Cranberries

Health Benefits of Cranberries

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High in Antioxidants

High in Antioxidants

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Cranberries take center stage during the holidays, but this cousin of the blueberry, huckleberry, and lingonberry is good for you all year long. Cranberries are high in antioxidants that lower inflammation, which is linked to conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Cavity Fighters

Cavity Fighters

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Originally named “crane berry” because their blossoms looked like the head of a Sandhill crane, cranberries have large amounts of polyphenols. Polyphenols are plant micronutrients that stop bacteria from growing. When you eat a cranberry, the polyphenols stay in your saliva even after you’ve chewed and swallowed. There, they help prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer.

Gut Protectors

Gut Protectors

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Cranberries are one of the only fruits to have A-type proanthocyanidins, which help stop gut infections before they start. These polyphenols help keep your gut flora healthy and prevent H. pylori infection, which can cause gastric ulcers. They also give cranberries their bright red color.

Good Source of Fiber

Good Source of Fiber

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Cranberries grow in bogs, which are marshes of layered sand, peat, and gravel formed by glaciers thousands of years ago. The bog protects this unique fruit which contains large amounts of healthy fiber. One cup of fresh cranberries has 5 grams of fiber to help your body absorb sugar more slowly, prevent constipation,  and make you feel full faster.

High in Vitamin C

High in Vitamin C

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One cup of raw cranberries packs 14.6 mg of vitamin C per serving — about 25% of your daily requirement. In the 1600s, cranberries became popular with European settlers for keeping scurvy away, though native peoples first used them as both food and medicine.

Heart Helpers

Heart Helpers

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The health benefits of cranberries are still being studied. Early research shows that the cholesterol-, fat-, and sodium-free fruit may lower your “bad” cholesterol and raise your “good” cholesterol, helpful for better blood pressure and heart function.

The UTI Myth

The UTI Myth

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Many people think cranberries can prevent and cure urinary tract infections (UTIs). But there is not strong science to back this up. The A-type proanthocyanidins in cranberries help stop bacteria from sticking to bladder cells in the lab, but more studies are needed to see if this works in the human body. Cranberries might not have enough of this compound to prevent infection. Cranberries can’t cure a UTI once it starts.

Potential Drug Interactions

Potential Drug Interactions

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If you take blood thinners like warfarin (Coumadin) or aspirin, talk to your doctor before eating cranberries, drinking cranberry juice, or taking a cranberry supplement. Both cranberries and these medications contain salicylic acid, which can cause bleeding.

Raw Cranberries Are Healthiest

Raw Cranberries Are Healthiest

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Because they taste more bitter than sweet, raw cranberries are less popular than dried cranberries and cranberry juice, but they’re better for you. One cup of raw cranberries has 4 grams of natural sugar. Meanwhile, a cup of dried cranberries has about 25 grams of added sugar, and one cup of cranberry juice has 25–30 grams of added sugar. If you have dried cranberries or cranberry juice, balance them out with low-sugar foods.

How to Select and Store Cranberries

How to Select and Store Cranberries

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Fresh cranberries are in season from October through January: More than 1.3 billion pounds are harvested every year. Look for fresh cranberries that are firm and plump, and avoid any that are soft or brown. Store them in the bag they came in (or another sealed bag) in your refrigerator’s crisper for up to 2 months. Don’t wash cranberries until you’re ready to use them.

Ways to Eat Cranberries

Ways to Eat Cranberries

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To reap the benefits of this superfood, try tossing a handful of dried berries in salads, oatmeal, or cookies. For more sweetness without added sugar, pair raw cranberries with apples in pies, fruit salsas, and relishes. You can also make your own cranberry sauce. Bring 1 cup of water and up to 1 cup of sugar to a boil; add 12 ounces of rinsed cranberries. Add spices like clove or cinnamon to taste; cook for 10 minutes. Cool before serving.

Too Much of a Good Thing

Too Much of a Good Thing

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Cranberries in all forms are usually safe for people who don’t have certain health conditions. They’re high in oxalate, a natural plant compound that could increase your risk for certain kinds of kidney stones. If you have a history of kidney stones, ask your doctor before eating or drinking a lot of cranberry products. If you have diabetes, check the sugar content, as some are high in sweeteners.

