An increasing number of studies continuously unearth the intrinsic value of natural health remedies, and more evidence proves why these deserve to be primary treatment methods instead of secondary alternatives to medication.

Case in point are cranberries, the powerful antioxidant: The humble fruit has long enjoyed an established reputation for its protective capacities of warding off urinary tract infections, promoting oral and gastrointestinal health, lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and preventing kidney stones and cancer, among other benefits.

With a more recent research that further catapults cranberries into a more credible spot by blocking “staph infections”, the list of benefits that the succulent fruit provides can only lengthen. It seems that the world is yet to fully witness how Mother Nature can effectively treat and prevent health complications through its own, natural ways.

New Research findings

A research venture led by Dr. Terri Camesano of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), yielded significant findings of how cranberry juicy prevented the infection process from taking place, through blocking a strain of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The team was used to yielding favourable effects of cranberries against E. coli; as such, the S. aureus-related early results came off as a surprise.

S. aureus is noted as a grave risk factor, which can develop serious health conditions liketoxic shock syndrome and Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Infection starts when S. aureus creates a venue with the host cell where bacteria can rapidly thrive, by forming a biofilm. Certain strains of S. aureus, including MRSA, resist antibiotic effects which accounts for around 199 to 2005 fatality numbers in the USA. The figures are reportedly doubled, which shows that MRSA proves to be a growing threat.

Based on the urine samples of participants that took cranberry juice cocktail, the capacity of E. coli and S. aureus to form biofilms was significantly reduced. There were no biofilms found in staph samples. While it is easy to see how E. Coli is hampered by cranberry juice components (its fimbirae curls up); S. aureus has no fimbirae. As such, the protective effect of cranberry juice on S. aureus warrants further and promising research ventures.

Cranberry Intake: Easy, Delightful Consumption for Anti-disease effects

You can experience the favorable effects of cranberries firsthand even without going on a professional, funded research venture or laboratory experimentation. Effectively warding off several health complications is as easy as selecting natural cranberry juice and fruits with the richest protective attributes, and then taking a gulp.

You can drink cranberry juice, take cranberry supplementation, use cranberry tincture, or just eat the fruit. Besides the whole fruit, the role of cranberry juice and supplementation as protective factors has been established by many scientific evidence.

• Fresh, plump cranberries with deep crimson color and steady firmness are good indicators of the fruit’s quality. The deeper the red is, the more concentrated is its anthocyanin compounds. Research also shows that antioxidant levels heighten as the fruit ripens.
  
  
• For lower levels of calorie intake, cranberry supplement is an ideal choice for its lesser calorie content, which cranberry juice contains in relatively high levels.
  
  
• The most antioxidant levels also reside in fresh and dried cranberries, while sweetened cranberry juice already lose a lot of its original nutrients. As such, resort to fresher, more natural cranberry juice and supplementation for optimal results.

How Cranberries Gained their Reputation: Major Health Benefits

As stated earlier, cranberries have long been valued for its various anti-health complication activities and effects.

• Urinary Tract Infection

  In relation to preventing UTI, cranberry juice has hippuric acid that fights bacteria; acidifies urine; and it contains other agents that hamper E. coli’s ability of attaching itself to the urinary tract’s cell lining. Through preventing E. coli pathogens from attaching to and penetrating the surface walls of the urinary tract, it nullifies and washes E. coli away with urination.  Thus, the infection process stops before it begins.  Considering the fact that E. coli accounts for almost 90% of leading UTI causes, cranberry juice rests it case with a big win.

  Furthermore, research shows that the proantycyanins found in cranberries have a different structure compared to those found in other fruits. As such, this uniqueness may help shed light on cranberry’s unique anti-bacterial ability.

• Cancer

  In addition to being anti-UTI, healthy components and agents found in cranberries have potent capacities of inducing anti-cancer effects. With its high levels of phytochemicals such as flavonoids and phenolic acids, cranberry is reputed to have the highest levels of antioxidants, which thus indicate that it also has the greatest capacity to inhibit the growth and proliferation of human liver cancerous cells. Several research findings show that its uniquely-structured phytonutrients inhibit the growth of cancer cells by rendering these unable to multiply by hampering their replication process, and making these susceptible to apoptosis where the cells commit suicide. Furthermore, the unique characteristics of its proanthocyanidins, without imposing detriments to healthy cells, also halt and prevent growth of tumour and cancer cells in culture.

• Kidney Stones

  Ongoing studies focus on the anti-kidney stone effects of cranberry juice; but as early as now, there are significant evidence that prove its role in preventing the growth of kidney stones through a particular acidic compound—quinic acid.

  Through the intervention of the quinic acid in a cranberry’s juice, the urine is rendered slightly acidic on a healthy level that stops calcium and phosphate ions from taking part in the formation of insoluble stones. Based on other research evidence, the fruit juice also reduces the amount of ionized calcium found in the urine by half. These activities are highly protective, given that calcium salts comprise approximately 80% of kidney stones.

• Protective Cholesterol Levels

  Research evidence, particularly the one conducted in The Lipid Research Laboratory in 2005, also show that drinking cranberry juice combats plaque formation in arteries and improves vascular function. Through this protective activity, the juice enables good cholesterol (HDL) in the body to increase in high, healthy levels; while the bad cholesterol (LDL) simultaneously decreases. An improved blood flow activity through plaque elimination and inhibition allows cranberry juice to prevent macular degeneration and stroke. The capacity of cranberry juice to regulate cholesterol warrants further research, but some experts already believe that this is caused by high levels of polyphenols found in the fruit.

Other health benefits cover anti-aging effects, reduction of dental plaque and gum disease, and arteriosclerosis prevention. Given that cranberry juice and supplementation as protective factors receive solid support from scientific investigations, Mother Nature has indeed been generous in enabling us to combat various diseases the natural way. Perhaps, it’s just a matter of taking heed to the intrinsic value of natural health remedies.

Sources
blogs.mercola.com
nutraingredients.com
oohoi.com
whfoods.com
cranberryjuice.com
philstar.com
natural-health-remedies-and-more.com
nccam.nih.gov