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.

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For much more on cranberry, see our book Healthy Herbs: Your Everyday Guide to Medicinal Herbs and Their Use.

For comprehensive natural help with your health, including urinary tract health, make an appointment to see Linda Woolven now. Linda’s clinic is now open for in person and virtual appointments.

The Natural Path is intended for educational purposes only and is in no way intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. For health problems, consult a qualified health practitioner for a comprehensive program.

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