Cranberries

Unique, wild and natural by habitat, cranberries are rich in phyto-nutrients (naturally derived plant compounds), particularly proanthocyanidin antioxidants, which are essential for all-round wellness. The berries are indeed containing numerous chemical substances that may offer protection from tooth cavities, urinary tract infection, and inflammatory diseases. This berry-plant is described as an evergreen dwarf, creeping shrub or a low-lying trailing vine, belongingain the family of ericaceae, in the genus: vaccinium, and subgenus: oxycoccos.

In their natural habitat, the plant grows vigorously in acidic sandy bogs throughout the cooler parts of the europe, northern states in the united states and canada. The plant is actually a dwarf, creeping shrub, or vine, which runs upto 10 to 20 cm in height. It features slender, wiry, not so thick, woody stems bearing small, evergreen leaves. Cranberry season generally lasts from october until december. The fruit is small, round, red color berry. Each berry features four centrally situated tiny seeds enclosed inside capsules. The berry is very acidic in taste, having ph in the range of 2.3 to 2.5.

Delicious, tart cranberries hold significantly high amounts of phenolic flavonoid phytochemicals called pro-anthocyanidins (pacas). Scientific studies have shown that consumption of berries have potential health benefits against cancer, aging and neurological diseases, inflammation, diabetes, and bacterial infections.

Antioxidant compounds in cranberries such as oligomeric proanthocyanidins (opcas), anthocyanidin flavonoids, cyanidin, peonidin and quercetin may prevent cardiovascular disease by counteracting against cholesterol plaque formation inathe heart and blood vessels. Further, these compounds help the human body lower ldl cholesterol levels and increase hdl-good cholesterol levels in the blood.

Research studies show that cranberry juice consumption offers protection against gram-negative bacterial infections such as e.coli in the urinary system by inhibiting bacterial-attachment to the bladder and urethra.

Consumption of cranberries turns urine acidic. This, together with the inhibition of bacterialaadhesion property of cranberry juice, helps prevent the formation of alkaline (calcium ammonium phosphate) stones in the urinary tract by working against proteus bacterial-infections.

Further, the berries prevent plaque formation on the tooth enamel by interfering with the ability of another gram-negative bacterium, streptococcus mutans, to stick to the surface. It thus helps prevent development of cavities in a way similar to preventing urinary tract infections.

In addition, the berries are also good source of many vitamins like vitamin c, vitamin a, b-carotene, lutein, zea-xanthin, and folate and minerals like potassium, and manganese.

Oxygen radical absorbance capacity or orac (measurement of antioxidant strength of food items) demonstrates cranberry at an orac score of 9584 amol te units per 100 g, one of the highest in the category of edible berries.