More Health Benefits from Cranberries
Cranberries aren’t just for Thanksgiving. Not only are they tart and yummy,
the latest news about cranberries is that they can protect against heart
disease. Previous studies have shown health benefits in treating urinary tract
infections (UTI), gum disease, ulcers, and even cancer. Now a study from the
University of Wisconsin shows that they contain antioxidant compounds that help
vascular function, which can improve chances of avoiding heart attack and
stroke.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary
Medicine used pigs to study the effects of taking cranberry juice powder
regularly over six months and found a big improvement in the ability of blood
vessels to relax. They have found that pigs make an excellent animal model for
atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) because they have hearts that are
similar to humans. Some pigs have a genetic defect that causes them to
spontaneously develop high cholesterol, leading to hardening of the arteries
The researchers admit that an optimal amount of cranberries has not been
determined yet. The amount of dried cranberry juice used in this study would be
10-20 servings a day, but the same benefits may be available from other foods
that contain similar naturally derived antioxidants, flavonoids and other
polyphenols. These foods are presumed to have the same anti-inflammatory
properties as cranberries and may protect against heart disease. Western diets
don’t include enough foods such as pomegranates and grape seed extract and
fruits and vegetables high in polyphenols. It would not take much to add a few
of these foods into your daily diet to achieve the levels that were used in
this study.
The researchers plan to use whole cranberries in future studies, because
they want to see the effects of whole fruits and vegetables on the heart.
SOURCE: The American Physiological Society
www.the-aps.org/press/conference/eb05/4.htm