignant tumors;
• cleansing plaque;
• decrease in blood viscosity and glucose levels;
• relieving vascular spasms and headaches;
• increasing the elasticity of capillaries;
• elimination of cholesterol;
• normalization of metabolic processes;
• restoring sleep;
• elimination of chronic fatigue.

Nectar produces the following effects:

• antipyretic;
• anti-inflammatory;
• antibacterial;
• anti-aging.

Cranberry juice supplements the main therapy for periodontal disease, tonsillitis, gum disease, and diseases of the digestive system.

Benefits for women

Berries contain a significant amount of antioxidants that prolong youth and beauty. Cranberry juice is recommended to be included in the diet on an ongoing basis as a prevention of diseases of the endocrine, urinary and circulatory systems. The product is also suitable for cosmetic use.

Benefits for men

Cranberry juice has a beneficial effect on the genitourinary system. Its use is recommended for prostatitis. Inflammation of the prostate gland often has an infectious etiology. Nectar has pronounced antibacterial properties, which positively affects the potency when the product is included in the diet.

The beneficial properties of cranberry juice are reduced with prolonged thermal exposure

How to cook properly

Nectar can be purchased at the store. However, the maximum benefit comes from a drink made by yourself. For every kilogram of cranberries, take a glass of spring or plain water.

The preparation of the drink is simple:

1. The cranberries are washed and cleaned of debris.
2. The berries are crushed with a crush. Using a blender simplifies the procedure. However, the contact of metal and pulp leads to the loss of valuable components.
3. The raw material is placed in an enamel container, water is added.
4. The mass is heated to a temperature of 75 ° C. The languor lasts ten minutes.
5. The mixture is wiped with a sieve. The liquid is brought to a boil and cooked for five minutes.
6. Then the juice is poured into jars and rolled up.

Canned cranberry juice retains all the valuable substances of healthy berries

The drink can be prepared from frozen food. For every kilogram of cranberries, you should take 2 tbsp. l. granulated sugar.

The drink is made in accordance with the instructions:

1. Thawed cranberries are ground with a crush until puree is obtained.
2. The mass is wrung out with gauze folded in several layers.
3. The liquid is poured into a jar, covered with sugar, covered with a lid and set to sterilize for 25 minutes.
4. Then the container is sealed, placed on the lids and wrapped.

The cranberry juice is ready after pressing

How to stock up for the winter

Nectar is consumed fresh and harvested for subsequent use during the calendar year. The berries can be frozen and stored for several months. For ease of use, cranberry juice is preserved. This method allows you to preserve the useful properties of the product.

Application in traditional medicine

Cranberry juice is used not only in the cooking and food industry. Nectar is actively used for medicinal and prophylactic purposes.

For heartburn

The drink is recommended for high acidity of the stomach. Cranberry juice promotes fast food digestion. Nectar is advised to be consumed without artificial additives.

Cranberry juice is undesirable if heartburn is caused by overeating

With diabetes

The berry is rich in antioxidants that have a positive effect on the functioning of all body systems. It is known that diabetes is often aggravated by atherosclerosis. Drinking cranberry juice helps to lower cholesterol levels and normalize sugar concentration. Prevention of bladder damage, which often occurs in the presence of diabetes, is essential.

Cranberry juice is an adjunct treatment for high blood glucose

To strengthen the cardiovascular system

Drinking the drink helps to improve the condition of blood vessels. To increase the effect, it is recommended to use cranberry-beet juice. The nectar is prepared in a 2: 3 ratio.

To make a healthy drink, you need to follow the instructions:

1. The root crop is washed and passed through a meat grinder.
2. The raw materials are squeezed out with gauze.
3. Pure cranberries are crumpled with a crush and rubbed through a sieve.
4. Both liquids are combined, heated to a temperature of 75 ° C.

To improve the taste and aroma, add 1 tsp to the beet-cranberry juice. honey

Prevention of cystitis

Often, pathologies of the bladder are caused by disease-causing organisms. The inclusion of a cranberry drink in the diet inhibits the growth of pathogenic flora. Ascorbic acid, which is part of the nectar, increases the body's defenses and resistance.

To prevent diseases of the genitourinary system, it is recommended to drink ½ tbsp. cranberry juice daily

To maintain oral health

The product can be used as a gargle for gum disease and periodontal disease. The procedures also prevent the development of tooth decay. The substances contained in the berries prevent plaque from forming on the teeth.

Rinsing the mouth with cranberry juice helps to strengthen the enamel

Application in cosmetology

The product has a positive effect on the condition of the skin. Cranberry juice can be used for cosmetic purposes.

For acne

For acne and pimples, nectar can be used in several ways:

• wiping the skin with cosmetic ice cubes from frozen cranberry juice;
• washing with a concentrated solution;
• adding the product to cosmetics before using them.

On the face as a mask, you can apply the cake left after the preparation of cranberry juice

A product without added sugar and other ingredients is suitable for the procedure. After treating the skin, apply a cream with a nourishing effect.

For a fresh face

The compress, which includes:

• boiled or mineral water;
• cranberry juice.

These components are taken in a 1: 1 ratio. A clean piece of gauze is impregnated with the product and applied to the face. The duration of the procedure is 15 minutes.

Compresses using cranberry juice produce a rejuvenating effect

Nourishing mask

In the autumn-winter period, the skin is more prone to flaking and dryness. In the cold season, it is recommended to regularly use a mask that includes the following components:

• 1 tsp cranberry juice;
• 1 yolk;
• 2 tsp sour cream.

These ingredients are mixed and applied to the face in a thin layer. The mask is removed by washing with cool water.

It is advisable to perform procedures for additional nutrition of the skin twice a week.

Skin whitening

To lighten the face and eliminate areas of increased pigmentation, you can use a mask containing:

• 1 tbsp. l. cranberry juice and low-fat cottage cheese;
• a pinch of salt.

The components are thoroughly mixed and then applied to a cleansed face. The duration of exposure to the composition is 15 minutes. The mask is removed using cool water.

Before applying a mask of cranberry juice, individual intolerance should be excluded

Cooking applications

Nectar is added to various drinks and dishes:

• smoothies;
• cocktails;
• Dessert;
• sauces for fish, poultry and meat.

Often in the process of preparing sauerkraut, cranberries are also added. To give the workpiece a special taste, you can add a small amount of fresh juice. It helps to stop fermentation.

With the help of cranberry juice, you can give borsch a special sourness. The product can replace vinegar. The drink is used in the jelly preparation process. Cranberry juice is added to tea and coffee instead of syrup.

Contraindications to the use of cranberry juice

The drink has significant healing potential. However, in some cases, it is advisable to refrain from using it. The following contraindications to the use of cranberry juice are called:

• inflammatory process of the intestines and stomach in the acute phase;
• peptic ulcer;
• liver pathology;
• increased acidity.

Cranberry juice is not compatible with medications:

• Diclofenac;
• Elavil;
• Tamoxifen;
• Glucotrol;
• Diazepam or Valium.

The berries must be harvested in an ecologically clean area. Distance from industrial facilities is essential. Otherwise, the consumption of nectar can be harmful to health.

Conclusion

The beneficial properties of cranberry juice have been used for the treatment and prevention of diseases since ancient times. Nectar is actively used not only in cooking, but also in folk medicine, as well as for cosmetic purposes. It should be remembered that cranberry juice can be not only beneficial but also harmful.Before using it, you need to carefully study and exclude possible contraindications.