useful properties and contraindications for women and men, benefits and harm to the human body

Cranberries refers to berries that are rich in antioxidants. It promotes health, protects the cells of the body from free radical damage. Cranberries are often purchased for many reasons. It is able to reduce inflammation in the body, boost immunity, and much more.

The antioxidants found in cranberries are superior to many other berries, fruits and vegetables, including strawberries, spinach, broccoli, and red grapes. It is an amazing fruit that is sold fresh, frozen and dried. It is most commonly used in foods such as juices, sauces, jellies, baked goods, and tea.

Researchers believe that cranberries contain substances that prevent bacteria that cause infection from attaching to the walls of the urinary tract. Cranberries are also an excellent source of many important vitamins and nutrients, including vitamin C, manganese, and fiber. The health benefits of cranberries are invaluable.

General benefits

More than 15 million urinary tract infections occur in the United States each year. The infection causes symptoms of frequent, urgent or painful urination, and sometimes abdominal pain, blood in the urine. Most UTIs are caused by harmful bacteria called E. coli. The benefits of cranberries come from compounds that help keep certain bacteria (such as E. coli) from adhering to the walls of the urinary tract.

The traditional preventative recommendation to prevent UTIs is to drink one to two glasses of 100 percent pure, unsweetened, or lightly sweetened cranberry juice daily. Research shows that women who drink cranberry juice frequently are less likely to suffer from symptomatic urinary tract infections.

Some researchers believe that some of the antioxidants in cranberries alter bacteria so that they cannot adhere to the urinary tract; others believe that cranberries create a slippery coating on the walls of the urinary tract that prevents sticking. One study looked at women who had urinary tract infections caused by bacteria.

Women who drank 50 ml of cranberry-lingonberry juice concentrate every day for six months reduced their risk of contracting a UTI by 20% compared to women who did not. Another study found that older adults who ate cranberry products had a 2-fold decrease in urinary bacteria and leukocyte counts, which could be indicative of urinary tract infections.

The third study included 20 women with recurrent UTIs. They consumed one serving of sweetened and dried cranberries daily for two weeks. More than half of the patients did not experience a UTI within six months of consuming sweetened, dried cranberries, and the average UTI over six months dropped significantly. The results of this study confirm the beneficial effects of eating cranberries.

Antioxidants are found in foods that are rich in color, such as the deep red color of cranberries or the blue / purple color of blueberries. These berries help fight free radicals due to their high antioxidant content, but cranberries turn out to be one of the best natural sources.

Inflammation occurs when the body’s immune system is operating at maximum capacity, trying to rid the body of toxins that accumulate due to an unhealthy diet, environmental pollution, etc. A diet low in antioxidants leads to an abundance of free radicals in the body. Free radicals are, in fact, a natural by-product that our bodies create with our daily activities.

Our body always produces free radicals, but when too many of them are formed, they become uncontrollable and can damage DNA, cell membranes and enzymes. Eating a complete and balanced diet reduces your risk of cancer, improves brain function, improves cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and decreases your risk of developing diabetes and autoimmune diseases such as arthritis.

This is due to the fact that these berries can help slow the progression of tumors in both humans and animals. Due to its unique structure, cranberry’s antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients appear to be ideal for reducing the risk of some common cancers.

Antioxidants are needed to optimize health by fighting free radicals that can damage cell structures as well as DNA. Evidence from various studies shows that the high levels of antioxidant flavonoids found in cranberries and blueberries can help stop the development of age-related diseases through their ability to limit oxidative stress.

This is why these are some of the most popular cancer-fighting foods.

This is important because, unfortunately, many people experience high levels of oxidative stress from ongoing inflammation caused by poor nutrition, mental stress, and an unhealthy environment.

Proanthocyanidins belong to a larger class of polyphenols that are commonly found in berries and other fresh fruits and juices. These powerful polyphenols are capable of nurturing the microflora of the gut, where most of the immune system actually resides. This creates a powerful shell of beneficial bacteria that can protect the body from any disease.

Also unique is the combination of three antioxidant nutrients found in cranberries: resveratrol, risoatannol and pterostilbene. Several studies have shown that there is a unique synergy between these nutrients. The phytonutrients in cranberries only provide maximum antioxidant benefits when consumed in combination with each other.

And also only when consumed alongside common antioxidant nutrients that are also found in cranberries, such as manganese and vitamin C.

When processing berries or fruits disrupts this combination of antioxidants, the benefits are diminished. Therefore, cranberries are most beneficial when eaten in their natural form or in a very high quality extract.

Recent research has shown that cranberries help optimize the balance of bacteria throughout the digestive tract. It works in a similar way to the probiotics found in kombucha, kefir or yogurt, which create a healthy intestinal flora.

The benefits of cranberries for the digestive system are undeniable due to their ability to balance bacteria in the body, reducing harmful ones and promoting the growth of beneficial ones. It not only relieves symptoms such as constipation and diarrhea, but also helps boost immunity and nutrient absorption.

The antioxidant benefits of cranberries have been linked to a reduced risk of various markers of heart disease, including high blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol levels. Cranberries are a natural way to help lower your risk of heart attack or stroke because they dilate blood vessels, reduce inflammation, and improve blood flow.

Compared to many arterial and heart medications, which can cause complications in some people, cranberries are practically free of any serious side effects. Many studies show that positive changes in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure are observed in patients taking cranberry extract or consuming fresh cranberries.

