Is Cranberry Juice Good for Gastritis: Learn 3 Amazing Benefits!

By - Mehrosh Ahmer

The bright red small cranberries can be a delectable addition to your dessert tray but did you know that cranberries exhibit anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial actions too? Well, cranberry juice effectively works in preventing gastric problems. 

So, is cranberry juice good for gastritis?  

Cranberry juice prevents the attachment of bacteria to the walls of the cells thereby reducing the chances of infection in your stomach. However, it only prevents the attachment of bacteria and doesn’t treat the ongoing infection. 

So, to learn if cranberry juice is good for gastritis or not, then keep reading on! 

The pH Factor of Cranberry Juice: Is Cranberry Juice Acidic or Alkaline? 

Cranberries are evergreen herbs from North America famous for their anti-UTI action. They do this by not letting the bacteria stick to the urinary tract cells. However, it only prevents the sticking of bacteria and cannot do anything if the bacteria have already stuck. 

Many people add cranberry juice to their diet due to its potential benefits and the bittersweet aftertaste. However, the considerable question is, is cranberry juice healthy? It is known for fighting aging problems, preventing UTIs, and improving cardiovascular and GIT health.

When it comes to pH, anything that has a pH below 7 is acidic and above 7 is basic. Cranberry juice is considered slightly acidic due to its low pH. However, in comparison, lemon and lime juice are both more acidic than cranberry juice, 

Is Cranberry Juice Good for Gastritis?  

Can cranberry juice cause gastritis? The answer is, “No.” Gastritis is an inflammatory condition in which the gastric cells are affected and one of the most common causative agents is H.Pylori bacteria. 

So, what juice is good for gastritis? Well, cranberries are full of carbohydrates, water, vitamins, and minerals which all make them a nutrient-rich preventer of gastric problems. 

So, does cranberry juice help with gastritis? Well, cranberry is a great choice for people with gastritis because of its strong anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial nature. The antioxidant-rich berry helps in preventing the bacteria from sticking to your stomach’s lining thereby reducing the risk of gastritis and stomach ulcers. 

Is Cranberry Juice Good for Diarrhea?

Diarrhea leads to rapid loss of water and electrolytes from the body which if not treated on time can lead to dehydration. Cranberry juice acts as a laxative which means if drunk in excessive amounts, can cause loose stools. 

Usually, people use cranberry juice during constipation because the presence of sugar and fiber helps in improving bowel movements. Hence, if you’re not suffering from constipation, then drinking too much cranberry juice can cause diarrhea.  

Is Cranberry Juice Good for H Pylori?

H. Pylori is the bacteria mostly responsible for gastric problems such as gastritis and ulcers. Well, the antibacterial nature of cranberry juice makes it of great usage against bacteria. It prevents it from sticking to the cells of the wall and thereby prevents them from causing infection. 

As per research, three components of cranberry potentially work in reducing the pathological activity of H. Pylori. 

Is Cranberry Juice Good for Kidney Infection?

Your kidneys are key organs in regulating the pH of your body by removing extra acid. Hence, any problem in the kidney might disturb the acid-base balance. In such conditions, the PRAL of the diet is considered vital. It stands for potential renal acid load and is the measure of how acidic or basic your diet is. The PRAL value of 100 grams of cranberry juice blend is -1.93.  

Cranberry juice is quite effective in preventing UTIs. However, its effect on kidneys depends upon the quantity you’re consuming. UTIs if left untreated can spread into the kidneys and can eventually affect the blood causing sepsis.

When it comes to treatment, cranberry juice cannot treat any infection, all it can do is prevent the infection from happening. However, consuming excessive amounts can make you prone to kidney stones if you’re already at a risk due to the presence of oxalates. 

Is Cranberry Juice Good for Acid Reflux? 

If you’re a patient with GERD, then having cranberry juice can make your symptoms even worse. The pH of cranberry juice is 2.5 which is quite acidic; hence, it aggravates the already-acidic environment of the stomach and intensifies it.  

Cranberry juice actually prevents bacterial infections and there is no evidence for now about H.Pylori causing acid reflux. However, cranberry helps in maintaining gastric health. It’s better to avoid using cranberry juice during acid reflux to avoid triggering the symptoms. 

Is Cranberry Juice Good for You? 

