Cranberry juice has many uses, from supporting a healthy body to being a mixer in cocktails. It is beneficial for urinary tract infections, heart health, and is loaded with vitamin C and antioxidants. It is also used as a mixer in many alcoholic beverages. Look for juices with natural fruit sweeteners.
Cranberry juice is the juice pressed from the fruit of the cranberry, a mat-like evergreen shrub native to eastern North America. There are many uses for this juice, ranging from an everyday glass to support a healthy body and heart to a mixer in cocktails and juice drinks. Straight juice is available in many supermarkets, although it can be difficult to find without high fructose corn syrup, and mixed juice drinks that include it are also readily available. As is the case with other fruit juices, the health benefits of cranberries are best found in juice without artificial sweeteners.
As a health food, blueberries have several benefits. Drinking cranberry juice makes your urine more acidic, which can be very helpful for urinary tract infections. While drinking water and juice will also help flush out the kidneys and urinary tract if they’re infected, the juice will actually help the body actively fight off bacteria. Cranberries also appear to reduce bad cholesterol in the body, making them a heart-healthy food, and are loaded with vitamin C and antioxidants. As a result, a glass can be of great benefit.
Many juices use cranberry juice as a mixer, as it has a unique tart flavor that can make other juices taste more savory and complex. A blend may have a high percentage of cranberry, using another fruit such as raspberries as a sweetener, or it may have a splash of cranberry that is intended to enhance the flavor of the juice or to temper the sweetness of naturally sweet fruits. Cranberry juice, by the way, is made from cranberries that are picked before they reach full maturity and tends to be a bit sweeter. Look for juices with natural fruit sweeteners, honey or brown sugar if possible.
Many alcoholic beverages also call for cranberry juice, as is the case with cosmopolitans, crantini, or plain vodka and cranberry. The tart flavor complements a wide range of alcohols and can help reduce their bitterness and intensity. Since the juice also has a distinctive ruby red color, it’s also used to add a splash of color to otherwise dull drinks. In some cases, a drink can be garnished with candied or fresh cranberries. Virgin drinks can also be made with cranberry juice, for those who prefer to abstain.
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