Cranberries - A Berry From 1000 Diseases, The Benefits And Harms Of Cranberries

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

The benefits and harms of cranberries, application

Cranberries grow on low-growing shrubs, which are highly resistant to frost. The plant tolerates changes in weather conditions well, prefers to settle near swamps and peat bogs.

The berry begins to ripen in September. It was during this period that cranberries contain the entire set of vitamins and minerals.

Content:

• Cranberry composition
• Useful properties of cranberries
• The use of cranberries in cooking
• The use of cranberries in cosmetology
• The use of cranberries for medicinal purposes
• Storing cranberries
• Contraindications to eating cranberries

Composition and calorie content of cranberries

Cranberries are a source of phytonutrients. There are no fats in the berry, so it belongs to low-calorie foods. The calorie content of cranberries is only 46 kcal, while the product has a low glycemic index. When eaten, cranberries have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects on the human body.

• Fats: 0.1 g
• Proteins: 0.4 g
• Carbohydrates: 12.2 g
• Water: 87.1 g
• Ash: 0.2 g
• Cellulose: 4.6 g

Vitamins (per 100 g):	amount	% RDA
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)	1.2 mg	eight%
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)	0.02-0.31 mg	7.5%

Minerals (in 100 g):	amount	% RDA
Boron	120 mcg	171%
Rubidium	44 μg	44%
Manganese	327-433 mcg	19.5%
Vanadium	5.95 mcg	14.9%
Cobalt	1.44 mcg	14.4%
Nickel	17 mcg	11.3%
Silicon	1.5-6.1 mg	10.6%

Other important connections:

• Phytosterols - 5.4 mg (9.8% of the RDI)
• Purines - 6 mg (5% of the RDI)
• Oxalic acid - 6 mg (1.5% of the RDI)

Complete chemical composition ➤

In addition to vitamins and minerals, cranberries contain:

• Antioxidants There are so many of them in the berry that it leaves behind such "superfoods" as blueberries and strawberries. Most of all, cranberries are rich in proanthocyanidins.
• Electrolytes. The balance of potassium and sodium in the berry is optimal.
• Sahara. Cranberries are a source of glucose, sucrose, fructose and high molecular weight carbohydrates, which are represented by dietary fiber and pectin. These substances are well absorbed, help maintain metabolic processes and charge the body with energy.

• Organic acids: tartaric, oxalic, chlorogenic, cinchona, ursolic, benzoic, succinic, oleic, ketobutyric, ketoglutaric. All of them take part in metabolic processes, are responsible for the metabolism of proteins and fats in the body. Some acids help accelerate metabolism, while others strengthen the cell walls. Eating cranberries in food allows you to stop inflammatory processes in the body, lower blood sugar levels. Most organic acids are bactericidal. Cranberries are well stored, this is possible thanks to the benzoic acid in its composition.
• Flavonoids: Betaine and Quercetin. These substances help to strengthen the vascular wall, normalize blood viscosity, and have antioxidant properties.
• Other substances. Cranberries contain catechins, leukoanthocyanidins, glycosidic compounds. It also has antioxidant properties, helps to protect the liver and blood vessels from negative factors, and normalizes metabolic processes in the body. The berries contain tannins. They are astringent, enveloping and anti-inflammatory.

Cranberries are a source of valuable antioxidants, the most beneficial of which are:

• Anthocyanins. These antioxidants are harmful to free radicals. In medicine, they are used to fight obesity, to lower blood cholesterol levels, and to treat and prevent breast cancer.

• Quercetin. It has pronounced anti-inflammatory properties, allows you to reduce the intensity of the allergic reaction. In medicine, it is used to relieve joint pain, as well as to strengthen the walls of blood vessels.
• Benzoic acid. It has strong antioxidant properties and can destroy bacteria and viruses. With the help of this component contained in cranberries, you can cope with infections of the urinary tract, get rid of acne.
• Epicatechins. These phytonutrients are found in green tea and red wine. They help prevent the development of Alzheimer's disease and reduce the risks of cardiovascular pathologies.

Useful properties of cranberries

Cranberries help support immunity. Its use in food allows you to charge the body with energy, increase overall performance.

