Small fruit, big benefits!

Everyone knows The Cranberries, yet how much do you know the cranberry? Cranberries are characterized by their distinct sweet taste and voluptuous red color, a native in many regions of the United States and other parts of the world. But what some people don't know about the cranberry is that it's a small fruit with big benefits.

Cranberries are a gift from nature. And like all of nature's gifts, it is very good for the human body. Some US states and other countries market cranberry as one of the few superfruits (a fruit with numerous health benefits) in the world—mainly Canada and the US states of New Jersey, Washington, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin.

Let's find out how cranberry juice helps you lead a better life.

• Rich in phytochemicals – You probably heard the term on TV, but what does it do exactly? Phytochemicals do a lot of good stuff for the body. Cranberry juice is a good source of polyphenol antioxidants and phytochemicals, both of which are possible deterrents against cancer and disorders of the cardiovascular and immune systems. That's a lot of benefits coming from a small fruit.
• Prevents urinary tract infection – Preservatives in food and beverages, along with poor hygiene, contribute to the rise in UTI cases these days. Cleanse by drinking a glass of unsweetened cranberry juice. Cranberry's anti-adhesion properties—or the proanthocyanidins minerals found in the fruit—help rinse the body of urinary tract infections caused by E. coli bacteria.
• Reduces dental plaque – Unless you're drinking sweetened cranberry juice, this beverage has nothing but good news for the teeth and gums. Experts say cranberry juice inhibit the growth of mouth bacteria that causes plaque. So drink up. A healthy dose of cranberry juice ensures your teeth are fresh and clean all the time.
• Prevents formation of kidney stones – This is still under active medical research, but the presence of quinic acid have experts saying it is possible for cranberry juice to help prevent the development of kidney stones. It makes sense since cranberry rid the body of wastes and bacteria—anything that doesn't belong there.

Cranberry juice is sweet and all natural, and it makes for a perfect treat for children. You'd have a hard time thinking of a better beverage to serve on the table during meals and snacks.

Of course all those benefits require that you drink an ample amount of cranberry juice everyday. A couple of 500ml (or 16-ounce) glasses of unsweetened cranberry juice ought to be enough to bring those benefits into effect. But if you aren't a juice type of person then consider taking capsules or syrup with cranberry juice extracts. Take one 400mg capsule twice a day, or one teaspoon three times a day, for optimum nourishment. You'll find yourself feeling fresh and rejuvenated in no time at all.

As with most manufactured fruit juices, cranberry juice comes in two varieties: sweetened and unsweetened. We advise anyone conscious about their health to go for the all natural unsweetened variety. So okay. It might not be as sweet in taste, but it's got sweeter benefits, that's for sure.

The cranberry isn't called superfruit for nothing—there must be something about it that makes it one of the most widely-harvested fruit crop in the US. So if you have never tasted cranberry your whole life, isn't it reason enough to give cranberry juice a try?