We all know exercise is the best way to improve your health and lose weight, but it can be difficult to get yourself motivated to exercise. Weight loss isn’t easy, and many give up their efforts after failing to see results within a month or two. It would be nice to find something that can expedite the weight loss. It’s simple enough to eat at a caloric deficit in theory, but in practice those cravings and gnawing sensations just don’t go away. What can help with this? The answer: cranberry juice! Read on to learn more about the amazing cranberry juice benefits for detox, weight loss, and more!
Cranberry juice is a great source of many vital nutrients, and is filled with antioxidants that enhance the immune system and protect the body against disease. According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, a cup of unsweetened cranberry juice consists of 23.5 milligrams of vitamin C, which amounts to almost 1/3 of the daily allowance recommended for female and 1/4 of the allowance recommended for male adults. Cranberry juice is also rich in vitamin E and K, and polyphenols, plant compounds which help prevent cancer. However, most cranberry juice found in grocery stores is very high in sugar.
Cranberry juice is high in sugar whether it is unsweetened or not, with the latter having mainly naturally occurring sugars, but the role it can play in weight loss is as a replacement for sugary soft drinks. The reason it’s believed cranberry juice can help in losing weight involves a study carried out by the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress. The aim of the study was to research the effects of cranberry juice on cholesterol levels, and what was found was that participants who included small amounts of cranberry juice into their diets had a significant decrease in body weight, because the juice enhanced the body’s metabolism.
Other Benefits of Cranberry Juice
Not only does cranberry juice help you lose weight by enhancing your body’s metabolism, but it also boosts your body’s overall energy levels, delivering all the essential proteins and vitamins needed by the body, and helps to detox the body!
Cranberry juice can also help prevent urinary tract infections. According to findings by MedlinePlus, cranberries have chemicals which prevent bacteria from getting attached to the cells lined on the urinary tract, preventing the bacteria from multiplying. If you often get urinary tract infections, the University of Maryland Medical Center recommends a serving of 3 ounces or more of fresh, unsweetened cranberry juice each day. However, consult your healthcare provider for specific dosing information before doing this. Additionally, because of cranberry juice’s high sugar content, it may hinder your weight loss progress.
Further benefits of cranberries and cranberry juice, including:
- Improving cardiovascular health
- Combating tooth decay
- Fighting cancer
- Soothing discomfort due to ulcers
- Soothing inflammation
- Curbing a yeast infection
- Preventing kidney stones
- Anti-aging properties
- Acting as a toner
- Firming up the skin
- Treating acne
- Promoting hair growth
- Preventing Alopecia and Psoriasis
- Fighting common infections like brain related diseases, cold, flu, sore throat
The Nutritional Value of Cranberries & Cranberry Juice:
- A single cup of cranberries contains an 8983 antioxidant capacity.
- Compared to other fruits and vegetables, cranberry juice has an incredible amount of antioxidants.
- Cranberries have quercetin, sianidin, tannins, peonidin, anthocyanin flavonoids and 87.13g of water per 100 g. They are a great source of Vitamin C and salicylic acid.
- Cranberries nourish the skin, the hair, and the body with proteins, carbohydrates and other essential minerals like iron, calcium, sodium, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium, and potassium; and valuable vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin, Vitamin B6, E and K.
Preparing Cranberry Juice
Cranberry juice is easy to prepare. Below you will find eight different cranberry juice recipes. For each recipe, it’s recommended that you use freshly selected organic cranberries and other ingredients to avoid pesticides and herbicides which can hamper detox efforts.
- Cranberry Detox Cocktail
This is my favorite on the list. Rather than buying sugary cranberry juice cocktail from stores, you can make this! Blueberries complement cranberries well, as they reduce tartness while still maintaining the flavor of the cranberries. Pears are rich in potassium, magnesium and phosphorous and so mixing this fruit into your cup of cranberry juice adds essential and healthy vitamins. Pears also have calcium and vitamin C! Calcium helps keep bones and teeth strong and healthy.
Ingredients
- 1/2 Pear
- 1/4 cup Fresh Cranberries
- 1/4 cup Fresh Blueberries
- 8 ounces Purified Water
Preparation
There are two ways of preparing this cocktail: you can either let the fruit soak in the water for at least 30 minutes, or you can blend and drink it up as juice. The juice method is highly recommended for those trying to increase their fiber intake. This mix is addictive, and once you test it, you’ll find yourself craving for it more and more!
- Cranberry Detox Water
This is a simple recipe which you can use as many times as you want to help hydrate the body! This recipe helps you get pure cranberry juice which has no added sugars or preservatives. When you place the crushed cranberries in water, you will infuse the juice with water, allowing all the nutrients to be quickly absorbed by the body. This recipe offers you control over what you put in your body and is much better than having to buy cranberry juice from a store.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup of crushed Fresh Cranberries
- 8 ounces of Purified Water
Preparation
Squeeze the juice from the crushed cranberries, put it in a glass, and fill it with water. Allow the mixture to sit for 30 minutes. The juice will hydrate your body, and you’ll also benefit from other nutrients in the cranberries. If you can, drink the detox water daily for a better, healthier you.
