Good day, my dear readers! In central Russia or Belarus there are interesting corners nature. They can be called reserved.
If you talk, for example, with the Vyatichi living in the cities of Kirov, Kotelnich, with the Mari and Mordvins who live side by side with their fellow villagers in the Vyatka villages, they will proudly tell you what rich forests, fields, lakes they have.
And they will certainly tell you what rich cranberry crops have grown on local peat bogs. This extraordinarily useful and fragrant berry has always helped people both in times of peace and in times of war.
And not only in the Russian outback, the inhabitants turned out to be so smart that they chose cranberries as the queen of berries. Suffice it to recall that in the 19th century Poland, Canada, snow-covered Scandinavia and Belarus for the first time began to grow an excellent savior from a thousand diseases, and plant special plantations with cranberries.
Note to enthusiasts: any resident of the city can grow cranberries on their balcony in peat pots! It is only necessary to create for the plant not just a humid, but a very humid environment.
How many calories are in cranberries?
If you are watching your weight, then you should definitely include this berry in your diet. Since in 100 gr. cranberries contain only 30 calories.
How many cranberries can you eat per day?
Cranberries are a very acidic berry, you can’t eat much of it, but according to doctors, the daily allowance per day is a glass of fresh cranberries or 2 tablespoons of dried cranberries, or one glass of fresh cranberry juice.
On a note! Cranberries are digested in the human body for two hours and thirty minutes.
Cranberry: composition
Known throughout the world, the berry is undoubtedly a treasure trove of a large number of vitamin complexes and minerals necessary for health. The main thing is that it has an infinite amount of vitamin C, and this is already a big plus. It also contains: vitamins K, A, B vitamins, iron, manganese, iodine, calcium, sodium, zinc, potassium.
Cranberries for the human body
Useful properties of cranberries for the human body
The results of scientific laboratory tests conducted both in our country and in other countries make it possible to assert that the cranberry, which has a well-deserved reputation as a universal healer, performs many functions in the body:
1. Corrects the acid-alkaline balance of the blood.
2. Eliminates muscle pain caused by vasospasm.
3. Strengthens the weakened activity of the intestine, that is, the berry has a mild cleansing property.
4. Supports normal level blood pressure, which is useful for hypertensive patients.
5. If the body is slagged, cranberries will help eliminate excess toxins from it.
6. Prevents anemia as it contains quite a lot of natural iron.
7. Increases the hardness of the body.
8. Improves the service of the central and peripheral nervous system.
9. Vitamin C has always been considered a guarantor of good health, it allowed tired skin and body cells to regenerate, helped lower cholesterol, eliminated the lack of vitamins.
10. The amino acids found in this berry provide tissues with energy, help the absorption of vitamins and minerals necessary for health, help in the coordinated work of the brain, boost the synthesis of protein compounds by stimulating the secretion of the hormone insulin, and burn fat.
11. Tyrosine, which belongs to the class of non-essential protein compositions, takes an active part in the regulation of good mood.
Fruit drink and cranberry jam
Medicinal properties of cranberries
The most useful is the berry, collected in September. Cranberries are a natural antioxidant.
1. Cranberries contain many vitamins and organic acids that successfully fight microbes, viruses and bacteria. Therefore, it helps in the treatment of many diseases, especially during influenza epidemics.
2. Cranberries contain useful substances that nourish the brain, nervous system and muscle tissue.
3. The northern berry regulates the composition of cholesterol in the blood, so it prevents heart attacks, strokes and atherosclerosis.
4. Cranberry strengthens the immune system and blood vessels, can dissolve swelling.
5. Berries are useful for diabetics, kidney diseases and Bladder.
6. A healthy berry is used when the gums or joints get sick. Eating cranberries prevents caries. Cranberries will improve the health of an adult and a child. Healthy, it will strengthen the immune system, and a sick person will help to recover.
The health benefits of cranberries for women
1. Vitamins A and E are used to eliminate signs of premature aging, to lighten the skin, and for various cosmetic masks.
2. Alanine provides the brain and body and muscles with strength, enhances muscle strength, helps women overcome hot flashes during menopause, relieves symptoms of lethargy.
3. Sour berries can delay the onset of skin aging. They prevent the development of hypertension and atherosclerosis. Face masks are prepared from fresh berries. They smooth wrinkles, remove pimples, lighten age spots.
4. There are substances in fresh cranberry juice, they cope with pathogenic microorganisms faster than antibiotics. Thus, the sour berry prevents the development of urinary tract diseases. It cleans the lining of the bladder from bacteria. It is enough to drink ¼ cup of juice daily.
cranberries for pregnant women
Can pregnant women eat cranberries?
It is not only possible, but even necessary, to give cranberries to pregnant women.
1. Folic acid, which is part of cranberries, prevents the development of defects in the baby.
2. The use of cranberries softens the woman's troubles from toxicosis.
3. A pregnant woman often has problems with the stomach and intestines. Northern berry helps to cope with them.
4. Cranberry acts as a diuretic, it gently cleanses the kidneys, thereby eliminating swelling.
5. The sour berry strengthens the membranes of the blood vessels. Nutrients are delivered to the fetus through the umbilical cord. If the vessels are healthy, then the baby will receive enough nutrition. This contributes to its proper development.
6. Cranberries are high in useful substances and vitamins, they have a beneficial effect on the immune system. This is very necessary for a pregnant woman, because she needs to protect herself from diseases for two.
7. Northern berry lowers the amount of cholesterol, prevents the appearance of cholesterol plaques.
8. The use of cranberries serves as a preventive measure against heart attack and stroke.
9. A pregnant woman will benefit from cranberries for her and her baby, but a doctor should be consulted. A pregnant woman can consume about 15 berries daily.
Cranberry Mousse Recipe for Pregnant Women
Preparation of fruit drink for a pregnant woman. You will have to squeeze juice from fresh berries, and dilute the cake with water and put on the stove. When the water boils, remove the container from the stove, cool the liquid and filter. Then add the squeezed juice to the broth. You can improve the quality of fruit drink with sugar or honey. It is allowed to drink a couple of glasses throughout the day, no more.
