Cranberry Juice Diet

There are two methods used to employ a cranberry juice diet: one simply involves the incorporation of a certain amount of cranberry juice in your daily diet, while the other involves not eating or drinking anything but cranberry juice for a certain length of time.

Integrating cranberry juice in your diet can provide you with various health benefits, such as protection from urinary tract infection, heart disease and cancer. There is no specific recommended amount of cranberry juice that you should intake. However, generally, 1-3 glasses (500 mL) of unsweetened cranberry juice in the diet daily have been suggested. Taking 10-25 ounces of cranberry juice cocktail daily have also been shown by certain studies to significantly reduce the amount of bacteria in the urine compared to placebo and to increase the levels of HDL cholesterol, the “good” cholesterol, in the body. You may also opt to consume a single 400 mg capsule of concentrated cranberry juice extract twice a day. Cranberry tincture may likewise be used, approximately ½-1 teaspoon thrice a day. For children, drinking half the requirements for adults is usually sufficient.

Some people opt to undergo purely cranberry juice fasting, wherein only cranberry juice and water are taken for 1-3 days. This is usually done as a form of detoxification. In most people, taking cranberry juice results in no side effects. However, drinking too much juice, such as what you might do when doing a purely cranberry juice diet, can result in headache, low blood sugar levels, diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating and bowel changes. Excessive and chronic intake of cranberry juice while abstaining from other necessary food groups can result in obesity, nutrient deficiencies and the development of dental cavities. If you experience any of these side effects, stop the diet immediately. Before starting any kind of cranberry juice diet, it is best to consult your doctor. Some medications and diseases may interact with cranberry juice and result in adverse effects.

Up to now, there is still a need to determine the optimal amount of cranberry juice needed in the diet to produce the necessary health benefits. It is also essential to establish the limits in the amount of cranberry juice that may be taken daily, so as to prevent the development of adverse reactions.

As long as the recommended dosages of cranberry juice are taken, a cranberry juice diet is a safe, effective method of taking care of one’s health and preventing a myriad of diseases. So why not start a cranberry diet today?