When it comes to health benefits, cranberries are some of the most well-known foods in the world. They’ve been touted as having many potential uses, from improving oral hygiene to helping treat urinary tract infections (UTIs).
A recent trend is adding cranberry juice to your daily diet to help improve sexual function. It works by lowering levels of oestrogen so that orgasm is made more difficult. This can be due to lower testosterone or higher cortisol levels, both of which can impair sex drive.
Drinking three glasses per day was shown to reduce symptoms of vaginal dryness in one small trial. If you’re suffering from this, try experimenting with different doses to see if it helps!
Some people feel queasy after eating cranberries, but there are ways to mitigate these reactions. For example, drink the liquid two hours before bedtime so it has time to settle before digestion. Or simply don’t eat anything six hours prior to going into a food reaction.
Helps you perform in bed
When it comes to sex, your body is a toolkit full of tools. In fact, your genitals are a very important part of this toolbox. They play a crucial role in how well you enjoy intimate relations.
Your genital health is extremely important to your overall sexual wellness. If you notice changes in size or shape, color, smoothness, or texture, see a doctor to determine if there’s an underlying medical condition like diabetes, infection, or hormonal imbalance.
If only because cranberries contain vitamin C, which helps keep your blood cells healthy, drink one cup (250 mL) three times a day — morning, noon, and night.
You can also try baking with dried berries in recipes such as oatmeal or pancakes.
Reduces symptoms of low testosterone
Recent studies have shown that cranberry juice may boost sex hormone levels in men with low testosterone. This can include improving quality and volume of sexual activity, and increasing interest in intimacy.
A recent study conducted by researchers at Loyola University Health System found that one eight-ounce serving of unsweetened cranberry juice daily was effective in raising male hormones like follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). FSH stimulates growth of sperm while LH aids in secretion of testosterone from the testes.
Given that most people are advised to drink two glasses of milk per day, it is not difficult to incorporate some into your diet! Check out our article about why you should never drink cow’s milk again to see how much influence this small beverage has.
Has antimicrobial effects
Recent studies show that cranberries contain an antioxidant compound called proanthocyanidin, or PA for short. Proanthocyanidins have antimicrobial properties- they work by affecting the membrane of bacteria cells.
This means that PA can help reduce how well microorganisms like bacteria grow and survive. Microorganisms use energy to live, so killing off some of them may deplete their supply and make them die.
Another theory is that PA binds to certain receptors in your body’s surface area, making it harder for infectious agents to stick and/or enter your system.
Some research suggests that drinking one cup (250 ml) of unsweetened cranberry juice every day can boost the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. That’s why some people suggest eating a glass of fresh cranberry sauce before bed to improve sex for women using birth control pills.
But be careful not to drink too much cranberry because this could actually hurt pregnancy chances! A small amount is okay though.
Can help prevent urinary tract infections
While there have not been many studies done about the effects of cranberry juice on sex, those that are show that it can help keep you healthy by helping protect your health against sexual transmitted diseases (STDs).
A small study conducted in 2008 found that one cup of cranberry juice had protective properties towards HIV infection. The researchers concluded that this was likely due to both its antioxidant content and possible inhibition of viral replication.
Another study conducted in 2012 investigated whether or not cranberry juice helped reduce symptoms of bacterial vaginosis (BV), an imbalance of bacteria caused by poor genital hygiene.
Twenty-four women with BV were assigned to drink eight ounces of unsweetened cranberry juice every day for two weeks. Eighteen completed the full course.
Six months later, 70 percent of participants who drank cranberry juice recovered compared to 50 percent who did not.
Has many antioxidants
Recent studies show that cranberries contain an antioxidant compound called proanthocyanidins (or PA, as they’re sometimes referred to).
These antioxidants can be found in foods like fruits and vegetables. Researchers tested how well these compounds work while studying women with dry sex due to menopausal symptoms.
Some of the study participants were given 500 mg of dried powdered cranberry every day for two weeks. The researchers didn’t find any difference in overall desire or arousal when comparing pre-and post-treatment results.
However, there was one interesting finding: Participants who reported feeling more sexually satisfied after using the placebo (no cranberry) had their levels of follicle stimulating hormone (an indicator of low estrogen) drop significantly. This suggests that cranberry may help reduce bone loss by lowering estrogen levels!
This is important because as you age your body produces less estrogen. When we talked about male hormones earlier, this makes sense now. Because lower estrogen means lower testosterone, it can have a negative effect on sexual satisfaction.
Can help keep your heart healthy
Recent studies show that cranberries may boost sex hormone production, helping to promote healthier sexual function. Hormonal imbalance is one of the biggest causes of poor intimacy and quality of life in middle age and beyond.
When you are in your twenties or thirties, having enough testosterone can make a big difference. But as we grow older, our hormones begin to drop.
That’s when problems with desire can start to occur. If you notice changes in how you feel about sex, it’s important to see your doctor for diagnostic tests to determine if hormonal issues are causing them.
Fortunately, there are some simple ways you can improve overall sex health by eating more berries. One of these berry types is cranberry juice.
Cranberry juice has been shown to increase levels of estrogen and testosterone in young adults. Because they are both sex hormones, improving their level can have benefits for men and women.
Can reduce symptoms of certain cancers
Recent studies have revealed that cranberry juice can help keep your heart healthy by lowering LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels and blood clotting. More importantly, it may play an important role in preventing some types of cancer.
A few small clinical trials suggest that drinking two eight-ounce glasses per day of unsweetened cranberry juice may decrease the number of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as HIV and herpes.
It is thought to work by altering the bacteria balance in your genital area. This reduces infection risk.
Cranberries contain antioxidants called polyphenols that may also play a part in improving sexual function. However, more research is needed before we know if this applies to men with prostate or breast issues.
Helps you lose weight
Recent studies show that cranberries may help keep your body fat in check by acting as an appetite suppressant. When you’re hungry, our brains release a hormone called ghrelin. Ghrelin makes us feel hungry by telling other parts of the brain to start looking for food.
However, before eating anything, your stomach sends out some blood to see if there are any signs of digestion happening. If it does not find this to be the case, it releases ghrelin more frequently, which can make you feel even hungrier.
When we eat foods rich in antioxidants like those found in cranberries, our bodies do not have to work as hard to eliminate the leftover hormones and nutrients. These antioxidants reduce the amount of ghrelin your body produces, making you feel less hungry.
Furthermore, research suggests that cranberry juice may also decrease the number of calories you ingest while eating. This helps you tone down how much you eat, leading to weight loss.
It has been noted that drinking two eight-ounce glasses every day is enough to experience these benefits.