To prepare a fruit drink, you need 1 liter of water, a little more than half a glass of berries and less than half a glass of sugar. Morse will help to cope with a cold, strengthen the body, it should be drunk warm.
However, if a woman is diagnosed with gastritis, enterocolitis, stomach or duodenal ulcers, then cranberries should not be consumed. If the pressure is lowered, then cranberries should be consumed with caution. This happens in the first 3 months of pregnancy.
An allergic reaction to sour berries is also an obstacle to its use. Allergy manifests itself in the form of a slight rash. In a severe case, the woman has difficulty breathing. Then cranberries from her diet should be urgently excluded.
Cranberry: useful properties for men
Men often suffer from prostatitis and prostate adenoma. Due to the content of nutrients, northern berry help him cope with these diseases.
1. Vitamin K, penetrating into the cell, reduces inflammation, dissolves edema, so urination normalizes, and libido in men increases.
2. Sodium and potassium relieve inflammation in the prostate gland, and in the bladder. These two elements cleanse the genitourinary system of toxins and toxins.
3. B vitamins reduce anxiety and stress, improve sleep.
Cranberries for children, from what age?
1. If the baby is breastfed, then cranberries are allowed to be consumed from 8 months after he has tried cereals and vegetables.
2. When mixtures are used to feed a baby, cranberries are included in the baby's menu a month earlier.
3. But cranberry syrups and fresh berries can be fed after 3 years. For the first intake of sour berries, half a dessert spoon of cranberry puree or fruit drink is enough.
Cranberry juice recipe for kids
Squeeze juice from half a kilogram of cranberries. Dilute the cake in one and a half liters of water and cook for 10 minutes. Filter the broth, cool and mix with squeezed juice. You can drink 10 ml daily. per 1 kg of baby weight.
Cranberries with honey
Cranberries with honey: useful properties and contraindications
Method 1. Grated berries are mixed with beetroot juice and warmed honey in equal proportions. The composition is left for 3-5 days in a dark, cool room in a tightly sealed container, which must be shaken daily.
Then the drink is filtered and drunk in 50-60 ml. at least 3 times daily. The drink helps in the treatment of throat and colds.
Method 2. You can simply grind the berry with a wooden mortar and add honey to taste. The mixture is thoroughly mixed. For the treatment of the throat, a spoonful of the mixture is placed in the mouth, first absorbed, then swallowed.
This medicine should not be consumed if there is an allergy to honey.
Dried cranberries: benefits
1. Dried berries neutralize the damage from free radicals.
2. Increase physical endurance and increase appetite.
3. Cranberry normalizes blood clotting and is useful for mental activity.
4. Improves the function of the digestive organs.
5. Normalizes the acidity of the stomach, if it is lowered.
6. Cleanses the body of harmful viruses and microbes.
7. Dried cranberries are used to prevent dandruff and soften hair.
Cranberries: contraindications
Eating cranberries is good for health, but not everyone can eat it.
1. You can not eat it for people with gastritis, ulcers, with high acidity of the stomach and liver disease.
2. Sour cranberry juice has a detrimental effect on tooth enamel. You should drink cranberry juice through a straw or rinse your mouth with water.
But after heat treatment, everyone can use cranberries.
During the winter cold weather the body needs vitamin support. From the lack of vitamin C, fatigue, nervousness appear, and immunity decreases. Everyone makes up for the lack of vitamin C in the body in their own way: vitamin complexes or fruits.
But it is enough to include in your daily diet cranberries, and you will forget this constant craving for sour, your body will be happy with a full-fledged vitamin replenishment in a living natural way. In addition, cranberries have a number of invaluable medicinal properties, and are simply unique in their composition.
The composition and properties of cranberries
In addition to vitamin C cranberries contains vitamins PP, K, E, A, group B. Cranberries are rich in trace elements: calcium, iodine, iron, phosphorus, manganese. The high content of potassium in cranberries is beneficial for the functioning of the heart muscle and the normal functioning of the nervous system. The northern berry contains many antioxidants that remove radionuclides from the body, promote wound healing, lower cholesterol, and prevent the formation of malignant tumors.
organic acids, which cranberries are rich in, work real miracles. Benzoic acid is a natural preservative and prevents pathogenic bacteria from multiplying. Ursolic acid fights kidney stones, malic acid improves digestion.
Cranberries help with sore throat, rheumatism, tuberculosis, caries, purulent wounds and genitourinary infections. No matter how you lay out the cranberry into its components, it is useful from all sides due to its unique composition and combination of natural elements. A true berry of life.
Recipes to strengthen immunity and treat diseases with cranberries
cranberries easy to buy in any supermarket or market. In autumn, fresh berries appear on sale, but frozen ones are also suitable for consumption. Stock up for the winter - put one or two kilograms of cranberries in the freezer, and you will be provided with a natural and reliable remedy to strengthen immunity.
Front use you need to get as many frozen berries as you can eat in two or three days, put them in a colander, rinse quickly under running cold (not hot!) Water, and transfer to a bowl. The berries should be thawed naturally, and the juice that drains during the defrosting process should not be washed off with water later. Add sugar to taste to the defrosted berries, and crush the cranberries with a wooden pusher, or mash with a spoon.
Get fresh berries in its own juice, which in this form can be eaten to strengthen immunity daily. Crushed cranberries should be eaten a day quite a bit: three to four tablespoons to saturate the body with the daily intake of vitamins. From the resulting crushed berries, you can prepare a fruit drink. Pour the mixture with water, let stand for several hours, and then rub through a sieve. The concentration of juice will depend on the amount of water added. It turns out a delicious tonic drink with live vitamins. Excellent invigorates and gives strength.
If you have a cold, drink from cranberries in a warm form with honey should be taken regularly until complete recovery. For urinary infections it is useful to drink one or two glasses of concentrated cranberry juice. For stomach ulcers and gastritis with low acidity, cranberry juice is diluted 1: 1 with beet juice, and taken 3 times a day, 14 cups. For gum disease, it is useful to chew cranberries several times a day. To treat wounds, use pure cranberry juice (no sugar) diluted 1:1 with water, it will significantly speed up the healing process.
