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Key Facts About Cranberries -- A Health Champion

By Guido Housemouser

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 18Mar2012
Word count: 469
Viewed: 40 time(s)

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What do you know about cranberries? Next to nothing? Me too! Personally, my sole experience with cranberries is knowing what a blast the fruity, red beads are to bat around the kitchen floor (hours of fun, I highly recommend it if you find yourself face-to-face with a cranberry). But seriously, when I heard about some of the health benefits associated with cranberries, I knew I needed to learn more about this compact, powerhouse of a berry.

Cranberries are powerful antioxidants. Important for humans, antioxidants are compounds that the body manufactures independently and, fortunately, they can also be ingested (antioxidants are found in varying concentrations in most fruits and vegetables). As you know, antioxidants help to protect the body from harmful free radicals. Cranberries, a good source of supplemental antioxidants, also offer urinary tract, gastric, and oral health support.

Unwanted microbes in the urinary tract, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association, are the cause of more than "11 million physician visits in the United States annually." A more common malady (do you like that word? I've been working on my vocabulary!) in female humans than male humans, urinary tract issues can be a result of the bad guys adhering to the lining of the urinary tract, which can lead to discomfort (and no one likes to be uncomfortable) and beyond. Seems that cranberries contain something called proanthocyanidins (very difficult to pronounce without tying the tongue in knots). Proanthocyanidins keep the urinary tract and bladder wall healthy because they possess anti-adhesion properties, thus making it difficult for the bad guys to hang on. However, cranberries aren't just for urinary tract health!

Cranberry Concentrate also helps to keep tummies happy and healthy. Similar to its effect on the lining of urinary tracts, cranberries keep unwanted microbes from adhering to the stomach lining, helping to support tummy health as well.

As an added tip, cranberries can also contribute to a healthy smile. Bacteria can adhere to your teeth and gums leading to a series of issues, including bad breath (yeew!). Cranberries support good oral hygiene by helping to neutralize the environment brought on by plaque build-up, keeping your pearly whites... well, pearly and white.

Cranberries are also high in antioxidants and flavanoids -- in fact this tart holiday favorite possesses more antioxidants than 19 other commonly consumed fruits. Antioxidants bolster human cellular health in the face of oxidative stress and the effects of those nasty free radicals. Flavanoids, plant-based compounds with fierce antioxidant properties, also help sustain cellular health. Together they help maintain an overall healthy aging process (since aging, after all, begins at the cellular level).

So not only are these colorful berries delicious during the holidays, they support a healthy body throughout the entire year.

Guido Housemouser, a pseudonym used by a team of health education writers, is credited with authoring the twice-weekly newsletter entitled, "Our Health News" The publication serves the global community associated with Our Health Co-op that has provided affordable support for its members' health for over a decade.

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