| CRANBERRIES Why They Are Oh...So Good For You |
 Nature's
foods have always provided the answers for good health and the more we
eat unnatural or manufactured foods, the less we enjoy vibrant health!
Health boosting antioxidants, flavonoids, enzymes, amino acids,
vitamins, minerals and natural chemical compounds in plant foods
cannot be replicated by man made foods. Natural foods such as fruits,
vegetables, plants and herbs are the earth's pharmacy for all living
things ... so we actually do injustice to their healing power when we
put them in the same category as manufactured foods. There is simply
no comparison and our bodies often bear the consequences of eating
unnatural foods. It's important to maintain a healthy diet that
includes a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits because of their powerful
nutrients. Cranberries contain a wide array of powerful antioxidants that have anti bacterial and anti pathogenic properties. These antioxidants target and fight against free radicals or harmful molecules in the body. Wherever cells are in danger of nutritive starvation, damage, mutation, susceptibility to pathogens or becoming cancerous, cranberries contain the resources to provide cellular immunity to internal, adverse conditions as well as regeneration. These days, the word 'antioxidant' is everywhere but antioxidants have helped man heal and regenerate his body from the beginning of time. The difference is that people are more interested in how to take control of their health by understanding what foods and lifestyle habits meet the body's health requirements. Cranberries have been established as a natural preventative against urinary tract infections. They contain proanthocyanidins which prevent bacterial adhesion in the body, such as Escherichia Coli in the urinary tract and H. Pylori in the gut. H. Pylori bacteria is the underlying cause of peptic ulcers and thrives in the mucosal lining of the stomach wall and duodenum. It neutralises hydrochloric acid and causes acid reflux disease, stomach inflammation and stomach cancer. In addition, cranberries reduce the aggregation of streptococcus in the oral cavity or mouth thereby reducing the formation of dental plaque and periodontal disease. |
Scientists have found that cranberries also protect the brain from oxidative damage. Their ability to provide oxygen, nutrients and improved cellular respiration results in mental alertness, longer term memory function as well as other improved cognitive functions such as concentration. Cranberries is a good natural source of natural treatment for Alzheimer's Disease and protects the brain from neurological damage. Drinking two glasses a day along with a healthy diet high in fruits and vegetables or vegetable and fruit juices are known to alleviate the effects of Alzheimer's. Cranberries have also been found to lower bad cholesterol or low density lipoprotein (LDL) and help raise good cholesterol or high density lipoprotein (HDL). Bad cholesterol reduces blood flow to the heart resulting in various forms of heart disease. Flavonoids found in cranberries work against the accumulation of bad cholesterol.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, cranberries top the list for their Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) which is a unit of measurement for the potency of antioxidants in foods and their ability to destroy free radicals. The test measures the time the antioxidants take to react and their capacity to attack free radicals and foreign substances in a sample. The recommended daily allowance for antioxidants is 5000 ORAC units. Eating more than this per day provides even more rejuvenating effects on the body. So snack on some fresh cranberries and other natural foods to keep healthy.
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Table showing ORAC units in various fruits:
| Cranberry - 9584 | Blueberry - 6552 | Plum - 6259 | Blackberry - 5347 | Raspberry - 4882 | Strawberry -3577 |
| Cherry - 3365 | Apple - 3082 | Pear - 2941 | Advocado - 1933 | Orange l- 1819 | Peach - 1814 |
| Tangerine - 1620 | Grape, red- 1260 | Grapefruit - 1238 | Kiwifruit- 1210 | Grape,green-1118 | Apricot - 1115 |
| Mango - 1002 | Banana - 879 | Nectarine - 750 | Pineapple - 562 | Honeydew - 241 | Watermelon - 142 |
| Urinary Health The Urinary System is comprised of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. It filters the blood and removes waste chemicals from the body. Supplements promote the health of the urinary system and target kidney inflammatory conditions, urinary infections and acute or chronic kidney weakness. Common concerns of the urinary system are bladder and kidney infection, kidney stones, incontinence, cystitis, pain and irritation, diabetes, kidney cysts, water retention and back pain. |