Cranberry

Cranberry = cranberry = large-fruited cranberry = Vaccinium macrocarpon

When the Pilgrim Fathers landed on the coast of Cape Cod in New England in 1620, they were threatened with starvation. They were only saved when the local Indians showed them how to live off the native plants and game. After the Pilgrim Fathers had survived the first hard year, they prepared a feast of wild turkey, cranberries, pumpkin and cornbread together with the Indians and celebrated the first Thanksgiving in 1621. Cranberries were highly prized among the American Indians, not only for their nutritional value, but also for their healing properties. Wounds were washed with cranberry juice. Medicine men prepared cranberry poultices to draw the poison out of arrow wounds. The North American Indians also used cranberries for decorative purposes, such as dyeing feathers, blankets, clothing and hair. During the long whaling voyages, the cargo holds of American ships were full of cranberries, which the sailors used to prevent the dangerous scurvy. Cranberries contain vitamin C and their natural wax coating meant that they could be kept for a long time.

Nutritional value and ingredients 100 g fresh cranberries contain 52 kcal/ 218 kJ 2 mg sodium 56 mg potassium 6 mg phosphorus 7.5-10.5 mg vitamin C

Antioxidants and secondary plant substances.

The health-promoting properties of cranberries have long been known in the USA and are part of folklore. Native Americans used cranberries to heal wounds and dye fabrics. Sailors took the berries with them on whaling voyages to prevent scurvy. Various new and recent scientific studies have shown that the ingredients in cranberries are beneficial for maintaining the health of the human body in many areas. For example, the use of cranberry juice has proven to be particularly effective in the prevention of urinary tract infections. Current studies suggest consuming one glass (250 ml) of cranberry juice twice a day, morning and evening. RESEARCH RESULTS ON THE HEALTH-PRESERVING EFFECT OF CERTAIN ACTIVE INGREDIENTS IN THE NORTH AMERICAN CRANBERRY Since 1984, many studies have confirmed the various health-preserving properties of the North American cranberry, in particular the "anti-adhesion" effect on certain bacteria. Ocean Spray Cranberry Classic fruit juice drink contains natural active ingredients called proanthocyanidins, which are thought to be responsible for preventing the adhesion of bacteria in the urinary tract and thus helping to keep the urinary tract healthy. In other words, proanthocyanidins render certain dangerous bacteria in the body "incapable of fighting" so that these "bacilli" cannot take hold. Initial scientific findings on cranberries were limited to keeping the urinary tract healthy. More recent scientific findings indicate that cranberries also contain protective factors for health in other parts of the body. While these studies are still at an early stage, it is interesting to consider cranberries as a promising tool in the natural fight against bacteria.

January 2004 - Cochrane Database Systematic Reviews

The Cochrane Collaboration published a review and analysis of studies confirming that there is some evidence that cranberry juice can reduce the number of symptomatic urinary tract infections in women. The Cochrane Collaboration is a UK-based not-for-profit organization whose mission is to help people make well-informed decisions about health care by developing systematic reviews of the effects of health care interventions. Jepson RG, Mihaljevic L, Craig J. Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections. Cochrane Library 2004; 1:1-19

August 2004 - National Meeting of the American Chemical Society

Researchers from Rutgers and the University of Wisconsin investigated the anti-adhesion properties of cranberry fruit juice beverage compared to other foods containing proanthocyanidins (PACs). In this clinical study with humans, they found that only the consumption of Cranberry Cocktail fruit juice drink (in Germany: Cranberry Classic) triggered microbial anti-adhesion activity in the urine. Grape and apple juices, green tea and chocolate were also tested and did not generate anti-adhesion activity. The researchers found that cranberry proanthocyanidins have a unique structure that is the reason for these unique microbial anti-adhesion properties. Howell AB, Reed JD, McEniry B, Krueger CG, Cunningham DG. Bacterial anti-adhesion activity of cranberry vs. other foods, American Chemical Society National Meeting 2004.

June 2004 - Journal of Oral Microbiology Immunology

Laboratory studies conducted at Tokyo Dental College in Chiba, Japan provide additional evidence of the anti-adhesion properties of cranberry against strains of oral bacteria such as streptococci and biofilm formation. These results show that components of cranberry can help to reduce oral bacteria on the tooth surface and thus slow down the development of dental plaque. Yamanaka A, Kimizuka R, Kato T, Okuda K. Inhibitory effects of cranberry juice on attachment of oral streptococci and biofilm formation. Journal of Oral Microbiol Immunology 2004; 19(3):150-154.

