Cranberry Juice - Delicious Recipes, Indications And Limitations

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-15 09:49

Cranberry juice: recipes

The beneficial properties of cranberries have been known for a long time. The berry has a rich vitamin composition, so it is used as food not only to satisfy hunger, but also for medicinal purposes. Cranberry juice is a storehouse of nutrients. It tones the body, energizes it and helps fight various diseases.

Content:

• Cranberry composition
• Proven benefits of cranberry juice
• Indications for the use of cranberry juice
• The recipe for how to make cranberry juice at home?
• Restrictions on taking cranberry juice
• The harm of cranberry juice
• Other recipes for cranberry drinks
• Contraindications for cranberry juice

Cranberry composition

The benefits of cranberry juice are due to the composition of the berry itself.

It contains:

• Vitamins: E, C, PP, K, group B. There is more ascorbic acid in cranberries than in citrus fruits.
• Minerals: potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, iodine.
• Sugars and polysaccharides: pectin, sucrose, fructose.
• Organic acids: citric, malic, quinic, benzoic.

Cranberry is a cocktail of 6 organic acids. Benzoic acid, which is part of the berry, is a natural preservative. Thanks to this component, cranberries can be stored for up to 9 months.

The berry has a balanced composition. All components included in it are fully assimilated by the human body.

Proven benefits of cranberry juice

Cranberry juice is good for humans - scientifically proven. It is used both in traditional medicine recipes and in official medical practice. Often this drink is recommended to their patients by gynecologists, urologists, gastroenterologists and other narrow specialists.

100 ml of cranberry juice contains 3.4 kcal. If you add sugar to it, then this figure increases to 27-69 kcal per 100 ml.

Scientifically proven beneficial properties of cranberry juice:

• Reducing the pathological activity of microbes and chemical compounds that destroy the mucous membranes of the digestive system.
• Providing a diuretic effect, due to which excess fluid is removed from the tissues. The advantage of using cranberry juice is that potassium is not washed out of the body along with urine.
• Reducing inflammation, destroying microbes that parasitize the urinary system.
• Cleansing the body of toxins, saturating it with vitamins, increasing immunity.

• Normalization of hormonal levels. This has a positive effect on the state of the body in general and on reproductive function in particular.
• Increased appetite, slowing down the aging process of cells, normalizing the functioning of the nervous system.
• Disinfection of the oral cavity, elimination of inflammation.

Cranberry juice enhances the effect of taking antibiotics. This must be taken into account when using it simultaneously with drugs. In order not to harm health, it is necessary to consult with a specialist and choose the optimal dose of the drug.

Indications for the use of cranberry juice

For medicinal purposes, cranberry juice can be shown to people with health problems such as:

• Viral and colds. Fruit drink helps to reduce body temperature, relieve inflammation, and quench thirst. The body is restored at an accelerated pace.
• Genitourinary infections. The drink has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. Therefore, it is prescribed to patients with cystitis and pyelonephritis. Cranberries are a source of tannin, which prevents kidney stones and fights infections.

In 2016, a study was carried out, the results of which were published in the journal Alternative Therapy in Healthcare and Medicine. It was found that in the urine of uncircumcised boys who ate cranberry juice, less bacteria were found than in the urine of those children who did not drink cranberry juice.

Diseases of the digestive system. Cranberry juice has a positive effect on the state of the gastrointestinal tract, as it is a source of pectin and fiber. It protects the mucous membranes from the formation of ulcerative defects on them, stimulates the production of gastric juice, reduces pain in colitis and gastritis with low acidity. Morse is an excellent choleretic agent, therefore it is prescribed for people with gallbladder dyskinesia and cholecystitis. Cranberries prevent bacteria from multiplying in the intestines, so it is useful to drink fruit drink in case of poisoning and diarrhea.

In 2010, a study was conducted that found that cranberries help fight viruses. Noroviruses are sensitive to it, which more often than others cause diseases of the digestive system.

Diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Cranberries are a source of potassium and magnesium. These minerals are essential for the heart muscle. These minerals help to strengthen blood vessels, prevent blood clots from forming. If you regularly consume cranberry juice, you can reduce blood cholesterol levels, which is an excellent prevention of atherosclerosis. The diuretic effect of the drink will be beneficial for people with high blood pressure.

A 2011 study found that cranberry juice improves the health of people with coronary heart disease. In individuals who took concentrated cranberry juice, the average pulse wave velocity in the carotid and femoral arteries was lower compared to the control group.

Skin diseases. Cranberry juice should be used by people with psoriasis, eczema, burns, suppuration and shingles. The drink is taken orally and used externally, treating the affected tissue.

The recipe for how to make cranberry juice at home?

To prepare healthy cranberry juice yourself, you need to observe the following conditions:

• In order for the drink to benefit the body, the proportions of juice and water must be maintained. Berry concentrate should be at least 40%.
• Before you start grinding the berries, you need to protect your hands with gloves. The juice not only stains the skin, but can also cause irritation. Do not use metal utensils for cooking, as they quickly oxidize. You can take a glass, ceramic, or plastic container.
• If frozen cranberries are used for cooking, rinse them with cool water and leave to thaw at room temperature. Do not reheat the berries in the microwave or under running hot water.
• Keep the drink in the refrigerator after preparation. It can be drunk for 3 days.
• Cooking cranberry juice takes as long as indicated in the instructions.

The recipe for the classic fresh cranberry juice

Ingredients:

• Fresh cranberries - 300 g.
• Pure water - 1.2 liters.
• A glass of sugar.

How to cook:

• Berries for making fruit drinks must be ripe and not damaged. The cranberries are placed in a colander, rinsed with water, left for 15 minutes to glass.
• The berries are chopped using a blender, meat grinder or pestle. You can grind the fruit through a sieve.
• Put the mashed potatoes in cheesecloth and squeeze the juice.
• Water is boiled in a saucepan, sugar, cake and juice are poured into it. Boil the drink for 10 minutes.

The recipe for the classic frozen cranberry juice

Ingredients:

• Water - 2 liters.
• Sugar - 5 tbsp. l.
• Cranberries - 2 cups

How to cook:

• The berries are washed with cold water, discarded in a colander, and left at room temperature for several minutes.
• Knead the cranberries with a blender or pestle. Squeeze out the juice.
• The juice is mixed with water and sugar, brought to a boil, removed from the stove and infused for 15 minutes.
• If there is not enough juice, then the cake is poured with water, brought to a boil, removed from heat. Sugar and juice are added to the resulting drink, stirred and cooled for an hour.

Restrictions on taking cranberry juice

Cranberry juice has undoubted benefits for the body, but in some cases it can harm.

During pregnancy

Pregnant women can drink cranberry juice to combat swelling and heaviness in the lower back. It helps to strengthen the immune system, improve well-being, increase appetite, get rid of nausea.

However, pregnant women should not drink more than a liter of juice per day. Otherwise, the uterus rises, the threat of miscarriage increases. This situation is especially dangerous in the early stages of gestation.

When breastfeeding

Drinking enough fluids contributes to normal milk production. Cranberry juice promotes its flow and increases the body's own defenses. Moreover, after childbirth, immunity is noticeably reduced.

However, you should not abuse cranberry juice during pregnancy, as the taste of milk may change due to it. The baby will begin to give up the breast, leading to weight loss. Therefore, nursing mothers need to drink no more than 2 glasses of fruit drink per day.

For children

Cranberry juice is good for children as it helps to boost the immune system. She will better resist colds. The drink has a positive effect on the condition of the kidneys.

Before offering your child pure cranberries or a drink based on these berries, you need to find out at what age children are allowed to enter the product on the menu.