Don't forget that thanks to high the acid content of cranberries is contraindicated for people with high acidity of the stomach, and after eating berries or chewing, you need to rinse your mouth to avoid damage to tooth enamel.
Cranberries can not only be treated or saved from beriberi. This berry is successfully used in cooking due to its rich sour taste. It makes delicious sauces for meat, or sweet and sour desserts.
Bake regular sour cream cake, without removing the cake from the mold, put frozen cranberries on it. Cover cranberries with whipped egg whites and sugar, and put in the oven for 10 minutes until a golden crust appears on the meringue. This amazing homemade cake will delight your household with a combination of sweet cakes and meringue with a contrasting sour taste of cranberries.
The use of cranberries in cosmetology
High content and a wide range of vitamins and organic acids allows us to successfully use cranberries in cosmetology. Acid peeling with cranberries is a simple application of cranberry juice on cleansed facial skin. To reduce the active effect of acids on the skin and soften it, add a drop of honey. After twenty minutes, the mask can be washed off. The skin becomes velvety, sebaceous plugs and comedones dissolve, the complexion improves.
So, the unique northern berry will heal, invigorate, feed, and bestow beauty!
Cranberries are not the most favorite type of berries, because they are quite bitter and sour at the same time. And it becomes not clear whether cranberries are really useful? But it is not in vain that it is called the "lemon from the north", because in terms of the amount of vitamin C it occupies a high place among other fruits and berries. Due to the unique composition, this berry helps to heal and prevent the development of a large number of diseases.
Medicinal properties of cranberries
In addition to vitamin C, cranberries also contain quinic, citric and benzoic acids (the latter of which allows you to keep cranberries fresh and healthy for a long time), vitamins from groups PP, B, K, sugars, carotene, pectin and tannins, essential oil, calcium, iodine, cobalt, copper, boron, magnesium, manganese, etc.
Cranberry
Berries are consumed not only fresh, but also frozen, dried, and soaked. Cranberries make delicious fruit drinks and juices, jellies and jams, cocktails and jelly, as well as cranberry kvass. Salads with cranberries are very tasty; meat dishes are often added to pies.
Useful substances in cranberries
- vitamins of group B, C, K, PP;
- potassium;
- calcium;
- phosphorus;
- iron;
- manganese;
- magnesium;
- copper;
- molybdenum;
- cobalt;
- tin;
- copper;
- chromium;
- titanium;
- zinc.
Cranberry is considered a natural organic antibiotic. Scientists have found that infection in the kidneys, inflammation of the stomach, as well as the large and small intestines most often begin with the ingestion of E.Coli bacteria into the human body. It is quite difficult to fight them with the help of medicines, but fresh cranberry juice contains those substances that allow you to destroy harmful bacteria. Drinking cranberry juice is also an excellent prevention peptic ulcer, which often occurs on the basis of ingestion of bacteria such as Helicobacter pylori.
Today, cranberries grow in almost all corners of Russia, as well as in Far East. A lot of berries are found in Ukraine and most of Europe, found in the northern United States, Canada and Alaska. According to the legend of the Delaware Indians, cranberries grow on the ground where the blood of warriors who fought the giants was shed.
Who is cranberry bad for?
- with a stomach ulcer;
- diseases duodenum;
- with gastritis with high acidity;
- with liver disease;
- with weakened tooth enamel.
How many cranberries a day
According to doctors, just 250-500 ml of fresh cranberry juice daily will help each person avoid most of the unpleasant diseases from viruses and infections. However, you should not abuse and exceed this rate, because cranberry acid in large quantities can adversely affect your health.
How to cook cranberries so as not to lose useful properties
To maximize the benefits of cranberries, it is advisable to eat them fresh. As you know, when heated, most natural products lose most of their beneficial trace elements. Therefore, eat cranberries raw, but do not forget to rinse them thoroughly!
Useful cosmetic recipes with cranberries
Many people know how to use cranberries internally, but masks with this berry are also incredibly useful for our beauty and youth.
Mask with cranberries from oily sheen
1 tsp cranberry juice mixed with 1 tsp. potato flour or oatmeal ground in a blender. Apply all over the face for 20 minutes, then rinse with plenty of water and do not forget to moisturize the skin with a cream. This mask not only reduces the oiliness of the skin, but also cleanses and tightens the pores.
Cranberry mask for problem skin
1 tsp cranberry juice mixed with the same amount of natural grape juice, add 1/2 grated apple, 1 tbsp. honey and a pinch of baby powder. Apply to face for 10 minutes and then rinse with warm water.
Also, compress with cranberry juice will help with acne:
Soak cotton pads in cranberry juice and place on face for 10 minutes. It is advisable to completely relax and lie down while the compress is in effect. After that, wash off the remaining juice with cool water and apply a face cream.
Greetings, dear guests of the site! Cranberry beneficial features which you will learn from this article contains a lot of organic acids, which is why it is so sour! And by the way, that is why it is used as an antipyretic for colds! One more feature of this berry is - a large number of substances of the so-called P-vitamin action that strengthens the walls of blood vessels! Here are two of its most important features! You will also learn more from this article medicinal properties. P.s. I will be a bore =), but you will get complete information.
Does anyone know why she's so sour?
It is due to the high content of organic acids that cranberries are so sour. And this is despite the fact that it contains approximately the same amount of both sugars (3%) and those same organic acids (3%). By the way, it is interesting that the generic name comes from the Greek words "oxys coccus", which means a sour ball. Will you eat sour balls?
What is the therapeutic effect of organic acids?
