A 2001 study ranked Cranberry as the number one antioxidant protector against disease. Researchers compared several of the most common fruits, and found that these little red berries contained the highest quantity of disease-fighting phenols. Phenols are a type of antioxidant that is thought to reduce the risk of many common diseases. The study represents one of the most comprehensive investigations to date into the quantity and quality of antioxidants in fruits.

Cranberries have five times the antioxidant content of broccoli. On top of this, there is their value in reducing the risk of Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs). Once only anecdotal, this tale has now been confirmed by at least eight scientific studies. This is because between 80-90% of UTIs are caused by E. coli bacteria. Research shows that cranberries help to keep E. Coli from adhering to the urinary tract walls.

Since the UTI research, further studies have suggested that cranberries may also reduce the risk of gum disease and stomach ulcers, and help relieve gout.