It’s a known fact that cranberry juice works well against Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), but only a few people know of its other merits, such as providing protection against respiratory tract infections and even cancer.

But ScienceDaily.com reports that low-calorie cranberry juice has one more benefit to add to its already long list of health advantages--it can help bring blood pressure under control.

Recently presented during the American Heart Association's High Blood Pressure Research 2012 Scientific Sessions, the study had its participants measure their blood pressure before being separated into two groups: one drank low-calorie cranberry juice, while the other drank placebo on a daily basis. After eight weeks, the participants’ values were once again checked.

Results showed that those who took low-calorie cranberry juice saw a drop in their blood pressure rates from an average of 121/73mmHg to 118/70mmHg, while those who drank placebo had no visible changes.

According to researchers, the antioxidants which help fight bad cholesterol are the ones responsible for this phenomenon. Antioxidants can be found in many fruits and vegetables, so if you’re not much of a fan of cranberry juice, try adding fruit, tea, wine, and other anitoxidant-rich foods into your daily diet.

(Photo by Andrew Yee via Flickr Creative Commons)