Cranberries

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Cranberries are an excellent source of vitamin C, A, and beta carotene. They are packed with antioxidants and rate very high on the ORAC scale making it an ideal anti-aging and memory enhancing food. Cranberries have amazing anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties and are a vital food and supplement for anyone struggling with any chronic illness or disease. They are known to significantly boost the immune system and have a natural antibiotic effect in the body. Cranberries contain one of nature’s most potent vasodilators which opens up congested bronchial tubes and pathways making it essential for healing any respiratory condition. Cranberries are very high in tannic acids which gives them there powerful ability to protect and heal urinary tract, bladder, and kidney infections. These tannic acids are made up of compounds called proanthocyanidins which essentially coats the infection forming bacteria, such as E.coli and H.Pylori, with a slick cover and prevents them from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract and digestive tract. Since the bacteria are unable to attach themselves to anything they are flushed out of the system and unable to cause any infection or harm. This anti-adhesion ability also help to prevent stomach ulcers, gum disease, and cavities. This ability also helps to prevent cardiovascular disease by stopping cholesterol plaque formation in the heart and blood vessels and by lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol and increasing HDL (good) cholesterol levels in the blood. Cranberry juice has also been shown to increase the desirable “friendly” bacteria in the digestive tract which benefits digestive disorders such as IBS, colitis, gastritis, indigestion, gas, bloating, and constipation. Cranberry juice has also been known to help treat diaper rash by reducing pH levels in the diaper and thereby reducing irritation. Native Americans commonly ate their cranberries simmered in honey or maple syrup or sun-dried and mixed with nuts to last them through the winter months. Fresh cranberries can be added to salads, smoothies, fresh juices, and fruit and nut salads or cooked down into the classic cranberry sauce. Sun-dried cranberries are an excellent addition to trail mixes, hot or cold breakfast cereals, grain & vegetables dishes, and wholesome baked goods. Sun-dried cranberries can also be made into a medicinal tea by soaking in water overnight. Pure cranberry juice can be taken straight or mixed with spring water, coconut water, or apple or grape juice to receive its healing benefits. Cranberry extracts can also be found in capsule and tincture form online and in your local health food store for year-round use. 

Medical Medium's photo.

8 Best Foods to Eat For Healthy Teeth

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There are far more than eight foods for healthy teeth, but I’ve found these to work especially well to prevent and even reverse tooth decay and gum disease in the long-term.


1. Butter Oil
Butter Oil, is a key ingredient to re-enameling teeth because it contains certain fats and activating substances that help bond the nutrients in the body to the bones. The butter must be organic from cows or goats eating rapidly growing green grasses.

2. Raisins
Naturally sweet, raisins don’t contain sucrose, or table sugar. Sugar helps bacteria stick to the tooth surface, letting them produce plaque. Raisins are also a source of phytochemicals, which may kill cavity-causing plaque bacteria. Some compounds in raisins also affect the growth of bacteria associated with gum disease.

3. High Vitamin Cod Liver Oil
This marvelous golden oil contains large amounts of elongated omega-3 fatty acids, preformed vitamin A and the sunlight vitamin D, essential nutrients that are hard to obtain in sufficient amounts in the modern diet. Samples may also naturally contain small amounts of the important bone- and blood-maintainer vitamin K. In numerous studies, the elongated omega-3 fats found in cod liver oil have been shown to improve brain function, memory, stress response, immune response, allergies, asthma, learning and behavioral disorders, including bipolar syndrome and manic-depression.

4. Tea
Compounds called polyphenols, found in black and green teas, slow the growth of bacteria associated with cavities and gum disease. Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago found that people who rinsed their mouths with black tea for one minute, 10 times a day, had less plaque buildup on their teeth than people who rinsed their mouths with water. What’s more, the size and stickness of their plaque was reduced. Tea undermines the ability of some bacteria to clump together with other bacteria, the researchers said.

5. Coconut Oil
The human body converts the lauric acid found in coconut oil into an amazing monoglyceride called monolaurin which is only found in abundance in one other liquid–breast milk. It has anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-protozoa properties. Lauric acid is a powerful virus and gram-negative bacteria destroyer, and coconut oil contains the most lauric acid of any substance on earth. It is able to attack the bacteria that cause tooth decay.

6. Crunchy Veggies
It takes serious chewing to break down foods such as carrots, apples and cucumbers. But all that crunching isn’t in vain. Chewing disturbs dental plaque, and serve as a cleansing mechanism. So instead of remaining in your mouth and settling on teeth, bacteria get cleared away.

7. Vitamin-rich Foods
Foods containing calcium such raw (unpasteurized) organic hard cheese, almonds and leafy greens — and foods high in phosphorous — such as eggs and wild fish — can help keep tooth enamel strong and healthy, according to the American Dental Association. Acidic foods and beverages may cause tiny lesions on tooth enamel and calcium or phosphate help redeposit minerals back into those lesions.

8. Cranberries
Cranberries contain polyphenols (just as tea does), which may keep plaque from sticking to teeth, thus lowering the risk of cavities, according to a study published in the journal Caries Research. A caveat: Because the fruit is so tart, many cranberry products have added sugar, which may affect any potential benefits for teeth, so make eat raw unsweetened cranberries or even blend frozen unsweetened cranberries into a smoothie.

