Cranberries are berry good for you

Cranberries have long been used as a remedy for treating urinary tract infections and as a preventative treatment for kidney stones. Cranberry prevents E.coli, the bacteria responsible for more than 90% of urinary tract infections, from adhering to the cells lining the bladder wall. Further research has reported that this effect may be due to a glycoprotein found in the fruit (2).

Cranberries are also powerful antioxidants, and contain high levels of Vitamin C. They contain polyphenol antioxidants, which reduce oxidative stress in the body. Polyphenol antioxidants are associated with a reduction of inflammation, which is a hallmark of several diseases including coronary heart disease and cancer. Researchers have found that a cranberry extract has anticancer potential, specifically by inhibiting cell proliferation. Human tumor lines originating from the breast, colon, skin, lung, and brain were studied. Flavonoids contained in the cranberries had anticancer effects (1).

Researchers at Laval University, Quebec, Canada, investigated flavonoid-rich cranberry juice supplementation on plasma protein lipoprotein levels and LDL oxidation. LDL oxidation is closely implicated in the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). Participants drank 7ml/kg of body weight of cranberry juice every day for 2 weeks. The results showed that the participants had a significant increase in plasma antioxidant capacity, therefore showing promise for cranberry juice in preventing CVD (3).

Cranberries are also helpful at reducing plaque-forming bacteria in the mouth. However, due to the high dextrose and fructose content of most commercially available cranberry juices, pure unsweetened cranberry juice is recommended. More studies are needed to determine the exact ratio of juice to sugar that would still be effective at reducing gingivitis (4).

References

1. Ferguson et al. (2004). A flavonoid fraction from cranberry extract inhibits proliferation of human tumor cell lines. Journal of Nutrition; 134(6): 1529-35.
2. Fortitech; 2006. Schenectady (NY) (online). Available from https://www.fortitech.com/default.aspx?NHIObjectID=100067&TabID=72 [Cited Sept.13, 2007].
3. Ruel et al (2005). Changes in plasma antioxidant capacity and oxidized low-density lipoprotein levels in men after short-term cranberry juice consumption. Metabolism; 54(7): 856-61.
4. Weiss et al. (1998). Inhibiting interspecies coaggregation of plaque bacteria with a cranberry juice constituent. J Am Dent Ass; 129(12): 1719-23.