That is why it should be eaten with colds, pain, to enhance the antibacterial effect of other drugs, including antibiotics. It has long been used also as a good cough medicine, to accelerate the healing of wounds and burns! The berry itself and drinks from it, for example, the well-known cranberry juice, retards the growth and development of various intestinal infections. Back in the 19th century, the famous Russian doctor Goryansky G.P. established and proved that cranberry juice has a stronger detrimental effect on cholera pathogens than classical antibacterial substances: birch tar and carbolic acid. And recent studies by the Institute of Food Technology in the United States have shown that cranberries and their juice do an excellent job with salmanella, E. coli and even staphylococcus aureus. The latter gives hope that this sour berry could become a natural and highly effective food quality control ingredient that will reduce foodborne illness and poisoning. Which of course sounds utopian ... but anything is possible!
What experiments have proven its positive effect on the cardiovascular system?
Thanks to organic acids: ursulic and oleanolic, the venous vessels of the heart expand. This leads to its use in hypertension. Up to 6% of ursulic acid is retained in the squeezes even after making cranberry juice. Conducted studies have shown its cholesterol-lowering effect. In addition, it prevents the formation of plaques in the vessels and the formation of blood clots.
Even experiments were carried out, in one of which 20 volunteers with elevated cholesterol levels (a large amount of low-density lipoprotein, which settles on the walls of blood vessels in the form of fatty plaques) took part. For three months they drank 2-3 glasses of cranberry juice a day. At the end of the experiment, the level of bad cholesterol decreased by 10%, and the level of good (high-density lipoprotein) increased accordingly. In addition, the cranberry itself is extremely rich in P-vitamin compounds, one of which is the strongest antioxidants. The presence of the latter can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, as well as malignant tumors. However, it should be noted that with such therapy you need to have a strong stomach. Frequent use can lead to increased stomach acidity, heartburn, and even gastritis. Therefore, do NOT drink on an empty stomach and remember that everything should be in moderation.
What is the effect on blood vessels and capillaries?
Its benefits are not only the cleansing of blood vessels from cholesterol fatty plaques. It contains a large amount of P-vitamin compounds - flavonoids, represented here by anthocyanins (180 mg per 100 g), leucoanthocyanins (153 mg per 100 g) and catechins (264 mg per 100 g). These substances, one of which is the strongest antioxidant, increase the elasticity and strength of the walls of blood vessels and capillaries, while lowering the content of prothrombin in the blood. In addition to them, an important role in strengthening the walls of blood vessels is played by the presence of vitamin C (up to 35 mg per 100 g), which is actively involved in metabolic processes. These properties help to normalize blood pressure by restoring the elasticity of vascular tissues and protect the capillaries of the brain from stroke.
How does it affect your digestion?
Whether you knew it or not, eating this berry improves your appetite. This is due to the stimulation of the pancreas and the release of gastric juice under the action of organic acids. It also improves bowel function. Fresh berries and extracts from it are also used to treat gastritis (low acidity) and pancreatitis in the initial stage of the disease. On what is this assertion based?
The nature of inflammation of the tissues of the stomach (including ulcers), large and small intestines in many cases is associated with the ingestion of bacteria of the class E-Coli and Helicobacter pylori. Due to the stronger antibacterial effect of cranberry organic acids, pathogens are deformed and die.
However, for people with acute inflammatory diseases of the stomach, intestines, liver and exacerbation of peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum - cranberries are contraindicated! In this case, it can be used only on the advice of a doctor, depending on the state of the body. It is not allowed to drink drinks from this berry and sulfa preparations together. In case of urolithiasis, therapy should be carried out only under the supervision of a doctor (read about this below).
How does it affect the kidneys and bladder?
Due to the presence of minerals, of which potassium predominates (116 mg per 100 g), cranberries have a diuretic effect. In addition, when using this berry and juices from it, you get the strongest antioxidants (we will discuss them below) and antimicrobial substances that do not allow bacteria to gain a foothold on the walls of the urinary tract. This allows you to use it for the treatment and prevention of diseases of the kidneys, urinary tract and bladder. Efficiency in prevention according to studies is high! In the treatment of chronic diseases of the urinary tract in men and women, the best efficiency was obtained in women, because. re-infection in men was caused by the need for intermittent catheterization. At the same time, in the treatment of these diseases with the juice of this berry, the effectiveness depends on the duration of administration and dosage, which imposes some restrictions, because. not everyone has a strong stomach, and the regularity of large dosages can lead to the development of gastrointestinal diseases associated with an increase in acidity in the organs, including the organs of the genitourinary system. Therefore, you do not need to seriously deal with the treatment of such diseases with cranberries on your own - only under the supervision of a doctor! By the way, among the trace elements, a high content of iodine, barium, calcium, magnesium, manganese and iron is also noted. Iron accumulates in large quantities - up to 0.6 mg per 100 g.
Due to what does this berry have an antitumor and rejuvenating effect?
In Russia, this berry has always been considered rejuvenating - having a rejuvenating effect. This popular observation later received a scientific justification: of the 20 studied, the most useful berries and fruits, only cranberries turned out to be the largest number phenolic antioxidants: in particular anthocyanins! Anthocyanins are the strongest antioxidants with regenerative activity. They not only preserve, but also restore collagen (the basis of connective tissue), resist inflammatory processes and neutralize free radicals. And this allows you to save the tissues of all your internal organs, whether it is blood vessels or the bladder, or even the skin (the largest human organ) and save them from the toxic and destructive effects of poisons (free radicals). In addition, it is known that anthocyanins promote better absorption of vitamin C and increase its content inside the cell, which gives a powerful cumulative antioxidant effect. That is why doctors strongly recommend using this berry for the prevention of cancer! All this certainly has a positive effect on the whole organism as a whole, pushing back the destructive processes of aging!
What other effects on the body can be noted? How to store, in what form is it more useful to eat, and how much can you eat at a time?
This berry perfectly tones, refreshes and enhances the mental and physical abilities of a person. And the well-known drink - cranberry juice - is one of the best thirst-quenching drinks after a bath, and tonic drinks for patients after operations, helping to quickly restore strength. Here is his simple recipe:
Boil cranberries (1 cup) in water (1 liter) for 10 minutes, then strain and add 0.5 cups of granulated sugar, bring to a boil and cool! You can add honey instead of sugar.
