How to Get a Flat Stomach With Cranberry Juice

There's no secret to getting a flat stomach — it takes proper diet and regular exercise, a combination that creates a daily caloric deficit to help you lose total body fat. Cranberry juice, which is rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, can be a healthy addition to a nutritious diet and a substitute for sugary sodas, but it will not give you a flat stomach on its own. Incorporate cranberry juice into your diet and exercise regimen for best results.

Cranberry juice is a good source of many essential nutrients, and it is chock-full of antioxidants that boost the immune system and protect against disease. According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, 1 cup of unsweetened cranberry juice contains 23.5 milligrams of vitamin C, almost one-third of the recommended daily allowance for adult females, and almost one-fourth of the RDA for adult males. Cranberry juice is also a good source of vitamins E and K, as well as polyphenols, plant compounds that may help prevent cancer. With 30.61 grams of sugar in a 1-cup serving, cranberry juice is not a low-calorie drink.

Many store-bought brands of cranberry juice contain added sugar, because unsweetened cranberry juice is very acidic and not palatable to many people. Sugar-sweetened varieties should be avoided, especially by those wishing to lose weight and get a flat tummy. However, even unsweetened cranberry juice is high in sugar. Dieters looking to take advantage of the nutrients in cranberry juice should limit their intake or dilute the juice with plain or mineral water to avoid taking in excess calories from sugar. Because the sugars in cranberry juice are fruit sugars, the drink may be a viable substitute for sodas and other drinks sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup.

The best way to get a flat stomach is to eat a nutritious diet of whole foods and engage in regular cardiovascular exercise and strength training. Focus on eating whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, fresh fish, legumes, and nuts and seeds in moderation. Limit your intake of sugary beverages and fruit juices, such as cranberry juice, because excess sugar not burned off through exercise is stored as fat in the body. Get at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise, such as brisk walking, running or swimming, most days of the week, and engage in strength training at least two times per week. Unsweetened cranberry juice diluted with plain or mineral water can be a refreshing way to replenish fluids and nutrients after a vigorous workout.

Besides boosting the immune system and protecting against cancer, cranberry juice has long been touted as an effective prevention for urinary-tract infections. According to MedlinePlus, cranberries contain chemicals that inhibit bacteria from attaching to the cells that line the urinary tract, which prevents the bacteria from multiplying. If you are prone to urinary-tract infections, the University of Maryland Medical Center suggests drinking 3 ounces or more of pure, unsweetened cranberry juice per day; however, you should consult your health-care practitioner for individual dosing information. Because of its high sugar content, using cranberry juice to prevent urinary-tract infections could impede your weight-loss progress, so other low-calorie treatments should be considered.