Although cranberry is acidic but its health benefits can’t be denied! It’s not that cranberry juice works against UTI infections only, in fact, there is a lot more you should know! Cranberries are rich in antioxidants especially phenols, vitamins, and minerals which is why you can call them superfoods.

Nutritional Facts

The nutritional details of 100 grams of unsweetened cranberry juice are

Moreover, cranberry juice is full of vitamins that improve your immune system and also reduce the risk of cancer. Following is the percentage of vitamins and minerals per daily value, 

Cranberry Juice Health Benefits

Cranberry juice is an excellent source of vitamin C, with an 8-ounce serving providing 39% of your daily allowance. Vitamin C serves numerous functions in the body. It is a powerful antioxidant that helps prevent free radicals from damaging your body’s cells and DNA. The major 3 health benefits are-

Improving Cardiovascular Health 

Cranberries are rich in phytonutrients such as anthocyanin which ameliorate cardiovascular health by delaying inflammation and by reducing chances of atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries). Moreover, studies show that it has worked well for obese patients in reducing cardiac problems. 

Boosting Immune System

Cranberries are full of vitamin C and E which are both antioxidants; hence, they work in boosting your body’s immunity. Moreover, they also have myricetin, peonidin, and anthocyanin which are antiaging and help in preventing cancer.

Preventing Bacterial Infections

The most significant benefit of cranberry juice is its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial action. People often ask, is pure cranberry juice good for gastritis and UTIs? Well, the presence of a compound called “proanthocyanidin” prevents bacterial attachment to the cells of the wall and thereby wards off infections. 

So, it is good to use cranberry juice with gastritis or ulcers; however, the juice won’t treat any infection, it only helps in preventing the bacterial attachment to the cells. Moreover, dried cranberries relax muscle cramps and also treat constipation! So, are dried cranberries good for ulcers and UTIs? Yes! Dried cranberries are also a great source of fiber along with flavonoids. 

How Much Cranberry Juice Should You Drink a Day? 

To prevent gastritis either acute or chronic, you can drink cranberry juice but the advantages shouldn’t make you forget about how overuse can affect your health! You should limit the usage up to 1-2 glasses per day because of its high sugar nature.

People often ask, is cranberry juice good for acute gastritis? Well, cranberries are rich in flavonoids which is why it effectively works against bacteria causing gastritis and ulcers. 

Cranberry Juice Side Effects 

You might have heard, “Too much of anything is good for nothing!” Well, this is true when it comes to cranberry juice. Drinking in moderate quantities will benefit you for sure but consuming an excess amount can even lead to kidney stones. 

It can also react to some medications such as amoxicillin. It can also enhance the function of warfarin which is a blood anti-coagulant. Side effects of drinking a lot of cranberry juice include

Both pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid drinking cranberry juice, and people allergic to aspirin should also avoid the juice. This is because cranberry has salicylic acid which is quite similar to aspirin; hence, you better avoid it if you’re allergic. 

Bottom Line 

So, is cranberry juice good for gastritis? Well, cranberry juice is full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that help the human body in many ways. However, the presence of a compound prevents the bacteria from sticking to the cells of the stomach, thereby preventing the chances of infection. 

So, to prevent gastric and urinary tract infections, you may try cranberry juice but make sure to avoid overdrinking, or else you’ll end up having diarrhea or even kidney stones in extreme conditions! 

FAQs

1. Does cranberry juice aggravate gastritis?

Cranberry juice can help you in managing gastric problems such as gastritis or ulcers. It can only ward off the infection by preventing bacteria from sticking to the cellular walls; however, it can’t be used in the treatment of gastritis.   

2. Is cranberry juice good for gastric health?

Being a low-calorie vitamin-rich fruit, cranberries are really good for gastric health because of their anti-bacterial action. Moreover, it helps in preventing gastritis and also eases the symptoms of ulcers.

3. What is the best drink for gastritis?

To heal gastritis, you can try green tea with manuka honey as its anti-inflammatory effects can help you improve the symptoms. Moreover, you may also try herbal tea, green tea, Brazilian Peppertree tea, chard tea, and banana and pear juice for healing gastritis.  

4. Which fruit juice is good for gastritis?

When your stomach lining is inflamed, fruit juices can help you boost the healing process. You can try pineapple-ginger juice, banana and pear juice, and papaya juice. All the aforementioned juices are great healers and help in easing the symptoms of gastritis.