Recommendations for taking cranberries and cranberry juice for children of different ages:

• 0 to 1 year. Until 6 months, you can not give a child berries that have a bright color. Children who are bottle-fed are not offered cranberries earlier than six months. Babies who are breastfed should not receive berries for up to a year. Before giving cranberries to a child, it must be heat treated. The berry is introduced into the diet gradually, no more than 2 times a week.
• From one to three years. You can offer your child no more than 30 g of berries per day. They are not given to children raw. It is best to prepare fruit drinks or compote from them. For colds, the portion of cranberries can be increased up to 3 times.
• From 3 years old. If the child is healthy, then he can eat cranberries in any form. Smoothies are prepared from berries, compotes, fruit drinks, jelly are boiled, they are added to tea. It is best to offer the child fresh cranberries, so all the benefits are preserved in it. There are no restrictions on the consumption of berries for healthy children over 3 years old.

The harm of cranberry juice

Cranberries and fruit drinks based on it can harm the body in the following cases:

• In early pregnancy. Cranberries contain a lot of vitamin C, which, when ingested in large quantities, can cause an increase in the tone of the uterus. This threatens with miscarriage.
• With increased acidity of gastric juice. Cranberries in these patients can cause heartburn and even gastritis.

People with kidney stones should be careful when drinking cranberry juice, as it can cause stones to move. They are able to block the ureter and cause renal colic.

There is evidence that cranberry juice can interact with drugs. It has been found that it enhances the effect of taking Warfarin, which is taken to thin the blood.

There is also evidence that cranberries can interact with drugs such as:

• Cyclosporine.
• Flurbiprofen.
• Diclofenac.
• Amoxicillin.
• Ceflacor.
• Imidazolam.
• Tizanidine.

People who take these medicines should consult with a specialist about the possibility of consuming cranberry juice. Sometimes a dose adjustment is required, or a refusal to drink.

Other recipes for cranberry drinks

Cranberries can be used to make not only fruit drinks, but also other delicious drinks.

Cranberry jelly

Kissel is prepared from both fresh and frozen berries. You can change the taste of the drink by adding different components to it.

Ingredients:

• Cranberries - 200 g.
• Sugar - 5 tbsp. l.
• Starch - 1.5 tbsp. l.
• Water.
• Spices to taste.

How to cook:

• The berries are sorted out, washed with cool water. Frozen cranberries do not need to be thawed. It is passed through a blender or pounded with a mortar.
• Sugar is added to the berry mass. The more ripe the berry is, the less it is needed. To give the drink an unusual flavor, add cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, pink pepper, vanilla, citrus fruits, syrups or honey.
• Boiling water is added to the cranberries, infused for 15-20 minutes. Then filter the drink, put it on the stove. When it starts to boil, starch water is introduced into it. Prepare it in advance by stirring the starch in the liquid until it is completely dissolved.
• Water is introduced in a thin stream, stirring all the time. Reduce the fire and boil the jelly until it thickens. It is poured into mugs hot. To prevent a film from forming on top, sprinkle the jelly with sugar.

Cranberry and ginger juice

Ingredients:

• Cane sugar - 270 g.
• Drinking water - 2.8 liters.
• Ginger root to taste.
• Cranberries - 30 g.

How to cook:

• Boiling water, add sugar to it and stir until completely dissolved. Remove the pan from the stove and allow to cool.
• The cranberries are washed. If the berries are frozen, then you need to give them time to thaw.
• Ginger root is ground with a blender and added to a pot of sweet water. Berries are also introduced here. Bring the drink to a boil again.
• After the first bubbles appear, the gas is turned off, and the pan is covered with a lid. The drink should be infused for 2 hours, after which it is filtered.
• Store fruit drink in the refrigerator.

Cranberry-blueberry juice

Ingredients:

• Water - 1.6 liters.
• Cranberries - 325 - 350 g.
• Sugar - 220 g.
• Blueberries - 350 g.

