by Sharon Cullars

Created on: May 10, 2008   Last Updated: January 07, 2009

What can an 8-ounce glass of cranberry juice do for you? Well, for one thing it can clear those pesky bacteria from your bladder, preventing a painful urinary tract infection (UTI). Researchers once believed that cranberries fought UTI by building up acid in the urine, but new studies show that it's actually the tannins in cranberries that inhibit the adhesion of E-coli within the urinary tract. If they can't stick to you, they have no where to go but out. Note, though, that cranberries are simply a preventive measure against UTI, not a cure.

The anti-adhesion that works against UTI works in other areas of the body, as well, particularly against bacteria that cause stomach ulcers and periodontal gum disease. Indeed, the cranberry is a natural defense against a host of ills, including atherosclerosis, better known as "bad cholesterol," which restricts blood flow through the arteries. So if you want to stave off a possible heart attack, grab a daily glass of cranberry juice. And oh yeah, get on a low-fat diet, too.

Cranberries are also high in antioxidants which help retard aging. USDA scientists at the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University have found promising results showing that diets high in antioxidants may protect against age-related problems like loss of memory and coordination. Scientists are currently doing studies on rats whose diets have been supplemented with cranberries to determine whether cranberries protect brain cells from neurological damage.

What are some of the other benefits of cranberries? Let's take another look at the teeth again. Like mentioned before, a diet of cranberries can prevent periodontal disease by fighting plaque build-up, a major component of gum disease. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition reported on a preliminary testing of a new mouthwash containing cranberry NDM. The experimental group showed a measurable reduction in Streptococcus mutans, which can cause cavities.

Not convinced yet that cranberries are more than a delicious Thanksgiving side dish? Well, further studies point to another possible benefit - anti-carcinogenic properties. In 1996, studies conducted by the University of Illinois demonstrated this potential and more recent research seems to indicate that a diet supplemented with cranberries can reduce incidents of tumor development in breast cancer cells. That is promising news for millions of women.

Cranberries may even fight stomach viruses that lead to diarrhea. Dr. Steven M. Lipson and Associate Dean Allen Burdowski of St. Francis College (NY) found that by inoculating mice with cranberry juice, they reduced clinical signs of intestinal disease to very low levels, which can prevent the effects of dehydration. Again, what's the mantra? Grab some cranberry juice.

Another use: asthmatics have found instant relief with cranberries as they contain active ingredients similar to prescription drugs used to control asthma. At the first signs of distress, crush the berries, boil them in distilled water, and then skin them.

Note that you get the identical benefits from either white cranberry or red cranberry juice as they both contain the same beneficial compounds.

And let's not forget the real reason thousands of shoppers put cranberries or cranberry juice on their grocery list - besides being low in calories and rich in vitamin C, cranberries simply taste good. And that's always good medicine.

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