Cranberry is a relatively small, red berry which grows on low-creeping vines with slender stems in certain regions of the United States, Canada and other parts of the world. Cranberry is a member of the same family of plants as bilberry and blueberry. Historically, Native Americans used cranberries to relieve a variety of ailments from simple stomachaches to pain associated with cancer. Extensive research has shown that little cranberries offer mega health benefits.
Cranberry juice is a tasty but slightly bitter and tart, refreshing fruit drink and it is also quite healthy. For health benefits, cranberry juice should be 100% juice with no preservatives or artificial contents of any sort. Cranberries are a good source of vitamins A, B complex, C, Folic Acid and Fiber. They also provide minerals such as Calcium, Iron, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium and Sulfur and organic acids as well as various other phytonutrients. Cranberries contain bioflavanoids (plant pigments), which help repair damaged molecules formed when the body uses up oxygen. Hippuric acid contained in Cranberries has the natural antibiotic ingredients to fight off harmful bacteria within the body. Cranberries contain more antioxidants than any other fruit.
Recent studies have suggested that cranberry juice's effectiveness in controlling Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), most problematic in older women, lies in its ability to prevent bacteria from sticking to the lining of the urinary tract where they can multiply and cause infection. The old belief was that cranberries could cause urine to become more acidic whereas bacteria favor an alkaline medium for growth thus preventing bacterial growth thereby preventing or treating recurrent UTIs.
According to researchers at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, a study in 2002 suggests that cranberry juice may inhibit a type of bacteria that is a common cause of ear and respiratory infections in children.
Cranberries are among the top foods with proven health benefits, according to Amy Howell, a researcher at Rutgers University. Cranberries are full of antioxidants, which protect cells from damage by unstable molecules called free radicals.
University of Rochester findings showed that cranberry juice stops harmful bacteria from sticking to the teeth as well thereby preventing the formation of plaque responsible for tooth decay and gum disease. Other studies have found cranberries to be beneficial in protecting the heart from cardiovascular disease, decrease in total blood cholesterol with consumption of low-calorie cranberry juice, an increase in high density lipoprotein (HDL, or the good cholesterol) using cranberry juice cocktail. Cranberry juice contains high levels of organic acids, which have an emulsifying effect upon fat deposits, thereby helping you reduce excess fat. Drinking pure cranberry juice or taking capsules made with pure cranberry extract may be an excellent preventive step for avoiding bladder infections.
