Drink cranberry juice to keep heart disease, diabetes at bay

A new study has revealed that cranberry juice may help protect against heart disease and diabetes risk factors. As per the study, drinking low-calorie cranberry juice cocktail may help lower the risk of chronic diseases that rank among the leading causes of death worldwide, including heart disease, diabetes and stroke.

The finding shows that cranberries provide a rich source of protective compounds, called polyphenols, which support our body's natural defenses and help us achieve a balanced lifestyle to improve health. At the start and end of the experiment, the researchers measured things like blood pressure, blood sugar levels, blood lipids, as well as C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation, explained Christina Khoo, Director of Research Sciences at Ocean Spray.

Khoo added that all of these measurements come together to tell a story. The worse off these numbers are in an individual, the more likely he or she will face a health condition like diabetes, heart disease or stroke in the future. Individuals drinking two glasses of low-calorie cranberry juice a day improved across all these measures.

It's a change that adds up, and could be associated with a 10 percent lower risk of heart disease and a 15 percent lower risk of stroke. Of note, the reductions in blood pressure numbers alone matched those achieved from top-rated diets such as DASH.

Khoo noted that luckily for people, a rich source of polyphenols is only a glass of cranberry juice away. Among the commonly consumed fruits in our diets, cranberries boast some of the highest levels of polyphenols, more than apples, blueberries, grapes or cherries. (The study appears in Journal of Nutrition)