Cranberry - Vaccinium species - Common Uses

Cranberries ,cranberry juice and tablets were used to help reduce urinary tract infections but many people are moving away from cranberries as the acidity in cranberry attracts bacteria who thrive on acidic enviroments in turn making the urine acidic and more prone to uti's

Cranberries (Vaccinium species) are a group of creeping dwarf evergreen shrubs often found in acidic bogs throughout the cooler parts of the Northern Hemisphere bearing edible, acidic tasting fruit

Only about 5% of commercially produced Cranberries are sold as fresh fruit. The remaining 95% are harvested and rapidly processed into cranberry juice extracts, cranberry sauce, and dried cranberries. Dried cranberries are usually sweetened to counteract the sharp acidic flavour.

Antioxidants

Cranberries contain a small amount of vitamin C (about 13mg per 100g of fresh fruit) and nominal levels of other essential nutrients such as manganese.

The exciting research into cranberries focuses on the polyphenol and other phytochemical antioxidants. The research is looking for the role cranberries can play in improving the immune system, cardiovascular system and especially for benefits as an anti-cancer agent

Cranberry polyphenolic components are undergoing research into preventing several forms of cancer. Cranberry fruits have one of the the largest concentrations of free penols and total phenols

Tannins within the humble cranberry have also been identified as having anti-clotting properties, also they was used allot in the past for and reducing the dental plaques bacteria.

Evidence For The Benefits of Cranberry
Cranberry juice contains substances that can inhibit and elimante plaque forming bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans and so should be able to help reduce tooth decay.

Cranberry as an Anti Cancer Agent
Both raw cranberries and cranberry juice contain bioflavinoids:

• anthocyanidin flavonoids
• cyanidin
• peonidin
• quercetin

Antioxidants