The American cranberry is one of several fruits native to North America. Today, Massachusetts and Wisconsin are the primary states of commercial cranberry production. Once only used as a side dish for the turkey on Thanksgiving Day, the cranberry is now being incorporated into more recipes. These recipes take advantage of both the tartness of the fruit and its high number of nutrients and antioxidants.
Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections plague more women than men because of the structural differences in the urinary tracts of the sexes. The male urethra is longer than the female's and not as prone to injury during sexual intercourse. According to the website MedlinePlus, drinking cranberry juice cocktail is possibly effective in the prevention of repeated urinary tract infections in women. It may also help prevent urinary tract infections in hospitalized men and women who are at higher risk after a urinary catheter was placed. This same research also supports the use of cranberry extract contained in capsules.
Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy
In a research study performed in the Czech Republic, dried cranberries were found to ease urinary tract symptoms in men who suffered from benign prostatic hypertrophy. This is a condition in which the prostate becomes larger than normal for reasons other than cancer. This increase in size squeezes the urethra and makes it more difficult for a man to urinate. Published in 2010 in the "British Journal of Nutrition," the research reported that after 180 days of using cranberry extract, men reported a significant improvement, while those not taking the cranberry actually reported a decline. The treated group experienced an improvement in the rate of urine flow, and they also had lower PSA, or prostate specific antigen, blood levels. PSA is a protein made by the prostate gland that becomes elevated when a man experiences benign prostatic hypertrophy or prostate cancer.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a well-established marker for cardiovascular disease risk. It is a fatty substance that is manufactured in the liver or in the food you eat. According to Dr. Kang at HealthCentral.com, cranberries have a beneficial effect, both directly and indirectly, on the level of cholesterol in the blood. The antioxidants in cranberries help prevent low density lipoprotein cholesterol from changing into molecules that invade the arterial walls, causing significant damage. These antioxidants also help the liver to absorb more cholesterol and eliminate it through the intestinal tract. Much of the research using cranberry to reduce cholesterol level has been done with concentrated cranberry juice and not cranberry extracts. There was also an adverse effect found with a slight increase in triglycerides directly attributed to the increase in sugar intake from the juice, which is not found in the extract.
Antioxidants
Cranberries and cranberry extract are also high in plant based antioxidants. According to The Cranberry Institute, cranberries contain antioxidants used by the body to neutralize free radicals. These free radicals are damaging chemicals that are released during oxidative metabolism. They cause damage to the DNA of cells and can lead to illnesses and disease. Fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants provide the body with the compounds it needs to fight these free radicals. When compared with 19 other fruits, cranberries were found to have the highest amounts of antioxidants called phenols, known for their ability to fight cancer cells.
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