Health Benefits of Cranberries

While cranberry is perhaps best known for its effect on urinary tract health, newer research indicates that it may act elsewhere in the body against other bacteria as well. The adhesion of the different types of bacteria that cause both stomach ulcers, and periodontal gum disease, have been shown to be inhibited in the presence of cranberry, and it is likely that others susceptible bacteria will be found as well.

Peptic ulcers are increasingly being attributed to infection by Helicobacter pylori bacteria, as opposed to stress and/or stomach acidity. A high-molecular-weight nondialysable constituent of cranberry juice has been shown to inhibit the adhesion of H. pylori to human gastric mucus in vitro.10 These preliminary results suggest that cranberry may be beneficial in the prevention of peptic ulcers through the inhibition of H. pylori adhesion to gastric mucus and stomach epithelium.

H. pylori is capable of surviving in the mucosal lining of the stomach and duodenum by neutralizing stomach acid, in its local environment, through urea hydrolysis. In Western countries approximately 50% of persons above the age of 60 are affected. 25 million Americans will suffer from peptic ulcers at some point in their life and there are approximately 1 million ulcer related hospitalizations in the US each year. Prevalence of infection in developing countries increases dramatically. The majority of adults (80-90%) and 10% of children are affected. In addition to ulcers, H. pylori infection has been linked to gastric adenocarcinomas (stomach cancer), non-ulcer dyspepsia (acid reflux disease), and gastritis (inflammation of the stomach).

Heart Health Benefits of Cranberries

Flavonoids have been shown to function as potent antioxidants both in vitro and in vivo and may reduce the risk of atherosclerosis. Cranberries contain significant amounts of flavonoids and polyphenolic compounds that have been demonstrated to inhibit low density lipoprotein oxidation.32,44,61 Ongoing research continues to suggest that cranberries may offer a natural defense against atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis, in the simplest terms, is the accumulation of low density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad cholesterol", in arteries resulting in restricted blood flow. In the advance stages of the disease blood flow may be decrease severely or cease completely resulting in angina (chest pain), a thrombosis (blood clot) and/or myocardial infarction (heart attack). Atherosclerosis is a primary cause of cardiovascular disease. According to the American Heart Association (2001), on average one person in the US dies every 33 seconds from a cardiovascular illness.

Anti-Aging Benefits of Cranberries

USDA scientists at the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University have been finding promising results associated with diets high in antioxidants and other phytonutrients. Preliminary studies suggest that diets containing fruit and vegetables with high-ORAC^ values may provide protection against chronic age-related afflictions like loss of coordination and memory. Cranberries score high on the antioxidant scale at 1750 ORAC units per 100 g (about 3.5 oz.) of fresh fruit.28

Note: ORAC, or oxygen radical absorbance capacity, measures the ability of a substance to subdue oxygen free radicals in vitro.