The benefits of berries for the human body:

• Prevention of cancerous tumors.
• Strengthening blood vessels.
• Stimulation of the brain, increasing mental activity.
• Normalization of the work of the heart muscle.
• Improving digestion, stimulating appetite.
• Getting rid of viral infections, relieving symptoms of the disease.
• Acceleration of tissue regeneration. The person will heal faster abrasions, burns, cuts and other injuries.

To evaluate the benefits of cranberries, you need to consider in more detail all the effects it has on the body.

Urinary tract infections

Cranberry juice is the best natural antibiotic for treating various urinary tract infections. It contains proanthocyanids, which slow down the pathological activity of microbes and prevent them from increasing in number. Bacteria lose their ability to attach to the walls of the bladder and uterus. It is enough to drink a glass of juice a day to prevent the development of cystitis.

Store-bought cranberry juice concentrate will not help treat urinary tract infections. This drink will get rid of thirst, but no more. Such information is provided by Dr. Timoney Boone, Ph. D., associate dean of the Texas A&M Medical Science Center in Houston.

Maintaining cardiovascular health

Cranberries are a source of flavonoids that help the body fight atherosclerosis and strengthen the vascular wall.

It has been proven that blood vessels are damaged when cholesterol is deposited in them. Its level in the body rises when eating food rich in unhealthy fats. Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of heart attack and stroke.

Cranberry lowers blood cholesterol levels. In addition, berries have a sedative effect and are beneficial for people who are experiencing mental overload.

Helping the kidneys and bladder

Cranberries contain citric acid, so eating it helps prevent the formation of kidney stones. In general, berries heal the urinary system.

Prevention of dental problems

Scientists from the University of Paris have conducted experiments that have established that cranberries are good for teeth and gums. People who consume this berry are less likely to suffer from periodontitis, gingivitis, stomatitis and other diseases of the oral cavity.

Cranberries help prevent cancer

Cancer is a fatal disease. A tumor can develop in the body of any person. To minimize the risks of this terrible disease, you need to include cranberries in your diet. Studies have shown that berries help fight 17 types of cancer. This is possible due to the content of polyphenols in them, which have antioxidant properties. They destroy young cancer cells. There is evidence that cranberries improve human immunity.

Cranberries can help fight common infections

Cranberries should be eaten for infectious diseases.

It helps to improve overall well-being, as it has the following properties:

• Decreased body temperature.
• Reducing the intensity of inflammation.
• Destruction of the viral flora.
• Strengthening the immune system.
• Removal of irritation from the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.

To enhance the healing effect of cranberry consumption, you need to drink enough liquid. You can prepare fruit drinks based on these healthy berries.

Cranberries give you flawless and youthful skin

Cranberries contain antioxidants that fight toxins and radicals. Their presence in the body leads to early aging and aging of the skin.

Hydroxylysine and hydroxyproline contained in cranberries are beneficial for the skin. These substances stimulate the production of collagen - the skin's main aid in the fight against aging. In general, epidermal cells begin to renew themselves faster.

Cranberry improves immunity

Some researchers claim that cranberry extract helps to strengthen the immune system and also reduce the risk of catching colds. Stimulates the immune system of the proanthocyanids contained in cranberries.

It has long been proven that the state of the intestines directly affects the state of human immunity. Therefore, it is important to maintain the health of the digestive tract as a whole to avoid weakening the body's defenses.

Cranberries help improve the intestinal microflora. The consumption of berries in food helps to destroy harmful microbes and the growth of beneficial bacteria.

Cranberry is a versatile berry, as it combines 3 substances: rice-atannol, pterostilbene, resveratrol. By interacting with each other, they are able to resist various diseases.

Improving digestion

Cranberries are beneficial for the digestive tract as they stimulate the production of pancreatic and stomach juices. The berries can be consumed by people with duodenal ulcers and colitis.

Cranberries are recommended to be included in the menu for patients suffering from hemorrhoids, as they have an anti-inflammatory effect. People who regularly consume cranberries are less likely to suffer from bloating and flatulence.

The use of cranberries in cooking

Cranberries are used in cooking for making desserts, they are added to baked goods, and sauces are made from them for meat and other dishes. Cranberries have found use in the alcoholic industry. It is added to vodka to give a pleasant aroma, and a tincture is made from it.

