Surprising New Uses for Cranberry

You already know that cranberry is one of the best things out there for urinary

tract infections. But here’s five new uses you may not know and one more that

was just discovered.

Cranberry juice is well established as a leading treatment for infections and

recurrent infections of the urinary tract. But the powerful berry has hidden talents

that are less well known.

Heart Health

A recent meta-analysis of 16 controlled studies shows that cranberry juice or pills

significantly improve the ratio of total cholesterol to the heart healthy HDL

cholesterol (Nutrients. 2024;16(6):782).

Other research has also shown that cranberry juice significantly improves systolic

and diastolic blood pressure (Eur J Nutr. 2021 Mar;60(2):615-639).

Diabetes

The same meta-analysis also uncovered cranberry’s benefits for diabetes.

Cranberry significantly reduces insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and, when taken as

a capsule, tablet or powder, also significantly reduces fasting insulin levels.

Arthritis

A preliminary study suggests that cranberry juice can significantly improve

disease activity in women with rheumatoid arthritis (Nutrition. 2019 Apr ;60:112-

117).

Prostate Problems

Double-blind research found that 6 months of cranberry powder can significantly

improve the lower urinary tract symptoms that men often experience with benign

prostatic hyperplasia, or enlarged prostate. Voiding, residual volume, flow rate

and irritation all improved significantly (World J Urol.2016;34(3):419-24).

Prostate Cancer

When men with prostate cancer were given 1500mg a day of cranberry powder

extract for 21 days, PSA levels, which continued to rise in the placebo group,

dropped by a significant 22% in the cranberry group (Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ

Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub 2016;160(4):559-565).

Healthy Skin

The newest discovery is that cranberry juice is good for your skin. Women who

drank two 8 ounce bottles of cranberry juice a day for 6 weeks had significant

improvement in inflammatory reddening of the skin. Women who were over 40

also had significant improvement in skin elasticity, smoothness and

transepidermal water loss. The women drinking the cranberry juice also had a

significant decrease in wrinkles (Nutrients. September 16, 2024;16(18):3126).

So, don’t forget cranberry for urinary tract infections, but remember it for all of

these important new uses too.