John Summerly is nutritionist, herbologist, and homeopathic practitioner. He is a leader in the natural health community and consults athletes, executives and most of all parents of children on the benefits of complementary therapies for health and prevention.

Source: realfarmacy.com via Prevent Disease

 

“The Cranberry Juice ‘Myth’ Most Women Still Believe…”

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Myths, half-truths and urban legends abound… And for this thing that strikes primarily women, this well-known half-truth can be a trap if you don’t know the 360 degree picture. Discover the groundbreaking development

Less-than-Optimal Urinary Tract Health Is a Fact of Life for Many Women…

New and Improved D-Mannose is not a drug. This nutritional supplement occurs naturally in cranberries, peaches, apples, other berries, and some plants.

At some time in their lives, one out of every five women will experience less-than-optimal urinary tract health.  And, it’s not just women who are concerned with urinary tract health – men are, too.

It’s entirely possible that your urinary tract health could be less than optimal… and you don’t even know it. You’ve probably heard of a number of ways to promote optimal urinary tract health naturally. And I bet cranberry juice is one of the things you think can do it the best…

 

Cranberry juice is NOT my recommended choice for promoting urinary tract health because it is high in fructose that can potentially lead you to health issues.

The D-Mannose found naturally in cranberries, other fruits, and some plants, however, is exceptional for helping you promote a healthy urinary tract.*

Cranberry juice has long been thought to help boost your urinary tract health.  And, you’ll be happy to know that studies do indeed show that drinking cranberry juice can help support a healthy urinary tract.

But, this will come as a surprise to many, drinking blueberry, peach, or apple juice could theoretically have the same beneficial effects, too.

However, there’s a BIG problem with cranberry juice as well all of these other juices: SUGAR.

To be more specific, these juices, including cranberry juice, are loaded with fructose, a monosaccharide (simple sugar) that can potentially cause many health problems, including impacting the normal way your urinary tract functions.

You see, if you eat sugars and grains (which also rapidly break down to sugars), it becomes more difficult to maintain a healthy balance of flora. As a result, you’re much more likely to experience less-than-optimal urinary tract health.

So, although cranberry juice can assist your efforts, I would not advise using it in its juice form. It simply has far too much sugar in it.  In a moment, I’m going to expose another way you can get all the benefits of cranberry (and a lot more) that I think you’re going to love.

 

The D-Mannose for New and Improved D-Mannose comes from a simple sugar found naturally in birch and beech trees.

Is it all bad news? Of course not.

There are simple things you can do to help promote a health urinary tract, including:

  • Drink plenty of water every day – this dilutes your urine and helps you regularly flush your system.
  • Urinate when you feel the need. Don’t resist the urge to go.
  • For women, wipe from front to back, and use unscented and unbleached toilet paper as many women react to the dyes and chemicals in other toilet papers.
  • Take showers instead of baths.
  • Cleanse your genital area prior to and after sexual intercourse, or better yet use a bidet.
  • Avoid feminine deodorant sprays, douches, and powders that can lead to irritation of the urethra and genitals.
  • Only use natural cotton sanitary napkins and tampons. 97% of women believe they are made of cotton, but the truth is LESS THAN one percent actually is.

By following these simple, but effective suggestions, you can help support your urinary tract health.

But, what can you do if you already have less-than-optimal urinary tract health or simply want to support your urinary tract health?*

Is there any help out there?

Yes, and I’m really excited to share this groundbreaking new development in urinary tract health with you now…*

D-Mannose with Cran-Gyn DDS®
The Support You Need Is Finally Here*

I’d like to tell you about one of the most advanced urinary tract health formulations available today.*

It’s called D-Mannose with Cran-Gyn DDS and, as you’ll quickly see, I feel it’s hands-down the best supplement you can use to help support your urinary tract … but it does much more, too.*

With its Patent-Pending Triple Action, D-Mannose with Cran-Gyn DDS is a unique combination of DDS® probiotic blend, natural D-Mannose and concentrated Cranberry fruit extract and FOS.

As a natural alternative for women, D-Mannose with Cran-Gyn DDS helps:

  • Support your urinary tract health*
  • Maintain a healthy balance of flora*
  • Promote optimal digestive health*
  • Support your immune system*
  • Contribute to the maintenance of healthy intestinal flora*

This award-winning three-in-one blend works by creating a favorable environment for healthy flora throughout your urinary tract* (see below for more information).   It also helps promote a healthy balance of flora throughout your digestive system.* In simple terms, that means you get more of the good guys.*

And, since we use an innovative compaction technology that puts more “goodness” in every pill than we otherwise could, you don’t have to take a ton of pills to experience the benefits of D-Mannose with Cran-Gyn DDS.

In other words, you can finally experience the ongoing support you’ve always wanted.*

… without worrying about side effects.
… without the worry or fear.