Cranberry cookies. To prepare it, you need dried cranberries. The biscuits are incredibly crunchy and delicious. The recipe is for 40 pieces.

Ingredients:

• Dried cranberries - 100 g.
• Oat flour - 100 g.
• Butter - 200 g.
• Sugar - 75 g
• Milk - 6 tbsp. l.
• Wheat flour - 300 g.
• Egg yolks - 2 pcs.
• A pinch of salt.

How to cook:

• Mix flour, oatmeal, sugar, milk, yolks, salt, oil and cranberries. You need to knead the dough until it becomes homogeneous and smooth. Divide it into 2 parts and put it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• The finished dough is cut into thin slices, spread on a baking sheet covered with parchment.
• Cookies are baked at 180 degrees for 10 minutes.

Cranberry sauce for meat. To make the sauce tasty, you need to use fresh dark red cranberries. Although you can take frozen berries. Unripe cranberries are not suitable as they will make the sauce taste bitter. The finished dressing can be stored in the refrigerator in a glass container for 14 days.

Ingredients:

• Cranberries - 150 g.
• Sugar - 2 tbsp. l.
• Drinking water - 3 tbsp. l.
• A pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg.
• Cloves - 2 pcs.
• Lemon - 1 pc.
• Orange - 1 pc.

Preparation:

• Place the cranberries in a saucepan with a thick bottom, add sugar and pour over water. Bring the berry to a boil and cook for 5 minutes.
• Wash and dry the orange and lemon, peel off the zest and squeeze the juice. To prepare the recipe, you will need 2 teaspoons of lemon and 3 tablespoons of orange juice.
• Add nutmeg, citrus zest, cloves, cinnamon to the cranberry broth and boil for another 5 minutes.
• Americans, when preparing such a sauce, be sure to add a pinch of Jamaican allspice to it.
• Orange and lemon juice is added to the sauce, boiled for another 5 minutes.
• Remove the dish from the heat, pour it into a glass container and cool.
• To make the sauce thicker, starch is diluted in orange juice and poured into the finished dish after it has cooled.
• The sauce can be used with pieces of berries, or you can pass through a sieve.

Dessert cranberry-orange bread. The bread turns out to be very tasty, it can be used instead of a cupcake during tea drinking. Such a confection is liked not only by children, but also by adults. It can be eaten at breakfast, greased with butter or soft cheese.

Ingredients:

• Brown sugar - 1 glass
• Flour - 2 cups.
• Butter - 4 tablespoons l.
• Cranberries - 1 glass
• Baking powder - 6 g.
• Chicken egg - 1 pc.
• Soda - 0.5 tsp.
• A pinch of salt.
• Milk - 3/4 cup.
• Cornstarch - 1 tsp

Preparation:

• Mix all dry ingredients in a suitable container.
• In another container, combine milk, egg, warm butter. Beat the resulting composition with a whisk.
• Knead the dough, add cranberries sprinkled with starch to it.
• The baking dish is greased with oil, or lined with parchment, filled with dough. Sprinkle brown sugar on top of the bread.
• It is baked in the oven for 75 minutes at 180 ° C.

The use of cranberries in cosmetology

In cosmetology, cranberry extract and juice are used. In a diluted form, it is used to combat acne and abscesses, to prevent scar formations and to reduce the intensity of an allergic rash. It helps to improve hair health.

Effects that can be obtained when using cranberries:

• The skin will become lighter.
• The oval of the face will tighten.
• Skin elasticity will increase.
• The cells of the dermis are filled with vitamins.
• The oily sheen, areas of hyperkeratosis and inflammation will disappear.

Recipe for making a cranberry anti-wrinkle mask. Masks are made from cranberries that rejuvenate the skin.

Ingredients:

• Frozen berries - 8 g.
• Cream - 8 g.
• Retinol - 2 ml.

Preparation:

• The berries are crushed using a mortar.
• The cream is mixed with retinol and cranberry mint.
• Apply the mask to the skin, excluding the area around the lips.
• After 15 minutes, the mask is removed by rubbing the face with jojoba oil.

