Ask a Specialist - Cranberries: a Healthy Holiday Choice (2024)

FAQs

Is it okay to take cranberry pills every day? ›

You may be wondering, “is it ok to take cranberry pills every day?” The vast majority of people experience no problems when taking cranberry tablets. However, there have been instances of people suffering from stomach aches, abdominal pain, and increased frequency of urination.

Fresh, raw cranberries can add a pleasant bite and burst of color to any dish. You can eat them whole like blueberries, toss them into a salad, add them to oatmeal, or blend them into a smoothie. If they're too tart for you, you can chop them and add a little sugar or any other sweetener.

The cranberry is also a contender when it comes to antioxidant content. While wild blueberries outperform them when it comes to measuring both antioxidant capacity and cellular antioxidant activity, cranberries pack their own health punch.

4. Cranberries. Cranberries are low in potassium and high in vitamin C, making them another great choice for people with kidney disease. Cranberry juice has also been shown to help prevent urinary tract infections, which are typical for people with kidney disease.

Cranberries offer more gut-filling fiber than raisins. Fiber slows your digestion, which helps you feel full and keeps your energy levels stable.

Cranberries help eliminate toxins from the body by detoxing the liver. The liver, which is the largest internal organ in your body, works to support digestion and break down foods that enter your body. According to nutrition specialist Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.

Among the health benefits associated with cranberries: — The vitamins and minerals they contain boost the body's digestive health and antioxidant system and promote good heart health – even possibly improving blood pressure and cholesterol. — They are high in fiber.

Does cranberry juice affect the bowels? ›

Drinks that can affect your bowel

The type of fluids that you drink can also affect your bowel: Acid-based drinks, such as orange, pineapple, cranberry and lemon juice, are best avoided if you have gut problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome.

Cranberry is commonly consumed in the diet in juices, jellies, sauces, and other foods. As medicine, cranberry dried powder has most often been used by adults in doses of 250-1500 mg by mouth daily for up to 6 months. Cranberry extract has most often been used in doses of 120-1600 mg by mouth daily for 12 weeks.

Safety and Side Effects. Cranberries and cranberry products are usually safe for most people if consumed in moderation. However, excessive consumption may cause stomach upset and diarrhea — and may also increase the risk of kidney stones in predisposed individuals.

These compounds supposedly stop E. coli bacteria from adhering to the lining of your urethra and bladder. If these bacteria are unable to stick to this tissue, they are unable to multiply and cause an infection. The recommended dosage for cranberry pills is 36 milligrams of proanthocyanidins every day for two months.

A study from Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, New York, and colleagues reported in the Journal of Urology found using dried cranberry showed a reduction of the number of bathroom trips in patients who received the dried cranberry compared to those who received placebo (fake cranberry).

Studies have pointed out that due to the added sugars and water that dilute the cranberry juice, cranberry capsules are a more effective alternative. In fact, it turns out that the active ingredient in cranberries that helps prevent E. coli from turning into an infection may not even be present in cranberry juice!