Temporarily, berries can be stored in bulk for up to 10 days at temperatures up to 15 C. It is necessary to store for a long time with a dry method in baskets, boxes and barrels in ventilated rooms at a temperature of 3-5 C. And when wet - in barrels or jars filled with fresh drinking water in within 1 year. The norm is a handful of berries a day! It is advisable not to eat boiled, but sour - so you get more vitamins from it! Who can not eat sour berries at all - you can add not hot boiled water, stir and drink!
Interesting Facts:
- Do you know at what time of harvesting cranberries are the most useful? Berries ripen in autumn: in August-September. The collection is done in three terms. 1. In September, a hard berry is harvested, which is very well stored, filled with cold water (almost all winter). There are not many useful substances in such a berry. 2. Harvesting in late autumn after the first frost before snowfall will give you the most juicy and sour berries. However, in order to avoid the destruction of vitamin "C", it is best to harvest in late autumn before frost - this will give the most useful berry! 3. Since cranberries can be stored under the snow for a whole year (hence another name for it, “snowdrop”), the collection is carried out in the spring after the snow melts. In such a berry there are already fewer acids and vitamins, it is sweeter and less stale.
- Her other names are: princess, stonefly, crane, snowdrop. By the way, in the Komi language it is called "turipuu", which means "crane lingonberry". This is due to the similarity of the form of its growth with the head of a crane. In English, this berry is called "cranberry" - from the word "crane" - a crane, which again indicates a comparison with this bird.
- Since ancient times in Russia, large cranberries were placed in the ears with a frenzy in the bath. Moreover, my friend also told me about this from personal experience;
How is it treated? Medicinal prescriptions. Use only in consultation with your doctor!
- With hypertension, atherosclerosis, with gastritis with low acidity, colitis, inflammation of the pancreas, with diseases of the kidneys, bladder, obesity, appoint - fruit drink, juice, cranberry syrup 1/4 - 1/2 cup before meals;
- Increase immunity, strengthen sleep, eliminate fatigue - the juice of this sour berry will help! In addition, it relieves fever during illness, cleanses and disinfects purulent wounds and burns, accelerating their healing. Juice drink half a glass with honey for colds, SARS, coughs, sore throats.
- With gastritis with low acidity, colitis with constipation, hypertension, vascular spasms, atherosclerosis, obesity - beetroot and cranberry juice in a 1:1 ratio, 1/4 cup 3 times a day.
- With beriberi - peeled potatoes 200-300 g are rubbed on a fine grater and the juice is squeezed out. Then leave some time (1.2 hours) for the starch to precipitate. Received potato juice mixed with snowdrop juice, obtained by squeezing 50 g of these berries, all this is sweetened. drink 3-4 times a day for half a glass.
- With impaired metabolism, and as a result, with obesity, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis - an infusion of leaves and berries (10 g of berries and 10 g of leaves pour a glass of boiling water, cover for 4 hours) half a glass 3 times a day.
How to cook fruit drink, kvass, jelly and more. Recipes with cranberries for every day!
Compotes, juices:
Teas, cocktails, desserts:
Jam, and just berries
Pastila, jelly and sweets:
For salads, meat and fish dishes:
Here, perhaps, on the topic of the article! I killed you, but I warned that it would not be easy :-). In order to get a little distraction, watch this video, shot by Vadim Makhorov and Vitaly Rascalov. The guys filmed a video as they climb the still unfinished Shanghai Tower. Completion of construction will be in 2014. This is the second tallest building after Burj Khalifa in the UAE. 632 meters high, 121 floors. The most tin begins somewhere from 2, 3 minutes:
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Did you know that cranberries contain one of the highest concentrations of antioxidants of any berry or fruit? Cranberries are one of the leading foods in terms of the amount of antioxidants that promote health and protect our cells from free radical damage. Cranberries are often included in the list of the most useful products on the planet for many reasons, ranging from the ability to reduce local inflammatory processes, ending with an increase general immunity body and much more.
The beneficial antioxidants found in cranberries are superior to many others found in fruits and vegetables, including strawberries, spinach, broccoli, and red grapes. This amazing berry, which is sold fresh, frozen and dried, is commonly used in cooking for making juices, fruit drinks, sauces, jellies and for filling in pastries.
Researchers believe that cranberries contain substances that prevent infection by bacteria that cause infection in the walls of the urinary tract. Cranberries are also an excellent source of many important vitamins and nutrients, including vitamin C, manganese and fiber. Therefore, as you can see, the health benefits of cranberries are incredible. Let's take a closer look best benefits cranberries, as well as the possible harm from its use.
Cranberries - benefits and harms to human health
Nutritional value of cranberries
Cranberries include an amazing collection of phytonutrients, low calories and sugar, and almost no fat or sodium. Many of these phytonutrients offer antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer health benefits.
Cranberry contains:
- An extremely high "antioxidant capacity" score, even outperforming other superfoods or "superfoods" such as strawberries in terms of amounts of specific antioxidants such as proanthocyanidin.
- Cranberries contain only 46 calories per cup of fresh berries.
- Balanced electrolyte levels, including potassium and sodium.
- Low score on the glycemic index.
One serving of fresh cranberries (about 110 grams) contains approximately:
calories: 50.6 kcal
Carbohydrates: 13.4 gr.
Squirrels: 0.4 gr.
Fats: 0.1 gr.
Cellulose: 5.1 gr.
Vitamin C: 14.6 mg. (24%)
Manganese: 0.4 mg (20%)
Vitamin E: 1.3 mg (7%)
Vitamin K: 5.6 mcg (7%)
Vitamin B6: 0.1 mg (3%)
Pantothenic acid: 0.3 mg (3%)
Potassium: 93.5 mg (3%)
Copper: 0.1 mg.(3%)
Along with an impressive amount of vitamins and minerals, cranberries also have a high level of phytonutrients. Some of the most powerful phytonutrients and antioxidants in cranberries include:
Anthocyanins. This class of antioxidants found in cranberries has the ability to scavenge free radicals in the body, and medical studies show benefits in weight loss, cholesterol reduction, and fighting breast cancer.