Strengthening nails. Cranberries help restore even heavily damaged nail plates. Berry juice or fresh berries are rubbed into them for 20 minutes. You need to carry out the procedure 2-3 times a week.

Frozen cranberry scrub. Applying a frozen berry scrub can help improve complexion and get rid of wrinkles. The skin is tightened, the pores are tightened. Cranberry reduces stretch marks, makes the dermis lighter.

Ingredients:

• Frozen berries - 100 g.
• Coconut or olive oil - 1 tsp
• Cane sugar - 2 tbsp l.

Preparation:

• Cranberries are passed through a meat grinder.
• Mix the berry mass with olive oil, add cane sugar to the mask.
• The resulting gruel is applied to the face, neck and décolleté. You can use a body mask.

It is best to carry out the procedure in the evening. This will allow the skin to recover and better absorb vitamins. After the scrub is washed off with water, the skin is dried and a greasy cream is applied to it.

The use of cranberries for medicinal purposes

Drinking cranberry juice and fresh berries helps prevent the development of cancer of the prostate, breast, and female reproductive system. If you regularly rinse your mouth with diluted cranberry juice, you can whiten your tooth enamel and prevent the development of caries.

Under pressure. Drinking a cranberry-based drink can help lower your blood pressure.

Ingredients:

• Fresh cranberries - 300 g.
• Sugar - 100 g.
• Water - 250 ml.

How to cook:

• Cranberries are crushed using a blender, poured into glassware.
• Add sugar and water to the berries.
• While stirring the resulting composition, bring it to a boil.
• Filter the drink through a sieve.
• The syrup is diluted with boiling water and drunk instead of tea. For a glass of hot water, 2-3 teaspoons of syrup are enough.

With diabetes. Cranberries help lower blood sugar levels, so fruit juice is good for people with diabetes.

Ingredients:

• Cranberries - 300 g.
• Pure water - 1.5 liters.
• Fructose - 75 g.

How to cook:

• The berry is crushed with a wooden mortar.
• The released juice is squeezed out.
• The cake is poured with water and boiled.
• Insist it for 5 minutes, then filter it.
• Fructose is added to the juice and mixed thoroughly.
• Take juice one glass 3 times a day before meals.

With joint disease. Cranberries can help relieve joint pain, reduce inflammation and make you feel better. For this, it is recommended to use an ointment based on these berries.

Ingredients:

• Fresh cranberries - 100 g.
• Vaseline - 50 g.
• Lanolin - 50 g.

How to cook:

• Grind the cranberries.
• Lanolin and petroleum jelly are added to the berry mass.
• The finished ointment is stored in the refrigerator.
• It is applied to sore joints, wrapped in foil and insulated with a scarf.

Storing cranberries

To keep cranberries better, you need to follow these guidelines:

• You need to pick the berry from mid-October until the first snow. You can use a special hand harvester, but to preserve the integrity of the berries, it is best to pick them by hand.
• Fresh cranberries are stored for 10 days in a cool place or 14 days in the refrigerator.
• Fresh berries are shiny, firm, and have a bright red color. If the cranberries shriveled, turned brown, or faded, then they were stored for a long time. You need to pay attention to this when buying.
• If you rinse the collected cranberries in cool water, put them in jars and pour them with cooled boiling water, then they will not lose their qualities within a year. You need to keep the jars in the refrigerator.
• Cranberries can not only be frozen, but also dried. It can be stored in the freezer for about a year, and in a dried form for 3 years.

Contraindications to eating cranberries

Cranberries should not be eaten by people with liver diseases, as well as by patients with high acidity of gastric juice. It will not benefit hypotonic patients.

People with increased sensitivity of tooth enamel should be discarded from cranberry juice. You should not combine the intake of berries with drugs from the sulfamide group.

The acids in cranberries can irritate the stomach. To prevent this from happening, cranberries need to be ground with sugar.

Despite all the benefits of cranberries, you need to observe the measure. You should not overeat it. In the presence of chronic diseases, it is necessary to consult a specialist.

The author of the article: Kuzmina Vera Valerievna | Endocrinologist, nutritionist

Education: Diploma of the Russian State Medical University named after NI Pirogov with a degree in General Medicine (2004). Residency at Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, diploma in Endocrinology (2006).