Cranberries
Description:
Cranberries contain ingredients that cause an antibiotic effect and thereby reduce the risk of urinary tract
infections, says Linda Kamphausen of the Nutrition and Dieting Institute in Aachen, Germany. Too many women
have experienced the painful feeling of a bladder infection. Regular consumption of cranberries can prevent
these infections according to a study by the Finnish University of Oulu.
The cranberry is related to the domestic lingonberry. These berries contain many beneficial and health promoting ingredients, like the phyto-nutrient proanthocyamide which supports the health of the urinary tract. Proanthocyamide inhibits the attachment of bacteria, including antibiotic resistant strands, in the mucus lining of the urinary tract. They could possibly have the same effect on the mucus lining of the throat and the stomach.
Another important substance of the cranberry are the antioxidants anthocyamine and vitamin C, which bind free radicals that would otherwise destroy healthy cells. Cranberry seeds contain vitamin E and important omega-3 fatty acids which are essential for a healthy cardio-vascular-system. If consumed on a daily basis, cranberries can reduce the risk of infections in the urinary tract.
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