2 Glasses of Cranberry Juice a Day Helps Keep Heart Disease, Stroke and Diabetes at Bay

Among the commonly consumed fruits in our diets, cranberries boast some of the highest levels of polyphenols, more than blueberries, grapes, apples or cherries. A new study has revealed that drinking low-calorie cranberry juice may help protect against heart disease and lower the risk of diabetes and stroke. The study findings suggest 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 study, 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 said, "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% lower risk of heart disease and a 15% lower risk of stroke. Of note, the reductions in blood pressure numbers alone matched those achieved from top-rated diets such as DASH."

The study is published in Journal of Nutrition.

Source-ANI