20/11/2017
Cranberry- a red gem for good health
As far as healthy foods go, cranberry is at the top of the list due to its high nutrients, flavonoids(antioxidants) and phytonutrients content and often referred to as a "super food".
1. Protection against Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
-most common bacterial infection. Women are significantly more likely to experience UTI than men.
Common symptom:
+burning feeling when urinating
+frequent or intense urge to urinate
+cloudy,dark,bloody or strange-smelling urine
+pain or pressure in the back or lower abdomen
2. Reduce Gout Attacks
-When too much uric acid builds up in the body, crystals form in the joints, which become red, painful, swollen and stiff. Gout usually affects men over 40, but it could also affect women, especially after menopause. Risk factors include a family history of gout, excess alcohol intake, and eating foods rich in purines, such as shellfish, meat and sweetbreads. People with gout are also more likely to develop kidney stones, high blood pressure, kidney disease, diabetes, high triglyceride levels and atherosclerosis.
-Cranberry juice has been found to decrease the level of uric acid in both the urine and the blood. Drinking 8 to 16 ounces of unsweetened cranberry juice daily or taking 300 to 400 milligrams standardized cranberry extract for gout.
3. Anti-ageing benefits
-The wealth of phytonutrients and antioxidants presents in cranberry play a vital role in skin anti-ageing, such as
+reducing lines,
+sagging skin and
+dullness while improving skin radiance and clarity.
-They also provide protection against the problems that develop with age such as memory loss and lack of coordination.
4. Cardiovascular Health
-This is heart disease is a leading cause of death worldwide.
Cranberry reduces oxidation of LDL-cholesterol (bad cholesterol), maintain blood vessel suppleness and relieves inflammation.
-Also prevent oxidative stress and over-constriction in blood vessels, therefore prevent high blood pressure..
5. Immune system
-Due to high content of vitamin C and phytonutrients, cranberry improves the immune system and reduces the incidence of cold and flu.
-Cranberry compounds may inhibits the adhesion of the influenza virus to the cells and also make the virus less infectious.
