Virtually Ignored Fruit
Disables Killer Bacteria
Cranberry Bog
Cranberries Create
An Impenetrable Energy Shield
More Powerful Than
a Missile Defense System
Although it’s been known for several years that cranberries can prevent urinary tract infections, up until now, the exact mechanism has remained a mystery. But in a newly published study, scientists at Worcester Polytechnic Institute say they’ve discovered the secret.
They found that virulent bacteria, like the kind that create urinary tract infections, have hair-like projections called fimbriae that attach to the wall of the bladder. Their studies showed that even low concentrations of cranberry juice created a thermodynamic energy shield that keeps these nasty creatures from getting a foothold.
No Harm To Friendly Bacteria
Because the good bacteria don’t have these fimbriae, they aren’t affected. This is important, because our bodies have billions of good bacteria that provide protection from such gut wrenching disease organisms like Clostridium difficile.
Unpublished work also shows cranberry juice has potent effects on disease-causing bacteria, but that the effect is temporary. This suggests that in order to have continuous protection; you will need to consume some form of cranberry regularly – perhaps daily.
Cranberries, a Superfood
You Should Enjoy Year Round
- Cranberries are higher in antioxidants than strawberries, spinach, broccoli, red grapes, apples, raspberries, and cherries. With 8,983 total antioxidant capacity per cup, only cultivated blueberries outrank them.
- Besides being naturally high in Vitamin C, cranberries also contain calcium, folate, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sulfer, vitamin A, vitamin B-1, Vitamin B-2, vitamin B-3, vitamin B-5, vitamin E, and zinc.
- Rich in a dozen phytochemicals (phytonutrients). Phytochemicals work in a number of different ways to prevent disease, even cancer.
- Proanthocyanidins present in cranberries are responsible for their anti-adhesion properties. In addition, these proanthocyanidins promote dental health since they inhibit the bacterial growth that causes plaque.
- A 2001 study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry revealed this red berry (in its pure form) contained the highest quantity of disease-fighting phenols, a type of antioxidant that is thought to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, stroke and heart disease.
- Cranberries are also a good source of resveratrol, the component of red wine that makes it so good for you.
How to Get Your Cranberries
Without Terrorizing Your Body
With High Calorie Sugar
Sugar (sucrose) is not only highly addictive; it’s absorbed directly into the blood stream from your stomach, which upsets the natural chemical balance of your body. In addition, sucrose has zero nutrient value.
Pure fresh cranberries have only 45 calories per cup, but when sugar is added, the result tips the scale…
- 140 calories from 1/3 cup sweetened dried cranberries. Note: Craisins (by Ocean Spray) is sweetened with sugar, but Eden Foods offers dried cranberries sweetened with apple juice. Same amount of calories, but better for you.
- 130 calories from 8 oz. of cranberry juice cocktail (sweetened with sugar)
- 5 calories from 8 oz. of Ocean Spray diet cranberry juice cocktail (sweetened with fruit juice and Sucralose). Note: Since research has shown Sucralose can cause the thymus gland to shrink, I wouldn’t recommend it. The thymus is important to your immune system.
- 258 calories from 1/3 cup of jellied cranberry sauce
After an exhaustive search, I finally found unsweetened dried cranberries by the pound at Purcell Mountain Farms and Sunrise Dried Fruit Company.
Action Plan
Add this “Thanksgiving fruit” to your weekly diet. Try them in salads, muffins, pancakes, breads, cheese spreads, on peanut butter sandwiches, etc. You can find unsweetened cranberry juice at some health food stores. Since it’s very sour, you can either sweeten it with honey (heat together in a sauce pan until the honey dissolves into the juice) or make cranberry vinaigrette to serve on your salads.
Photo credit: andwat
I follow your blog regularly and find this to be great information! Thanks for taking the time to post this valuable wisdom of natural healing. Its about time that cranberries achieve nutritional stature along side those other wonderful berry fruits. Since I use many products with Sucralose, including the Ocean Spray diet Cranberry drink, I was alarmed when reading Sucralose (aka Splenda) would contribute to decreased functioning of the thymus gland in humans. I have decreased immune system functioning and have read of studies in rats consuming inordinate amounts of Sucralose over a 30 day period resulting in thymus shrinkage, however, I’ve not read of this research finding in humans. Would it be possible to cite those research articles supporting your statement “Since research has shown Sucralose can cause the thymus gland to shrink…” I need to make a informed choice whether or not to keep consuming Splenda or find an alternative sweetener. Thanks again for the good writing and information you pass on to your readers.
Thanks Taylor for taking the time to comment. When I research my articles, I do my best to find the original studies, but sometimes have to simply resort to using sources that I have come to trust.
Sometimes I maintain the original citations in my working file, but in this case I didn’t. The reason why is I don’t recommend artificial sweeteners of any kind.
Please note, I didn’t say the research has been done on humans.
Thanks,
Rod
Have you been blogging long? It is a great blog, you have a great writing style too. Found this post last Monday and i’ve been reading your blog since. I am excited for more quality posts like this one …