Quercetin. Arguably the most powerful phytonutrient in this berry, quercetin is anti-inflammatory and has been shown to be effective in reducing allergies, improving joint pain, and reducing arterial wall inflammation.
Benzoic acid. It has powerful antiseptic properties and is the main ingredient in cranberries that reduces the risk of infection and can kill bad bacteria to naturally treat urinary tract infections and even acne.
epicatechins. A class of phytonutrients also found in green tea and red wine. They have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease.
Useful properties of cranberries for human health
Scientists have proven 6 medicinal properties of cranberries, which are used by doctors to prevent and treat the following conditions.
- Prevention and treatment of urinary tract infections
- Reducing inflammation
- Prevention of tumor diseases
- Improving immune function
- Improving the functioning of the digestive system
- Reducing the risk of heart disease
Let's consider each of these properties in more detail.
1. Cranberry Prevents and Treats Urinary Tract Infections
Cranberries are perhaps most widely known for helping to prevent or treat urinary tract infections.
These diseases are about 50 times more common in women than men due to the location of the female urethra. They can affect any part of the urinary tract, but are most commonly found in the bladder, causing cystitis.
Every year, according to experts, more than 15 million cases of urinary tract infections are registered in Russia. The infection causes symptoms of frequent, urgent, or painful urination, and sometimes abdominal pain or blood in the urine. Most diseases of the genitourinary system are caused by harmful bacteria called Escherichia coli (or Escherichia coli). The medicinal effects of cranberries are due to the presence in them of compounds that help keep certain bacteria (such as E. coli) from attaching to the wall of the urinary tract.
The traditional preventive recommendation to prevent cystitis, urethritis and pyelonephritis is to drink one to two glasses of 100% natural pure, unsweetened or lightly sweetened cranberry juice or fruit drink daily. Studies show that women who drink cranberry juice frequently are less likely to suffer from symptoms of urinary tract infections.
Antibiotics are very effective in preventing and treating these infections, but side effects antibiotics, including antibiotic resistance, the spread of yeast infections (thrush), digestive problems, etc., often prevent many women from taking them.
According to some estimates, up to 15% of all prescribed antibiotics are prescribed specifically for the treatment of urinary tract infections. What's more, there is mounting evidence that consuming too many antibiotics can lead to health problems, but thankfully, a natural remedy like using cranberries is becoming a popular and effective alternative.
Some researchers believe that some of the antioxidants in cranberries change bacteria so they can't stick to the urinary tract; others believe that cranberries create a slippery coating on the walls of the urinary tract that prevents E. coli from sticking.
One study examined women who had a history of urinary tract infections caused by E. coli bacteria. Women who drank one glass of cranberry-lingonberry juice every day for six months reduced the risk of recurrence of the disease by 20% compared to women who did not carry out any prophylaxis.
In another study, older people who consumed cranberries in their diet had half the number of bacteria and white blood cells in their urine - signs of urinary tract infections ().
The third study included 20 women with recurrent cystitis. They consumed one serving of sweetened and dried cranberries daily for two weeks. More than half of the patients did not develop cystitis within six months of eating sweetened, dried cranberries, and the six-month average incidence dropped significantly. The results of this study show a positive effect of cranberry consumption in reducing urinary tract infections in susceptible women ().
The results of the study showed that eating cranberries over a 12-month period reduced the overall incidence of urinary tract infections by 35%, and among women with chronic infections, cranberries reduced the annual rate of new infections by 39% ().
2. Cranberries Reduce Inflammation
Inflammation underlies many of the common diseases seen in developed countries, including heart disease, autoimmune disease, cancer, diabetes, and more. Anti-inflammatory foods like cranberries naturally help fight inflammation due to their high antioxidant content.
Antioxidants are found in foods that are naturally colored, such as dark red (cranberries and other berries) or deep blues and purples ( and ). All berries help fight free radicals due to their high antioxidant content, but cranberries turn out to be one of the best sources on earth.
Inflammation occurs when the body's immune system goes into overdrive trying to rid the body of toxins that are produced from unhealthy diets, pollution, etc. A diet low in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory foods leads to an abundance of free radicals in the body. Free radicals, which may seem like something mythical and incomprehensible, are, in fact, a natural by-product that our body creates from daily activities.
Everyone's body produces free radicals, but when there are too many, they multiply and can damage DNA, cell membranes, and enzymes. By frequently eating fresh foods with anti-inflammatory properties, we reduce the effects of free radicals and protect our body by reducing the risk of cancer, improving brain function, lowering levels of "bad" cholesterol and triglycerides, and reducing the likelihood of developing diabetes and autoimmune diseases such as like arthritis.
3. Cranberries May Help Prevent Certain Cancers
Studies have shown that the anti-cancer compounds found in cranberries are beneficial in preventing breast, colon, lung, and prostate cancers.
Both animal and human studies have confirmed these tumor progression slowing effects ( , ). Due to its unique structure of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients, cranberries seem to be ideal for reducing the risk of some common cancers.
Antioxidants are essential for optimizing health by fighting free radicals that can damage cellular structures as well as DNA. Growing evidence from multiple studies suggests that the high content of antioxidant flavonoids found in cranberries and blueberries may help stop the development of age-related diseases due to their ability to limit oxidative stress. That's why they are one of the most popular cancer fighting products.
This is important because, unfortunately, many people experience high levels of oxidative stress from ongoing inflammation in the body caused by poor diet, mental stress, and an unhealthy environment.
4. Cranberries improve immunity
According to some studies, cranberry extract may improve multiple aspects of immune function, and it may reduce the frequency of cold and flu symptoms. high levels a specific substance called proanthocyanidins found in cranberries help the body's immune function to prevent disease.
Proanthocyanidins belong to a larger class of polyphenols that are commonly found in berries and fruits. These powerful polyphenols are capable of stimulating the lining of the gut where it actually resides. most of immune system.