- CranKale Green Smoothie
This recipe combines two superfoods, cranberries and kale, placing all essential vitamins and minerals in one glass. In recent years, green smoothies have become popular, and for a good reason: they’re packed with vegetables yet retain a fruit flavor. In this combination, the flavor of cranberries is strong, and you’ll barely notice the kale. This is good if you don’t like the taste of kale.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup Fresh Cranberries
- 1/2 cup Baby Kale
- 1/2 cup Coconut Milk
- 1/4 cup Fresh Blueberries
- Ice
Preparation:
Mix in the ingredients in a blender.
Kale has many benefits, and I will hopefully touch upon them in future posts. When you mix it with cranberries in a smoothie, you can get so many nutrients into your body.
- Cranberry Green Tea
Cranberries and green tea have much in common: both contain antioxidants proven to enhance the body’s ability to fight against free radical damage, and both help with weight loss. Green tea has been proven to help boost metabolism, aid in preventing cancer, and act as an anti-inflammatory. Mixing it with cranberry gives you the best of both worlds.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup of crushed Fresh Cranberries
- 1 cup of brewed Green Tea
Method
Brew the tea and add to it crushed cranberries. After three minutes, strain out the cranberries so the tea is easier to consume. This recipe can easily be customized with different kinds of green tea to suit your preferences.
- ranberry-Infused Detox Smoothie
Adding a mango to the generous serving of cranberries in this smoothie reduces the tart taste, while providing the body with essential vitamins and minerals. The presence of celery gives the mix a crisp touch, and the orange brings the sour bite of cranberries back to the mix. Coconut milk, additionally, helps make the mixture smooth but without dairy, something you want to avoid when detoxing.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Fresh Cranberries
- 1/4 cup frozen Mango
- 1/2 cup Coconut Milk
- 1 stalk Celery
- 1/2 Orange
Preparation:
Blend all the ingredients until smooth. Using frozen mango means you won’t have to add ice for the drink to be cool and refreshing! If you would like to use fresh mango, a half-cup of ice should be added.
- Cranberry and Berry Detox Juice
Blackberries, blueberries and raspberries are also loaded with plenty of antioxidants, making them ideal for detoxing the body. In this detox juice, you’ll get vitamins from other berries, as well as the fiber in them, and you’ll feel great drinking it.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup Fresh Cranberries
- 1/4 cup Fresh Blueberries
- 1/2 cup Coconut Water
- 1/4 cup Fresh Blackberries or Raspberries
Preparation
Mix in a blender until smooth. In this recipe, coconut water yields more benefits than purified water.
- CranApple Daily Detox Juice
Make this detox juice your daily go-to for great health benefits, and have your “apple a day”! The juice blends the benefits of cranberries with those of apples in a deliciously drinkable form. One benefit of this juice is the fiber from the apple. The pectin in the fiber promotes proper digestion. Remember that digestion is a major concern when detoxing, and when the digestive system is great, toxins will easily flow right out of you.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 Apple
- 1/2 cup Fresh Cranberries
- 8 ounces Purified Water
Preparation
Blend up the cranberry and apple with water until smooth. Experiment with different kinds of apples to find a blend you like. Chopping the fruits before putting them in a blender helps with the process.
- Cranberry Spice Detox Drink
The cumin and turmeric in this recipe hearkens back to Ayurvedic practices, coupling them with the great benefits of cranberries: you get a highly spicy and detoxifying juice. In addition to helping your liver function better, the turmeric acts as an antioxidant which helps the body to curb inflammation.
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp Turmeric
- 1/2 cup Fresh Cranberries
- 1 cup Purified Water
- 1/2 tsp Cumin
- 1/2 tsp Fennel
Method
Heat the water to boiling point. Pour the water into a cup with the spices. Stir the mixture and let it sit for about one minute. In a different cup, crush the cranberries so each one is open. Add the spiced water to the cup with the cranberries, and let sit for one minute. The herbs and spices in this mixture will help detox your body.
The above recipes will help greatly with weight loss, and in detoxing your body.
Side Effects of Cranberry Juice
Though cranberry juice is quite beneficial, there are some concerns regarding its consumption:
- Consume cranberry juice in moderation. It isn’t a cure for every urinary system related infection. Seek your doctor’s advice before using it for UTIs.
- Those suffering from interstitial cystitis should avoid taking cranberry juice, as it will worsen the condition.
- Too much cranberry juice may lead to a wearing down of the teeth’s enamel.
- People suffering from stomach problems or those with diabetes should drink cranberry juice with caution. Excess intake of this juice may result in stomach upsets, diarrhea or high blood sugar levels.
- Research shows that cranberry juice can interfere with some treatments and medications, particularly heart medicines. When cranberry juice is combined with heart medicines, it can result in internal bleeding, which, if unnoticed, can be life threatening. Those taking heart medication should consult their doctor before adding the juice to their diet.
Cranberry juice is a great way to enhance your health, and it’s delicious! Just be sure to consult your doctor about recommended daily intake.
I hope you liked this article highlighting the unique benefits and uses of cranberry juice. Share with us your experiences, questions, and remarks in the comment section below:
References:
https://www.funadvice.com/q/how_does_cranberry_juice_help_you
http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/best-benefits-of-cranberry-juice-for-skin-hair-and-health/
http://www.lifespan.com/top-5-drinks-help-lose-weight/2/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/551204-how-to-get-a-flat-stomach-with-cranberry-juice/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/294443-does-cranberry-juice-make-you-lose-weight/
http://livewell.jillianmichaels.com/lose-weight-drinking-cranberry-juice-4792.html