How to make cranberry juice

Chemical composition of cranberry juice

Cranberry juice contains a large amount of vital biologically active substances, due to which the product has a lot of beneficial properties. It contains many organic acids. The most important of them:

• lemon (303.8 ppm);
• apple (190 ppm);
• cinchona (311.7 ppm);
• ascorbic acid (9.6 ppm).

Chemical composition:

Cranberry juice is recognized by nutritionists as one of the most useful compositions that can cope with excess fat and at the same time saturate the body with a large amount of additional energy and a number of vitamins that will help strengthen the immune system.

What does cranberry cure?

First of all, cranberries are used as a means to improve immunity and in the presence of vitamin deficiency. For these purposes, it is best to prepare a fruit drink, for which 0.5 kg of fruit is crushed and filled with 1 liter of water. Boil for 15 minutes, filter and cool. It is recommended to drink fruit juice with the addition of honey.

The fruits are recommended for use for respiratory diseases and gum inflammation. It has antibacterial properties and helps prevent tooth decay.

The juice is used as a means of removing “bad” cholesterol from the body. It helps prevent blood clots and improves vascular elasticity. The juice is also recommended for tuberculosis and gynecological diseases.

Beneficial features

Cranberry juice has proven itself well and is actively used in many industries, namely in medicine, cooking, and cosmetology. Due to the large number of beneficial properties, the drink has become the object of research, which has attracted the interest of many specialists in various fields.

For diabetes

People with diabetes often complain of atherosclerosis, but published positive results from a 12-week study show that drinking cranberry juice regularly is the real way to reverse the disease. This remedy significantly reduces the level of unnecessary cholesterol in the blood and prevents the development of heart disease and blockage of blood vessels.

University of Massachusetts researchers studied the effect of the drink on blood glucose levels. It turned out that after using cranberry juice, the absorption of carbon by cells decreased by up to 40%.

Important! Herbal medicine magazine editor Iris Benzi found that cranberries have the highest amount of antioxidants among other fruits. Therefore, cranberry juice has a positive effect on the body, eliminating the development of diabetes and related diseases.

For heart and vascular health

Scientists have proven that cranberry juice can constrict blood vessels and reduce the speed of blood flow. This is due to the influence of cranberry extract on the human humoral system, and, in particular, on the synthesis of the vasoconstrictor endothelin, which is responsible for the speed of blood flow.

For dental health

Employees of the Rochester Medical Center studied caries and came to the conclusion that cranberry juice rids teeth of bacterial plaque and thereby eliminates the formation of caries. But you need to take into account that the juice contains a substance such as citric acid, which negatively affects dental health by destroying the protective layer of tooth enamel.

Important! Natural cranberry juice should be drunk with a straw or straw to reduce the impact on tooth enamel.

For heartburn

The main cause of constant heartburn is a weakened sphincter, which is located between the stomach and esophagus. If there are no deviations, it does not allow digestive juices to enter the esophagus. Heartburn most often occurs during pregnancy or obesity; it can be a consequence of smoking, hernia, vomiting, or taking any medications.

People with low acidity often experience heartburn. This can provoke poorly digested food into the intestines, which causes active fermentation and the release of hydrogen. Gas negatively affects the functioning of the sphincter and interferes with its functioning.

If the cause of heartburn is slow digestion of food, then cranberry juice is an excellent alternative to increase acidity levels and speed up the functioning of the digestive organs.

But with increased acidity of the stomach, additional acidic foods only aggravate the work of the sphincter, so cranberry juice and other products that also affect the human body must be discarded or consumed in limited quantities.

For acne

Fatty and smoked foods, unbalanced and irregular nutrition are the main causes of inflammation. Acne is one of the symptoms of inflammation in the body. After an interesting experiment, it became known that one of the components of cranberry juice - resveratrol - can get rid of acne in a fairly short time. When using a cosmetic product based on this component, it was recorded that the number of acne is reduced by more than 50%.

Important! Renowned dermatologist Nicholas Perricone recommends drinking cranberry juice daily as it helps eliminate any inflammatory reactions and eliminate acne.

For urinary tract infections

A fairly common complication after most illnesses is bladder infections. Cranberry juice has a positive effect on the body’s immune system and can resist infection in the early stages, but if the disease is advanced, then the drink will be of little use; here you need to resort to medication.

Contraindications

Seriously exceeding the daily dose of cranberry juice will have an extremely negative effect on the body. If you drink more than 3 liters of the drink per day, stomach upset or diarrhea may occur. In addition, the product contains substances that provoke the deposition of oxalates in the kidneys.

Attention! It is not recommended to purchase store-bought juice with sweeteners. It is harmful to the body and very high in calories.

