Nutrition Stop - Health Food - Crazy for Cranberries

Crazy for Cranberries

Cranberries—that tiny gem like globe is packed to bursting with health benefits far
exceeding those of many other fruits. Lots of vitamin C and dietary fiber, yes, but
so much more. You may know that people drink cranberry juice to prevent and help treat urinary
tract infections. But the beneficial effects of cranberries are astonishingly varied:
they promote gastrointestinal and oral health; lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL
(“good”) cholesterol; aid in stroke recovery by improving blood vessel function; inhibit
kidney stone formation; and possibly even help ward off cancer. More recent
studies suggest that cranberries may hold promise for those with herpes simplex virus
and peptic ulcer.

Cranberries appear to work medicinally by keeping bacteria and other germs from
sticking to various parts of your anatomy (for example, the bladder wall and gums).
Certain compounds in cranberries also seem to act as natural probiotics by supporting
healthy bacterial growth in the gut. With five times the antioxidants of broccoli
and higher levels of polyphenols than 19 other common fruits (including apples,
strawberries and grapes), cranberries are fierce warriors for cardiovascular health.
Proanthocyanidins, a particular group of antioxidants found in cranberries and
grape seeds, have been shown to inhibit cancer cell proliferation, particularly those
cells associated with breast cancer.