By supporting your urinary tract health and promoting ideal immune and digestive function, you’ll be treating yourself to wellbeing you deserve.* But, I bet you’re wondering… how does it really work?

To find out, we’ll have to uncover…

Cranberry’s Hidden Secret Is Waiting for You

You’ve learned earlier that I don’t recommend cranberry juice because of all the sugar it contains. However, there is a little-known carbohydrate that can be found naturally in cranberry extract, as well as peaches, apples, and other berries and even birch trees that is turning heads everywhere.

It’s called D-Mannose and it’s been mostly ignored … until recently.

That’s because researchers are discovering that it can help support your urinary tract health.*

But it doesn’t stop there.

D-Mannose promotes a healthy balance of flora and – here’s the real winner – it can support urinary tract health.* Although you can find D-Mannose in cranberries, we use a special all-natural D-Mannose harvested from birch trees in D-Mannose with Cran-Gyn DDS.

But, don’t worry… if you’re a cranberry lover, I’ve got great news for you…

Research is showing that – although cranberry juice is filled with what I believe are too many sugars that can lead to other potential health problems – cranberry EXTRACT is another story altogether.  Recent studies suggest that components found in cranberry extract may work the same way as cranberry juice.*

That means you’re getting two ingredients to help support urinary tract health instead of just one with D-Mannose with Cran-Gyn DDS.*

But, what would you say, if I told you that I believe that D-Mannose and cranberry extract alone were just not good enough?

D-Mannose with Cran-Gyn DDS is formulated with a unique combination of DDS® probiotic blend (containing broad spectrum Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium longum and Bifidobacterium lactis) at 5 billion CFU/g potency.

What’s this mean to you?

Certain probiotic strains, like L. acidophilus, have demonstrated the ability to support a health balance of flora.*  Additionally, studies have also shown that L. acidophilus supports the health of the vaginal and urethral linings.* Plus, it shows positive effects in the support of urinary tract health overall.*

And, since the probiotic strain we use is acid- and bile-resistant, up to 97% of the probiotics reach your intestine after passing through your stomach.*

That means, you can feel confident knowing that you’re doing  something to help support your urinary tract health AND you may also benefit with improved digestive health and support for your immune system.*

Plus, an added benefit, you can use D-Mannose with Cran-Gyn DDS to help boost the “good bacteria” in your gut.* You’ll be especially thankful for this when you help promote your body’s healthy balance of flora.*

D-Mannose with Cran-Gyn DDS offers you the powerhouse solution you’ve been seeking… all in one convenient place to help provide the urinary tract support you want.*

I’m honored to tell you that D-Mannose with Cran-Gyn DDS won the 2010 Best of Supplements award by Better Nutrition, one of the leading health supplement magazines in the USA.

The award recognized Cran-Gyn DDS as an outstanding formulation in the Women’s Health Category based upon extensive input from experts in the field. Manufactured in a NSF-GMP certified facility with strict quality control, you will also be happy to know we demand total transparency throughout the entire quality control process.

The facility is also Kosher and Halal certified.

Plus, this non-GMO product doesn’t contain any major food allergens such as dairy, gluten, wheat, corn, soy, barley, rye, oats, nuts, egg, fish, peanuts, animal fat, or preservatives.

In the final equation, D-Mannose with Cran-Gyn DDS is simply the best product I know of to help support all your urinary tract health needs.*

It’s a three-in-one combination that gives you…

Don’t Forget About Your Urinary Tract Health – Get Yours Today…*

I suggest making sure you always have a supply on hand to support your urinary tract health*:

  • D-Mannose with Cran-Gyn DDS is gentle enough to use as daily.*

Remember, one in five women have less-than-optimal urinary tract health. Take the smart step and order yours today.

  • Imagine how helpful D-Mannose with Cran-Gyn DDS can be.

Get the support you’re seeking with this breakthrough way to support your urinary tract heath.*

So, do yourself a favor and regularly take this product.*

Source: .mercola.com

 

 

Cranberries Offer Protection Against UTIs.

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Cranberry intake appears to lower the risk for urinary tract infections, according to a meta-analysis in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

In 13 randomized controlled trials comprising some 1600 participants, those consuming cranberry products showed a roughly 30% lower rate of urinary tract infection than controls. The effect was most notable in women with recurrent infections (relative risk, 0.53), female populations (0.49), and children (0.33). The authors urge “great caution” in interpreting their analysis, given the heterogeneity found among study designs.

Long used as a folk preventive for urinary tract infections, cranberries were thought to exert their protective effect through urinary tract acidification. That notion, the authors write, was disproved a half century ago. Current explanations include cranberries’ effect on limiting the ability of bacteria to attach to uroepithelial cells.

Source: Archives of Internal Medicine