We Should Eat Cranberries Year Round

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 27, 2007

Cranberry season is coming. I have already had questions on them come into the office this year so far! But, you know what.... we'd all be healthier if we ate cranberries year round rather than limiting their presence to a few special meals each year. In fact, cranberries (along with other related small fruited edible berries) protect against a wide variety of ailments, including urinary tract infections, cardiovascular disease, cancer, attention-deficit disorder, diabetes and are the number-one antidote for aging.

The berries actually interfere with the bacterial-landing mechanism, preventing them from taking hold on the rough walls of the bladder and preventing colonization that can lead to infections. For the first time, we are able to establish effective dosage recommendations for patients.

Natural ingredients found in high concentrations in the berries are capable of inhibiting the initiation of carcinogenesis, as well as inhibiting tumor formation. It's remarkable that the berries have exhibited such far-ranging and diverse roles in human health protection.

Diets rich in berries enhance dopamine release in the brain as well, which improves the brain cells' ability to communicate. This brain function is reduced with age, but research has shown that eating berries, particularly blueberries, can reverse the age-related decline in brain signals. We know now that cranberries contain many of the same key bioactives as blueberries.

The health benefits derived from eating berries may not be the same if taken as a dietary supplement from a bottle. Dietary supplements are frequently produced and marketed based on one recognized bioactive component. They fail to look at the contribution of other components from the whole plant food.

There appears to be a relationship between all the components that make up a plant food. When one component is separated out, the maximum effect is not seen. So, a dietary supplement containing only one isolated extract of a cranberry cannot be expected to provide full benefits, and will not mimic the same results if someone were to eat the whole berry.

Fresh cranberries are available in the produce department of most grocery stores. Dried cranberries are becoming a popular snack and can be used in many recipes as a substitute for raisins.

Canned cranberry sauce is another option. Although the heating process for canning may take some of "the good stuff" out of the berries, what's left in the canned variety can be more easily absorbed into the body.