In medicine, it has long been proven that human immunity is formed in the intestines. It is very important to maintain a balance of beneficial and harmful bacteria - the intestinal microbiota. And it is a healthy intestine that is the key to a strong and strong immune system. Because cranberries can slow the growth and development of harmful bacteria—found in toxic foods and viruses that enter the body—healthy immune-boosting bacteria can accumulate and grow in the intestinal walls to create a powerful defense against disease.
Also unique is the combination of three antioxidant nutrients found in cranberries: resveratrol, risoatannol, and pterostilbene. Some research has shown that there is a unique synergy between these nutrients in regards to fighting disease.
The phytonutrients in cranberries provide maximum antioxidant benefits only when they are consumed in combination with each other, and also only when consumed along with the usual antioxidant nutrients that are also present in cranberries, such as manganese and vitamin C.
When processing disrupts this combination of antioxidants, the benefits are reduced; therefore, cranberries are most beneficial when consumed in their natural form and fresh, or in a very high quality extract. This is because it is the unique and naturally occurring blend of cranberry antioxidants that provides the greatest health benefits for humans.
5. Cranberries improve digestion
Cranberries are believed to have cleansing, antidiarrheal, antiseptic and diuretic detoxifying properties. They help the body get rid of toxins and also help relieve bloating and balance fluids in the body. Our digestive system extends beyond just our intestines and stomach—in fact, it begins with our mouth, gums, and tongue.
Recent studies have shown that the benefits of cranberries help optimize the balance of bacteria throughout the digestive tract, acting in a similar way to how the probiotics found in kefir or yogurt create a healthy "gut flora" environment.
The benefits of cranberries for digestive health are undeniable due to their ability to keep the balance of bacteria in the body, preventing the growth of harmful "bad" bacteria and promoting the growth of "good" beneficial bacteria. This not only relieves symptoms like constipation, diarrhea, and heartburn, but also helps boost immunity and nutrient absorption, as a healthy gut wall is important for both of these functions.
6. Cranberries reduce the risk of heart disease
The cardiovascular benefits of cranberries come from the combined effects of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory phytonutrients. Studies in which subjects consumed about 100 grams of cranberries every day showed that cranberries can prevent the release of two enzymes that play a key role in the development of heart disease. Cranberries have also been shown to prevent the activation of these enzymes by blocking the activity of a pro-inflammatory molecule called tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha).
The antioxidant benefits of cranberries have been linked to a reduced risk of various markers of heart disease, including high blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol levels. Cranberries are a natural way to help reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke because they dilate blood vessels, reduce inflammation, and increase blood flow.
In animal studies where low-calorie cranberry juice and cranberry extracts were consumed in rats and mice, antioxidant benefits were clearly associated with a reduced risk of high blood pressure. Cranberry extract helped prevent excessive constriction of blood vessels, which can lead to cardiac arrest or other forms of heart disease (). Compared to many blood pressure and heart medications, which can cause complications in some people, cranberries are virtually harmless and carry no risky side effects.
Many studies have shown that patients taking cranberry extract or eating fresh berries experience positive vasodilatation and increased blood flow, with positive effects seen on both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Cranberries are also an excellent source of vitamin C, which may also have a blood pressure lowering effect. One cup of cranberries contains 18% of the daily value of vitamin C.
According to recent studies, eating cranberries can lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure by up to three bars, which promotes a healthier cardiovascular system and lower risk of heart disease and stroke ().
Many recent studies have shown that whole cranberries consumed fresh, compared to purified cranberry extracts that are in liquid or dried form, are better at protecting the cardiovascular system and the liver. This is another reason to buy fresh cranberries and use them in a wide variety of recipes that you make yourself.
How to choose and how to store cranberries
Cranberries are widely distributed in Russia, especially in the northern regions. Cranberries also grow all over the world, usually in countries with temperate climates and cold winters. Cranberries are popular in Russian, American, European and Middle Eastern cuisines, and in dried form in cuisines of other parts of the world.
Cranberries are grown by many farms in Russia. Cranberry picking usually takes place in September and October. This best time to buy fresh berries.
When choosing cranberries, look for fresh, plump berries that have a rich red color. Berries should be firm to the touch; hardness is an indicator of quality. Bright red berries have a higher concentration of beneficial anthocyanin compounds.
Dried cranberries are easy to find at any grocery store throughout the calendar year. Fresh cranberries can be stored in the refrigerator for about 20 days, frozen berries can be stored much longer - for several years.
You can also buy frozen cranberries from the store. Often it is sold at lower prices.
Cranberries can be eaten fresh, cooked or dried. But all of the health benefits of cranberries are found most in fresh berries, although any way you eat cranberries will still bring you many benefits, as long as the berries aren't overcooked or mixed with sugar.
Often, cranberries are processed into products such as juices, canned sauces, sweet jams, and sweetened dried cranberries that already lack many of their nutrients. A much healthier idea is to prepare your own cranberry dish in a way that provides the maximum possible amount of nutrients and avoids excess sugar. But remember that the delicate vitamins, antioxidants, and enzymes in cranberries cannot withstand the temperature used in baking, which is typically around 120 degrees Celsius.
Potential health risks of cranberries
- If you are taking the blood-thinning drug Warfarin, you are advised not to consume cranberries because some evidence suggests that cranberries may increase the effect of the drug on the body. Several cases have been associated with patients who experienced an increase in bleeding due to suspected consumption of cranberries while taking Warfarin.
- Cranberry products may contribute to the formation of kidney stones due to increased urinary oxalate excretion. Cranberries are a small number of foods that contain measurable amounts of oxalates, which are naturally occurring substances found in plants, animals, and humans. Although the amount of oxalates found in cranberries is relatively low (1.5%), they are able to increase the amount of oxalates and calcium in the urine, resulting in urine with elevated concentrations of calcium oxalate.
Final Thoughts on Cranberries
- Cranberries have one of the highest concentrations of antioxidants. Cranberries are also an excellent source of many important vitamins and nutrients, including vitamin C, manganese, and fiber.
