Cranberry is a plant that produces tiny red fruits with a sour taste. Cranberries are edible. They are used not only because of the taste, but also because of its diuretic properties.
There are two main types of food cranberry: bog cranberry and large-fruited cranberry. Due to the abundant harvest, the latter is more often chosen as a cultivated plant.
Cranberries have a very sour taste, so they are most often eaten in the form of candied fruit. Cranberry is also used to make juice and meat sauces.
Cranberry and the treatment of bladder infections
Consuming cranberries – whether in raw form, as well as infusions or juices – is recommended for people with recurring urinary tract infections. It works in two ways – as an antibacterial and a diuretic, which helps to mechanically flush out bacteria deposited on the walls of the bladder.
It has also been proven that the consumption of fresh juice and fruit has a much stronger effect than the consumption of cranberry preserves – lozenges or drinks. However, the antiseptic effect only lasts a few hours, so in order to maintain the effect, you should drink cranberry juice every few hours.
Cranberry and other medical uses
Interestingly, eating cranberries has been shown to protect against cavities as well. It is thanks to its antibacterial properties. Cranberry not only kills pathogens, but also makes it difficult for them to settle on the teeth.
A similar use of the fruit may be found in the treatment of intestinal infections. By the same token, it makes it more difficult for pathogens to attack the tissue. It’s also surprising that cranberries also deal well with viral infections.
Scientists in the United States have observed that the ingredients in cranberries enhance the effects of chemotherapy used in ovarian cancer. This is because the substances in the fruit sensitize cancer cells to platinum – the precious metal that is the basis of chemotherapeutic agents for this type of cancer.