Cranberries are also an excellent source of vitamin C, which helps lower blood pressure. Cranberries contain 18% of the daily requirement of this vitamin.

Recent studies have shown that cranberries, consumed in their natural form, provide better cardiovascular and liver protection than processed cranberries, which are in liquid or dried form.

Benefits for women

Skin Benefits

Rinse your face with warm water and dry gently. This mixture prevents the formation of oily sheen on the face. Cranberry juice can also be mixed with honey. This mask should be kept on the face for about 20 minutes, then washed off with warm water. This mask perfectly tones the skin.

Stir all ingredients. Place the mask in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. Gently mash the cranberries and stir again. Let the mixture cool to room temperature. When decanting the mixture, remove the cranberry pieces. Now apply a small amount of this mass to your lips. Your lips will become hydrated, which will help them stay healthy.

To prepare a face mask, mix cranberry juice with a little honey. Add orange peel powder to the mixture and mix thoroughly. Apply the mask to your face and leave it on for 20 minutes. In addition, cranberries can also be eaten, they will act from the inside, and the effect will be the same.

Hair Benefits

Benefits for men

Harm and contraindications

Chemical composition of the product

Nutritional value of cranberries (100 g) and percentage of daily value:

conclusions

Cranberries have one of the highest concentrations of antioxidants. Some of the most powerful antioxidants in cranberries include anthocyanins, quercetin, benzoic acid, and epicatechins. While cooked cranberries have many health benefits, they are best consumed fresh.

Its nutrients, including vitamins, antioxidants and enzymes, are believed to be unable to withstand the temperature used in baking, which is typically around 180 ° C.

Sources of Research

The main studies on the benefits and dangers of cranberries have been carried out by foreign doctors and scientists. Below you can find the primary sources of research on the basis of which this article was written:

Additional useful information about cranberries

How to use

Cranberries are often processed into foods such as juices, canned sauces, sweet jams, and sweetened dried cranberries, which kill many of their nutrients and are also high in refined sugars. It will be much more useful to cook the cranberries yourself.

How to choose

• When choosing cranberries, be sure to choose fresh berries.
• The color of the fruit should be dark red.
• Good quality cranberries should be firm to the touch.
• The deeper the color of the cranberry, the higher the concentration of beneficial anthocyanin compounds.
• Dried cranberries are easy to find at any grocery store, look under the dried fruit or nuts section.
• If you buy cranberries from the market, pay attention to the integrity of the fruit.
• Good cranberries have round, intact and firm fruits.

How to store

• Cranberries can be kept in the refrigerator for about 20 days, or they can be kept frozen.
• Spread the cranberries evenly on a baking sheet and store in the freezer.
• After defrosting, the berries will become soft, so you should eat them as soon as possible.
• Frozen cranberries can also be purchased at grocery stores for a lower price.
• Store cranberry leaves in a cool, dry and dark place.
• Do not store cranberries at room temperature.
• In private houses, you can use the ancient way of storing cranberries – in barrels of water, so they are perfectly preserved until spring.

History of occurrence

Cranberries have been cultivated since 1816. At that time, an amateur gardener Henry Hall (USA) accidentally discovered that cranberries sprinkled with sand bear fruit the best one that is not sprinkled. This is how the first attempts to cultivate cranberries were born.

The first plantation for industrial cultivation of cranberries was established in 1833. Since then, the cultivation of cranberries began to develop at a rapid pace. In Russia, the first plantation was organized at the end of the XNUMXth century in the St. Petersburg Botanical Garden. However, at the beginning of the twentieth century, research on the properties of cranberries was discontinued.

Interest in this berry was revived only in the 60s and 70s of the 1th century. It began to be cultivated not only in Russia, but also in the republics of the former USSR (Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus). Nowadays, on the territory of the former USSR, most of all cranberries are grown in Belarus. In this country, plantations occupy 3-XNUMX hectares.

In Russia, there is only one large cranberry plantation, it is located in the Kostroma region. In 2017, in Russia, in the Arkhangelsk region, the creation of the world’s first swamp cranberry plantation began.

How and where is it grown

Cranberry bushes are capable of forming rugs, spreading over the moss and intertwining with shoots. Cranberries are harvested in summer, autumn and spring. Most often it is harvested in the fall. A distinctive feature of this berry is its ability to overwinter on a plant. It is not damaged by frost, but only accumulates sugar.

Interesting Facts

• In 1964, a postage stamp with the image of a cranberry was issued in the USSR.
• Cranberries are depicted on the coat of arms of the Swiss commune of Besenburen.
• Since the 1980s, cranberry syrup has been used to simulate blood in the film industry.
• Collecting cranberries by hand harvesters in the protected areas is strictly prohibited.
• In the United States these days, the cranberry plantation is a typical family business.
• The Delaware Indians had a legend that cranberries grew only in places of battle of ancient giants, i.e. where their blood was shed.
• Cranberry is a berry of peat, tundra and sphagnum bogs.
• The age of cranberries ranges from 12 thousand to 400 million years.
• A good ripe cranberry will bounce if it falls on a hard surface.
• Some cranberry bushes are over 100 years old.
• In 1912, cranberry sauce was first canned.
• The cranberry has been the official berry of Massachusetts since 1994.
• The cranberry got its name from the Greek words “sharp, sour” and “spherical”, ie literally “sour ball”.
• Each year, one small cranberry bush produces 200-300 berries.