- Cranberries have been shown to reduce inflammation in the body, boost immunity, prevent and treat urinary tract infections, benefit the digestive tract, reduce the risk of heart disease, and potentially even help prevent certain forms of cancer.
- Some of the most powerful antioxidants in cranberries include anthocyanins, quercetin, benzoic acid, and epicatechins.
- Cranberries retain the maximum amount of nutrients and taste fresh. Its delicate nutrients, including vitamins, antioxidants, and enzymes, are thought to be unable to withstand the temperatures used in baking, which are typically around 120 degrees Celsius.
The beneficial properties of cranberries have been known for a very long time. Scientists put cranberries in the category of the most useful foods for health. Numerous studies have been published in the last 30 years, proving that this berry represents an excellent defense against many diseases. Cranberries contain antioxidants, vitamin C, fiber and potassium.
1. Antioxidant properties
Helps to strengthen the protective antioxidant properties of the body, protects blood cells, heart, skin, brain and others
2. Neutralizes germs
Due to the presence of proanticyanides in cranberries, it helps prevent microbes from attaching to the cell walls of the digestive and genitourinary systems and thereby prevents the damage they cause.
3. Helps Prevent Urinary Inflammation
Proanticyanides prevent E coli bacteria from lingering on the walls of the bladder and multiplying, and as a result, they are washed out in the urine, thereby reducing the risk of inflammation. Many studies confirm that a glass of cranberry juice 1-2 times a day can reduce the risk of urinary tract inflammation by 20% and reduce the recurrence of inflammation by 40%.
4. Reducing the risk of developing ulcers
Cranberries reduce the risk of developing stomach ulcers. Cranberry juice prevents Lycobacter bacteria from attaching to the walls of the urinary tract and stomach cells, and therefore they are excreted and do not multiply. In many cases, 2 cups of cranberry juice helps prevent Lycobacter infection in adults and children. It also helps reduce the risk of inflammation and stomach ulcers, which increase the risk of stomach cancer.
5. Reduces Bad Cholesterol
Cranberries help lower bad cholesterol (LDL) levels and increase good cholesterol (HDL) levels, which protects circulatory system thereby helping to prevent atherosclerosis and other diseases of the circulatory system
6. Fights cancer cells
Due to the presence of proanticyanides, cranberries help to slow down the development and spread of cancer cells.
7. Inhibits the development of caries and gum disease
Numerous studies carried out in last years, have shown that special polyphenols found in cranberries prevent infection of the gums by microbes found in oral cavity.
8. May Prevent Influenza
Perhaps in the near future it will be possible to fight the flu with cranberries. The first such study, conducted by Israeli scientists from the University of Jerusalem, showed that the active ingredients in cranberries prevented the virus from attaching to cell walls and thus prevented the development of the disease. It's still too early to draw firm conclusions, but researchers agree that a cranberry drink may also help fight the flu virus.
Which is better: fresh or dried cranberries? The antioxidant properties of cranberries are preserved in any form: frozen, in jam, in dried berries. It can be used as a dessert, added to salads, smoothies and meat dishes.
How many cranberries are recommended per day?
1-2 glasses of cranberry juice are recommended to ensure that the body gets the benefits that cranberries provide.
A glass of juice contains 108 calories, 27 g of carbohydrates A glass of diet cranberry juice contains 20 calories and 5 g of carbohydrates. Approved for diabetics and contains sucrasite.
A glass of juice equals 1.5 cups of fresh or frozen berries or 2 tablespoons of dried cranberries (30 g)
1. Antioxidant properties.
Helps to strengthen the protective antioxidant properties of the body, protects blood cells, heart, skin, brain and others.
2. Neutralizes microbes.
Due to the presence of proanticyanides in cranberries, it helps prevent microbes from attaching to the cell walls of the digestive and genitourinary systems and thereby prevents the damage they cause.
3. Helps prevent inflammation of the urinary system.
Proanticyanides prevent E Coli bacteria from lingering on the walls of the bladder and multiplying, and as a result, they are washed out in the urine, thereby reducing the risk of inflammation. Many studies confirm that a glass of cranberry juice 1-2 times a day can reduce the risk of urinary tract inflammation by 20% and reduce the recurrence of inflammation by 40%.
4. Reducing the risk of developing ulcers.
Cranberries reduce the risk of developing stomach ulcers. Cranberry juice prevents Lycobacter bacteria from attaching to the walls of the urinary tract and stomach cells, and therefore they are excreted and do not multiply. In many cases, 2 cups of cranberry juice helps prevent Lycobacter infection in adults and children. It also helps reduce the risk of inflammation and stomach ulcers, which increase the risk of stomach cancer.
5. Reduces bad cholesterol levels.
Cranberries help lower bad cholesterol (LDL) levels and increase good cholesterol (HDL) levels, which protect the circulatory system, thereby helping to prevent atherosclerosis and other diseases of the circulatory system.
6. Fights cancer cells.
Due to the presence of proanticyanides, cranberries help to slow down the development and spread of cancer cells.
7. Inhibits the development of caries and gum disease.
Numerous studies conducted in recent years have shown that the special polyphenols contained in cranberries prevent oral microbes from infecting the gums.
8. Possibly prevent influenza infection.
Perhaps in the near future it will be possible to fight the flu with cranberries. The first such study, conducted by Israeli scientists from the University of Jerusalem, showed that the active ingredients in cranberries prevented the virus from attaching to cell walls and thus prevented the development of the disease. It's still too early to draw firm conclusions, but researchers agree that a cranberry drink may also help fight the flu virus.
Which is better: fresh or dried cranberries? The antioxidant properties of cranberries are preserved in any form: frozen, in jam, in dried berries. It can be used as a dessert, added to salads, smoothies and meat dishes.
- 1-2 glasses of cranberry juice are recommended to ensure that the body gets the benefits that cranberries provide.
- Approved for diabetics and contains sucrasite.
- A glass of juice equals 1.5 cups of fresh or frozen berries or 2 tablespoons of dried cranberries (30 g).
