Cranberries have been used in folk medicine to treat disorders involving the bladder, stomach, and liver, as well as diabetes and wounds, says the NCCIH.
Here are some potential cranberry benefits.
Prevent Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
Cranberry juice is often said to help with UTIs, which are common bacterial infections. Research shows there’s some truth here — they do seem to protect against recurring UTIs. Ameta-analysis published in December 2017 in the Journal of Nutrition involving participants who had a history of UTIs found that cranberry reduced the risk of recurring UTIs by 26 percent. The science is mixed, though: Earlier research found that participants who drank cranberry juice daily didn’t significantly reduce their UTI risk.
More studies are needed to understand the relationship between UTIs and cranberry consumption, but there's at least one theory. “It is likely that compounds in cranberries help keep bacteria from adhering to surfaces in the bladder,” says Kelly Jones, RDN, a sports dietitian based in Philadelphia.
As for the common belief that cranberry juice can cure a UTI, that's more fiction than fact. Judging by admittedly mixed research results, cranberry juice may work better as a preventive measure than as a treatment, according to theUniversity of Rochester Medical Centerin New York.And there’s no evidence that cranberries can effectively treat a UTI that has already developed, according to apast review. Antibiotics are the first and most appropriate treatment for most UTIs, advises theMayo Clinic.
Keep Certain Cancers at Bay
Areview published in Antioxidants found that cranberries’ antioxidant content may have a positive effect on 17 types of cancer, including breast cancer, lung cancer, and cervical cancer, potentially because of their ability to slow the growth of cancerous cells and clear them from the body. The authors caution that more research is needed to confirm a causal relationship between cranberries and cancer prevention.
Improve Heart Health
A limited but growing body of research shows that cranberries in the diet may positively affect cardiometabolic health, including blood pressure and serum lipid profiles, according to apast review. Cranberries may also positively affect cholesterol levels and were shown to reduce cardiometabolic risk factors in areview published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture in November 2020. And a small randomized controlled trial published in Food & Function in March 2022 found that 9 g of cranberry powder (equivalent to 100 g of fresh cranberries) improved blood vessel function, a key marker of cardiovascular health.
Additional Benefits of Cranberries
Cranberries and cranberry juice may be linked with other benefits for digestive health, heart health, brain health, and dental health, as theCleveland Clinic notes, but the research surrounding each of these is murky. Many of these benefits are chalked up to cranberries’ high antioxidant content.