Typically, cranberries are grown in unfavorable places where they can absorb more than 10 types of pesticides into the pulp. This can negatively affect a person’s well-being and cause the development of many diseases. Therefore, you should purchase only those berries that meet safety requirements or prepare the juice yourself.

Cranberries in cosmetology

This berry has been used for skin care since ancient times.
It helps saturate the skin with vitamins, minerals, improve color, tightens, makes it elastic, soft and healthy.

Cranberry helps with the following problems:

• peeling;
• redness;
• dryness;
• acne;
• dark spots;
• enlarged pores;
• greasy shine.

In addition, due to its ability to strengthen collagen fibers, it can slow down aging.

Also, red fruits have a great effect on the condition of hair. Masks with cranberries restore shine to hair, make it strong, voluminous, and eliminate oiliness.

Masks for oily skin

Option one

• Grind 1 lemon in a blender and pour in 250 g of vodka.
• Pour the mixture into a glass container and leave in the dark for a week.
• After 7 days, the mixture should be strained, add 1 tbsp. cranberry juice and 0.5 tbsp. boiled cold water.
• Mix everything well, add 1 tbsp. l. glycerin.

You should wipe your face with this mixture every day before going to bed.

Option two

• Grind the berries in a blender and apply to clean skin.
• Keep this mask for 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

This procedure should be carried out every other day for a month. This product also helps with acne. In this case, the pulp of red fruits should be on the face for at least 30 minutes.

Hair masks

Recipe one

• 3 tbsp. l. berries and a few sprigs of parsley should be chopped and squeezed.
• After this, add 1 tbsp. l. olive oil and mix everything well.

This mask should be rubbed not only into the roots, but also along the entire length of the hair. After this, cover your head with plastic wrap and keep it there for 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water. This mixture will give your hair shine and volume.

Recipe two

• Grind 200 g of berries, add 1 tbsp. l. sea ​​buckthorn oil and 1 tbsp. l. honey
• Mix everything well, rub into the roots, and leave for 20 minutes. Wash off with warm water.

How to make cranberry juice

Making cranberry juice at home doesn't require much effort. The only negative is the high cost of cranberries; many people believe that it is cheaper to buy cranberry juice right away. But store-bought products contain substitutes and flavoring additives, and if you prepare the drink yourself, you can have no doubt about its quality.

List of ingredients:

• 450 g cranberries;
• 1 liter of water;
• 450 g apples (less possible);
• sugar and cinnamon to taste.

Step by step recipe:

1. Wash the fruits thoroughly.
2. Cut the apples into small pieces.
3. Boil water and pour all the fruits into it.
4. Simmer over low heat for 10 minutes until the berries crack.
5. Add sweetener and desired spices, remove from heat and let steep.
6. Grind the mass using a blender.
7. Filter everything through a strainer and cool.

Another cooking method:

Cranberry juice with soda

Natural cranberry elixir can be combined with soda to create a healthy and incredibly tasty cocktail. If desired, you can add a little more rum to enhance the piquancy and taste of the drink.

List of ingredients:

• 400 g cranberries;
• 50 ml soda;
• sweeteners to taste.

Step by step recipe:

1. Boil water, add cranberries and cook for no more than 10 minutes.
2. Sweeten and let cool.
3. Grind in a blender and filter using a strainer.
4. Add soda after cooling.

Cranberry-lemon juice

The combination of cranberries and lemon is quite successful, since the taste properties of this product exceed all expectations. The refined taste with moderate acidity and excellent aroma will impress everyone.

List of ingredients:

• 3 tbsp. cranberries;
• 1 lemon
• sugar to taste.

Step by step recipe:

1. Wash the cranberries, grate the lemon zest and squeeze out all the juice.
2. Boil water, add berries, lemon zest and boil for 5 minutes.
3. Add sugar and remove from heat.
4. Pour in lemon juice, let cool and grind in a blender.
5. Strain and cool.

Cranberry in folk medicine

It is used fresh during the ripening season. At the same time, various preparations are made from the berries, ensuring long-term storage. With proper processing, the benefits of cranberries are not reduced. The only condition is not to subject it to boiling and (or) cooking.

The berries can simply be frozen. In this case, you receive a fresh base for the preparation of medicinal and cosmetic products at any time of the year. It is perfectly acceptable to use dried cranberries. In this form, it is considered one of the most valuable dried fruits, retaining all the beneficial properties of a fresh product.

Treatment of colds and flu

Cranberry juice is good for this. It cooks quickly. You will need:

• Berries – 250 g.
• Sugar – 150 g.
• Boiled water (warm) – 3-3.5 tbsp.

The fruits must be thoroughly mashed with a spoon until smooth, placed on cheesecloth, then squeezed out the juice. Next, water is introduced and sugar is added. Instead, you can use honey to prepare fruit juice.

