Cranberry:
Cranberries are a traditional part of the Thanksgiving feast in
America, where V. macrocarpon is part of the native flora.
Recent interest in cranberries, however, goes beyond sauce or
relish.
A traditional women's belief (or old wives' tale) that cranberry
juice can be beneficial for urinary tract infections was
discounted by doctors until a study was published in the Journal
of the American Medical Association in 1994. Score one for the
old wives! This placebo-controlled, double-blind trial showed
that drinking cranberry juice cocktail definitely reduced elderly
women's risk of urinary tract infection. Ocean Spray provided
both the cranberry juice and the look-alike, taste-alike,
cranberry-free placebo juice.
Recent scientific research shows that cranberries and cranberry
products contain significant amounts of antioxidants and other
phytonutrients that may help protect against heart disease,
cancer and other diseases
Cranberries are too tart to be palatable without sweetening, but
cranberry juice cocktail products have become quite popular.
Some people concerned about their intake of sugar have turned
to dried cranberry capsules, although there are no studies yet to
confirm that these are equally as active as juice.
The part of the plant that is used is the berry. Cranberries are
very rich in anthocyanins. They also contain fructose (fruit
sugar) and small amounts of vitamin C and fiber. Other
constituents include catechins and triterpenoids, as well as
malic, citric, and quinic acids. Cranberry also contains an
unidentified factor that counteracts bacterial chemicals known
as adhesins.
The principal use of cranberry juice is to prevent urinary tract infections. The antiadhesin activity of cranberry juice seems to
keep bacteria from getting a foothold in the lining of the urinary tract. Some women claim that drinking large quantities of
cranberry juice at the first symptoms of cystitis can stop an infection. In most instances, though, once an infection has begun
and is causing pain and urgent urination, it requires medical treatment. Cranberry juice has been used infrequently in
conjunction with antibiotics to treat chronic kidney inflammation. Cranberry juice has also been used in nursing homes to
keep the urine of incontinent patients from developing an unpleasant ammonia-like smell. Evidently cranberry juice is able to
inhibit the growth of the bacteria that degrade urine to ammonia. Test tube research at the University of Wisconsin suggests
that cranberry juice may help keep LDL cholesterol from oxidizing. If confirmed, this activity would help prevent the
development of cholesterol plaques in arteries.
The dose used in the double-blind prevention trial mentioned above was 300 ml (approximately 10 fluid ounces) per day. In
acute urinary tract infections, up to 32 fluid ounces daily may be consumed.
The cranberry is a firm, red berry, native to North America. High in vitamin C, it has a distinctive tart, berry flavour.
Traditionally used as a sauce to accompany turkey at Thanksgiving and Christmas, the cranberry's popularity has exploded
in the last decade in both the beverage and baked goods markets. Cranberries are seen everywhere now in snacks,
condiments and savoury dishes. Easy to use fresh, frozen or dried, it's a year-round berry loaded with goodness.
Recent studies have shown that cranberries contain ingredients that help control urinary tract infections. This has changed
the lives of many women who now drink cranberry juice on a daily basis. The discovery also meant a huge boost for
cranberry markets, which have since soared to new heights.
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