How to cook:

• The berries are washed and allowed to drain. Mix them with sugar, grind with a blender, add water.
• Beat the resulting mixture for 3 minutes, rub through a sieve. If the mass is too thick and viscous, then it is diluted with water.
• The drink is poured into a jug and placed in the refrigerator.

Cranberry juice with rose hips

Ingredients:

• Rosehip - 120 g.
• Cranberries - 570 g.
• Sugar - 140 g.
• Water - 2.2.

How to cook:

• The cranberries are thawed at room temperature and then crushed with a pestle. You can also use a juicer or blender.
• The gauze is folded into 3 layers, the berry mass is spread into it and the juice is squeezed out. The cake is removed into a saucepan, filled with water. Sugar and rose hips are also introduced there.
• Bring the drink to a boil and cook for 10 minutes.
• Turn off the heat, add cranberry juice, cover and leave for 4 hours.
• Fruit drink is filtered, poured into a jug and put into the refrigerator.

Cranberry juice with honey

Ingredients:

• Honey - 110 g.
• Beak - 420 g.
• Water - 1.8 liters.

How to cook:

• The berries are sorted out, washed and allowed to drain. Grind the cranberries with a pestle or blender.
• Juice is squeezed out of the berry mass. The cake is spread in a saucepan, filled with water.
• Boil water, add honey, stirring the drink all the time. After 7 minutes, add cranberry juice to the pan.
• Filter the drink, cool and put it in the refrigerator.

Mint cranberry juice

Ingredients:

• Sugar or honey - 150 g.
• Cranberries - 550 g.
• Melissa - 10 g.
• Water - 2.3 liters.

How to cook:

• The berries are washed, the water is allowed to drain. Knead them until smooth, squeeze the juice.
• The cake is poured with water, sugar or honey is added. Boil the drink until the sugar is completely dissolved.
• Knead melissa with a pestle, pour hot cranberry broth, add cranberry juice, cover with a lid. After 30 minutes, filter the drink.
• The cake is thrown away, the fruit drink is poured into a jug and stored in the refrigerator.

Cranberry-lemon juice

Ingredients:

• Water - 1.2 liters.
• Cranberries - 850 g.
• Lemon zest - 100 g.
• Lemon juice - 80 ml.
• Sugar - 160 g.

How to cook:

• The cranberries are washed, mixed with lemon zest, passed through a blender.
• Add lemon juice and sugar to the resulting mass, pour hot boiled water.
• Put the pan on fire, cover and simmer for about 10 minutes. The gas is turned off, the drink is left to cool.
• Filter the fruit drink, pour it into a jug and put it in the refrigerator.

Cranberry and viburnum fruit drink

Ingredients:

• Vanilla sugar - 25 g.
• Cranberries - 550 g.
• Kalina - 180 g.
• Sugar - 380 g.
• Water 1.7 l.

How to cook:

• 200 g of sugar is mixed with cranberries and put on a sieve. The juice is drained.
• 180 g of sugar is mixed with cranberry juice, put in a cold place.
• Kalina is sorted out, mixed with vanilla, filled with water.
• Boil viburnum for 10 minutes. Then add cranberry juice and cake to the drink.
• The future fruit drink is boiled for 15 minutes, after which it is cooled and filtered.
• Store the drink in the refrigerator.

Contraindications for cranberry juice

You can not use cranberry juice for diseases such as:

• Stomach ulcer.
• Acidic gastritis.
• Diabetes.
• Liver disease.
• Thinning of tooth enamel.

When taking antibiotics, the use of cranberries is limited. If you plan to drink fruit drink for therapeutic purposes, you must first consult with a specialist.

The author of the article: Kuzmina Vera Valerievna | Endocrinologist, nutritionist

Education: Diploma of the Russian State Medical University named after NI Pirogov with a degree in General Medicine (2004). Residency at Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, diploma in Endocrinology (2006).