CARVER, Mass., September 18, 2025 — With cranberry season upon us, The Cranberry Institute is excited to announce an update to The Berry Best Guidebook, a digital resource compiling extensive scientific research on the many health benefits of cranberries. The update features newly published studies that reveal additional areas of benefit to the body.

The Undeniable Scientific Evidence About the Many Benefits of This Powerful Berry

The benefits of cranberries for urinary tract, stomach, gut, and cardiovascular health are well established with robust scientific research. The new edition of The Berry Best Guidebook adds studies showcasing emerging findings on cranberry’s potential benefits in exercise performance and muscle function, anti-aging and cellular health, rheumatoid arthritis support, endocrine health, management of liver disease, digestive support, and lung and oral cancer.

Cranberry May Help Prevent Certain Infections and Potentially Slows Antibiotic Resistance

“Cranberries contain a type of tannin polyphenol called proanthocyanidin (PAC) which helps prevent pathogenic bacterial adhesion in multiple areas in the body including the urinary tract, stomach, and oral cavity. Bacteria sticking to surfaces in the body is the first step in the infection process, so preventing this adhesion step with daily cranberry intake can keep the infection from proceeding further” states Amy Howell, PhD, Associate Research Scientist (retired) from Rutgers University. “Preventing infections lowers the need for antibiotic treatments, potentially slowing the pace of antibiotic resistance development, a current worldwide crisis.”

Packed with PACs: Why Cranberries Are a Top Choice for Health

In the U.S., most cranberries are harvested between September and October, marking the start of cranberry season. But all forms of cranberry such as cranberry juice, fresh or frozen berries, sauce, or dried are a healthy choice and can be enjoyed year-round. Cranberries are packed with beneficial

bioactive compounds including polyphenols such as PACs, anthocyanins, and flavonoids. What makes cranberries unique is their high content of A-type PACs, which help prevent harmful bacteria from sticking to surfaces in the body. 1,2

Navigate The Berry Best Guidebook with Helpful Links

Exploring the whole-body benefits of cranberries is easier than ever! The Berry Best Guidebook is simple to navigate with quick links to access each section, including:

· Stomach – Suppression of H. pylori

· Gut Microbiome

· Urinary Tract Health

· Support of Nerve Cells & Cognition

· Oral Health

· Cardiometabolic Health

· Cardiovascular Health

· Diabetes & Blood Sugar Management

· Exercise Performance & Muscle Function

· Anti-Aging & Cellular Health

· Rheumatoid Arthritis Support

· Endocrine Health

· Management of Liver Disease

· Digestive Support

· Anticancer (Reproductive, Bladder, Esophageal, Lung & Oral)

· Immunity & Virus Management

· Guidance Choosing Cranberry Dietary Supplements

· No Interaction with Warfarin and Certain Antibiotics

Cranberries Benefit the Gut Lining Which Can Help Fight Inflammation in the Body

A healthy gut microbiome can support the integrity of the gut barrier,3,4 and emerging research suggests that cranberry polyphenols may support both the gut barrier and, potentially, the lining of the urinary tract.5 A healthy gut barrier can help prevent harmful substances from leaking into the body and causing inflammatory changes. This can lead to chronic inflammation which has been linked to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and chronic kidney disease.3,6

Cranberries Make the List for Foods That Support a Healthy Gut Microbiome Which Helps Reduce Constipation

Constipation is a common issue across all age groups, accounting for about 2.5 million visits to a healthcare professional yearly.7 The rate of GLP-1 use is increasing, and constipation can be a side effect of using these drugs.8 Analysis of health data from more than 17,000 people in the 2005-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) found that cranberries are among the foods associated with higher diversity of gut microbiota (DI-GM), which has been linked to lower rates of constipation.9 Access the latest version of The Berry Best Health Guidebook HERE to learn more about the many health benefits of cranberries!

About the Cranberry Institute: The Cranberry Institute is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1951 to further the success of cranberry growers and the industry in the Americas through health, agricultural and environmental stewardship research as well as cranberry promotion and education. The Cranberry Institute is funded voluntarily by Supporting Members that handle, process, and sell cranberries. Supporting Members are represented in national and international regulatory matters and research efforts are done on their behalf.

Media Contact:

Caitlin Neligan cneligan@pollock-pr.com

References:

1. Calvano A, Izuora K, Oh EC, Ebersole JL, Lyons TJ, Basu A. Dietary berries, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes: an overview of human feeding trials. Food Funct. 2019 Oct 16;10(10):6227-6243. doi: 10.1039/c9fo01426h. PMID: 31591634; PMCID: PMC7202899.

2. Nemzer BV, Al-Taher F, Yashin A, Revelsky I, Yashin Y. Cranberry: Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Activity and Impact on Human Health: Overview. Molecules. 2022 Feb 23;27(5):1503. doi: 10.3390/molecules27051503. PMID: 35268605; PMCID: PMC8911768.

3. Pahwa R, Goyal A, Jialal I. Chronic Inflammation. [Updated 2023 Aug 7]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493173/

4. Blumberg JB, Basu A, Krueger CG, Lila MA, Neto CC, Novotny JA, Reed JD, Rodriguez-Mateos A, Toner CD. Impact of Cranberries on Gut Microbiota and Cardiometabolic Health: Proceedings of the Cranberry Health Research Conference 2015. Adv Nutr. 2016 Jul 15;7(4):759S-70S. doi: 10.3945/an.116.012583. PMID: 27422512; PMCID: PMC4942875.

5. González de Llano D, Roldán M, Taladrid D, Relaño de la Guía E, Moreno-Arribas MV, Bartolomé B. Cranberry Polyphenols and Prevention against Urinary Tract Infections: New Findings Related to the Integrity and Functionality of Intestinal and Urinary Barriers. J Agric Food Chem. 2024 May 8;72(18):10328-10338. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c07169. Epub 2024 Apr 23. PMID: 38651941; PMCID: PMC11082924.

6. Kase BE, Liese AD, Zhang J, Murphy EA, Zhao L, Steck SE. The Development and Evaluation of a Literature-Based Dietary Index for Gut Microbiota. Nutrients. 2024 Apr 3;16(7):1045. doi: 10.3390/nu16071045. PMID: 38613077; PMCID: PMC11013161.

7. Bharucha AE, Pemberton JH, Locke GR 3rd. American Gastroenterological Association technical review on constipation. Gastroenterology. 2013 Jan;144(1):218-38. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2012.10.028. PMID: 23261065; PMCID: PMC3531555.

8. Christensen S, Robinson K, Thomas S, Williams DR. Dietary intake by patients taking GLP-1 and dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists: A narrative review and discussion of research needs. Obes Pillars. 2024 Jul 25;11:100121. doi: 10.1016/j.obpill.2024.100121. Erratum in: Obes Pillars. 2024 Oct 02;12:100136. doi: 10.1016/j.obpill.2024.100136. PMID: 39175746; PMCID: PMC11340591.

9. Zhang Z, Bi C, Wu R, Qu M. Association of the newly proposed dietary index for gut microbiota and constipation: a cross-sectional study from NHANES. Front Nutr. 2025 Jan 17;12:1529373. doi: 10.3