June 2004 - Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy

This clinical study from Israel investigated the effect of mouthwash cranberry extracts on oral hygiene. The study showed that after 6 weeks of daily use of cranberry mouthwash by an experimental group, both certain oral pathogens (Streptococcus mutans) and the total number of bacteria were significantly reduced. Additional in vitro work indicated that the ability to reduce these pathogens in vivo was due to the anti-adhesion activities of the constituents in the cranberry. Steinberg D, Feldman M, Ofek I, Weiss EI. Effect of a high-molecular-weight component of cranberry on constituents of dental biofilm. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 2004; 1093-1096.

March 2005 - Helicobacter

This clinical study found that daily consumption of cranberry juice suppressed H. pylori infections in the study participants. The authors summarized this study by stating that regular consumption of cranberry juice can prevent H. pylori infections in adults. Daily consumption of cranberry juice may be a promising new tool in the global fight against this infection. Zhang L, Ma J, Pan K, Go V, Chen J, You W. Efficacy of Cranberry Juice on Helicobacter pylori Infection: a Double-Blind, Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial. Helicobacter 2005; 10:139-145.

October 2004 - Canadian Cardiovascular Society Annual Congress

A clinical trial at Laval University in Quebec City, Canada, found that a glass of Cranberry Light fruit juice drink improved circulation by raising HDL or 'good cholesterol' levels in the bloodstream. Thirty men with slightly elevated cholesterol levels took daily increasing doses of Cranberry Light fruit juice drink. Among the study participants, an increase in HDL cholesterol levels of 6.4 percent was observed. Couillard C. Canadian Cardiovascular Society Annual Congress Meeting, October 23-27, 2004, Calgary, Alberta.

November 2001 - Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry

This study found that cranberries have a high antioxidant content compared to other fruits. Based on fresh weight, cranberries had the highest concentration of both polyphenols and free phenols of 20 fruits analyzed. Vinson JA, Su X, Zubik L, Bose P. Phenol Antioxidant Quantity and Quality in Foods: Fruits. Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry 2001; 49:5315-5321.

December 2002 - Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry

This study found that cranberries have the highest total antioxidant activity of all commercially available fruits. The authors found that phytochemicals, and especially phenolics, in fruits and vegetables are thought to be the primary bioactive agents for maintaining health. Sun J, Chu YG, Wu X Liu RH. Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Activities of Common Fruits. Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry 2002: 50;7449-7454.

Safety and side effects

Cranberry products are probably safe and harmless for most people. Cranberry juice and cranberry extracts have been used safely in scientific studies. Cranberry juice is probably safe and safe for children. However, consuming too much cranberry juice can cause some side effects including mild stomach upset and diarrhea. Consuming more than one liter per day over an extended period of time could increase the risk of kidney stones.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Cranberries and cranberry juice are safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding. However, pregnant and breastfeeding women should not use supplements containing cranberry products, as it is not known whether they are safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Aspirin allergy: Cranberries contain significant amounts of salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is similar to aspirin. For this reason, you should avoid large amounts of cranberry juice if you are allergic to aspirin.

Diabetes: Some cranberry juices are sweetened with added sugar. If you suffer from diabetes, you should stick to cranberry products sweetened with artificial sweeteners.

Kidney stones: Cranberry juice and cranberry extracts contain a large amount of a chemical known as oxalate. In fact, there is evidence that some cranberry extract tablets can increase urinary oxalate levels by up to 43%. Since kidney stones are primarily composed of oxalate in combination with calcium, doctors are concerned that cranberry products may increase the risk of kidney stones. If you suffer from kidney stones or are prone to kidney stones, you should avoid cranberry extract products and large amounts of cranberry juice.

Interactions

Care should be taken when using cranberry products in combination with the following medications:

Medications that are broken down by the liver (cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) substrates).

Some drugs are broken down by the liver. Cranberry products may affect the rate at which the liver breaks down certain medications. Taking cranberry products in conjunction with medications that are broken down by the liver may increase the effects and side effects of some medications. For this reason, you should consult your doctor before taking cranberry products if you are taking medication that is broken down by the liver.