Cranberries

Cranberries are delicious fruits that people love to eat on Wintry holidays, and which they love to drink with vodka at the bar, but which they may not realize the great health benefits of.

There are numerous and well-documented health benefits that can be derived from this tart but delicious fruit.

According to thorough research, consumption of this Superfruit helps to reduce the risk of urinary tract infections–perhaps by as much as approximately 60%. The fruit is rich in proanthocyanidins, and these compounds are excellent for preventing bacteria from sticking to the innards of the bladder.

Now, these proanthocyanadins are also excellent for preventing the formation of plaque on teeth. If you look around, you’ll find toothpastes and mouthwash formulas that have these extracts in them in order to help prevent the onset of periodontal disease like gingivitis.

Research has also shown that drinking the juice helps people to strengthen their immune systems while fending off various infections such as colds and other negative health symptoms like sore throats. Bladder and kidney problems also are shown to be mitigated and prevented by cranberry juice.

They are also healthy for your heart. They reduce “bad” (LDL) cholesterol levels, while they raise the levels of “good” (HDL) cholesterol levels in the blood. Clogged arteries are also helped by eating them and drinking their juice.

They prevent those particular bacteria that cause gastric, peptide, and duodenal ulcers from bundling up in the stomach. Therefore, this important fruit prevents ulcers.

They are rich with anti-oxidants and phytonutrients. These compounds fend off cancer. They have been shown in studies to slow or entirely prevent the growth of cancers.

The extract of this fruit has also been demonstrated to prevent the growth of breast cancer cells contained within a test tube in certain studies.

One whole cup of these berries (or its equivalent) contains up to 8,983 antioxidants. This makes the cranberry sixth out of 20 common fruits and vegetables studied for antioxidant concentration.

Antioxidants prevent aging, including letting your skin show the effects of aging. “[Cranberries] are also high in vitamin C and folic acid, which is essential for all women in their childbearing years. And they offer powerful anti-oxidant protection, which not only protects the heart but also may protect against skin aging, from the inside out,” says nutritionist Susan Krause, MS, RD.

This Superfruit seems to be underrated and undervalued in everyday use by people, but clearly it is a fruit that people could benefit from eating or drinking the juice of on a daily basis. Given all of the research that has gone into studying them, there can be little question that if people have a reasonable, affordable way of getting more cranberry consumption into their diet, they should take advantage of it.