This medicine lowers temperature and effectively fights inflammatory processes that occur during colds and flu.

For sore throat

A beetroot-cranberry drink is an excellent remedy for this disease. Cranberry is useful for its treatment because it thins the blood, and beets because of its ability to relieve swelling and inflammation of the throat mucosa. To prepare a medicinal composition, you need to mix cranberry and beet juices in equal proportions. You should drink this medicine 50-60 g 3 times a day, shaking before use. It turns out delicious, so it’s also suitable for a child.

It is known that the most important element in the treatment of sore throat is gargling. This procedure can also be performed using cranberries, namely, fruit juice made from it. You need to take a few tbsp. spoons of berries and dilute with a small amount of boiled water. The temperature of the resulting juice should be comfortably warm.

For immunity

To increase it, cranberries should be taken with honey. The ingredients are taken in equal proportions and ground together. For storage, use a pre-sterilized glass jar. The cranberry mixture should be kept in the refrigerator. It is permissible to use it either in its pure form (1 teaspoon several times a day) or adding it to tea.

This remedy can be used in case of reduced immunity throughout the cold season, i.e., from the period of autumn rains to spring. There is no need to divide the funds into courses.

For cystitis

With this disease, as well as with pyelonephritis, the berry is useful, first of all, due to the presence of ursolic acid in its composition. Cranberry preparations ensure the dissolution of salts and have a diuretic effect, which allows you to effectively get rid of not only mild, but also chronic forms of diseases of the urinary system.

Akalifa - growing and care at home, photo

Cranberry juice can also be used as a remedy for cystitis. A small volume is enough to feel the positive effect literally within 1-2 days. Sometimes relief occurs within a few hours. The approximate daily norm is 300 ml of liquid, but it is advisable to adjust this amount by consulting a doctor or an experienced herbalist.

For hypertension

Cranberry remarkably reduces high blood pressure. Its medicinal properties in this case are associated with the presence of potassium and flavonoids in the composition. Systematic consumption of the berry strengthens the heart muscle, normalizes the rhythm of its work and reduces the frequency of relapses of high blood pressure. With systematic consumption of the berry, it is possible to prevent possible complications.

There is another reason why taking cranberry-based home remedies is recommended specifically for hypertensive patients. The fact is that most of them are overweight people. And, therefore, they need to limit themselves in the use of table salt. Cranberry perfectly replaces it, providing the minimum necessary need for this product for the body.

The recipe for using berries for hypertension is simple. It is crushed in any way (manually, using a blender), then the puree is mixed with honey. A 1:1 proportion is considered optimal, but a slight advantage in one direction or another is acceptable, depending on taste preferences. Store the mixture in the refrigerator in a tightly closed container. Recommended dose – 1 tbsp. l. 3 times a day before meals.

The use of cranberries for the treatment of hypertension requires regularity and moderation. Excessive one-time use will not only not bring the expected result, but can also cause allergies.

Attention! In case of hypertensive crisis, it is dangerous to limit treatment only to folk remedies.

For vessels

Homemade cranberry remedies have an extremely positive effect on them. Their elasticity increases and cholesterol is removed.

One recipe that has proven effective involves using cranberries along with honey and garlic. The components are used in a ratio of 10:5:2, respectively. In this case, the berries and garlic are first crushed and mixed, and only after keeping the resulting pulp in a dark place for 12 hours, honey is added to it. Dosage regimen: 2 times a day (approximately every 12 hours - morning and evening) 30 g. The full course should last until the composition runs out. For reference: 1 kg of berries is taken for preparation.

For joint diseases

The use of cranberries for these types of health problems provides a high cure rate. In addition, this relieves pain, and intoxication, which usually occurs as a result of the inflammatory process, is eliminated. In addition, accelerated tissue restoration occurs.

For problems of this kind, cranberries are used both internally and externally. The choice of one remedy or another depends on the disease, as well as the severity of the person’s condition.

Ointment made from berries is good for treating joints. It is made from fresh, crushed fruits with the addition of Vaseline. The proportion of ingredients is 2:1. The composition is applied to the affected areas, covered with polyethylene on top, and then with a scarf (or towel) to maintain heat and warm up. The ointment must be stored in a cool place.

For oral administration to treat joints, a remedy whose recipe is given for cleansing blood vessels (see above) is perfect.

For gums

Cranberry is a wonderful remedy for getting rid of bleeding gums and periodontitis. It is much more effective than medications prescribed by dentists. To obtain the desired result, it is recommended to do a “cranberry massage”.

It consists of this: you need to take a handful of berries into your mouth, chew them and rub the released juice into the inside of your gums with your tongue. External - massage in the same way with your fingertips. Spit out the spent pulp and rinse your mouth.