Cranberries are the fruit berries that belongs to the evergreen dwarf shrub. It belongs to subgenus Oxycoccus of the genus Vaccinium. It is a major commercial crop and is cultivated in various American states and Canadian provinces. Cranberries are mostly processed and used as juice, sauce, and jam.
Being a good source of many nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, dietary fibers and other compounds like phytonutrients and polyphenols, etc. they provide a number of benefits. In this article, we will know about the major health and beauty benefits of cranberries.
# Aids In Preventing Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)Consuming cranberries on a regular and moderate basis have been found to be very beneficial for preventing urinary tract infections.This benefit of cranberries is mainly because of the presence of many nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients and other compounds in them.
The antioxidants like Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and other antioxidantal compounds protect our vital organs like liver and kidneys from the oxidative damage caused by the free radicals and allows them to perform optimally.The compounds such as proanthocyanidins present in the chokeberries provide anti-clinging properties which means they prevent the bacteria from binding itself to the cells on the bladder and also prevents them from multiplying further.
# Good For EyesOur eyes are our window to the world as they allow us to enjoy the beauty of this world. It is therefore important for us to make sure that we are taking good care of our eyes, and cranberries can help in doing the same.
Consuming cranberries on a regular and moderate basis has been found to be very beneficial for our eyes and helps in keeping our vision sharp. This benefit of cranberries is mainly due to the presence of vitamin A in it. Vitamin A is an essential nutrient for our eyes and plays a significant role in keeping our eyes healthy.
In addition to this, cranberries are also a good source of many antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin A and other antioxidantal compounds like polyphenols and phytonutrients. These antioxidants protect our eyes from the oxidative damage caused by the free radicals and thus reduces the risk of age-related macular degeneration, cataract, glaucoma, etc.
# Good For People With DiabetesEating cranberries on a regular and moderate basis have been found to be very beneficial for diabetic patients and for those who are at the risk of developing diabetes.
This benefit of cranberries is because of its medium glycemic index. Glycemic index is the rate at which sugar gets released into the bloodstream. Being a medium glycemic index fruit, it doesn’t release sugar into the bloodstream at a high rate and this helps in keeping our blood sugar under control
Additionally, the dietary fibers present in the cranberries reduce the rate at which sugar gets absorbed into the bloodstream and thus helps in managing diabetes.
# Keeps Blood Pressure Under ControlConsuming cranberries on a regular and moderate basis have been found to be very beneficial for providing relief from high blood pressure or hypertension.
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a major health problem which affects millions of people around the world and is a leading cause of various cardiovascular problems like heart attack, heart stroke, irregular heartbeat and so on.
This benefit of cranberries is mainly because of the presence of potassium in it. Potassium is a vital mineral that acts as a natural vasodilator which means it relaxes our blood vessels, improves blood circulation and thus aids in regulating blood pressure and provides relief from hypertension.
# Keeps Our Digestive System HealthyRegular and moderate consumption of cranberries is good for our stomach and helps in keeping our digestive system healthy.
This benefit of cranberries is mainly because of the presence of dietary fibers in them. The dietary fibers present in the cranberries act as a natural laxative which means it improves bowel movement and ensures smooth elimination of stool from our system.
This not only provides relief from constipation and but also reduces the risk of other digestive problems like abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome, stomach cramps, gas, bloating, etc.Dietary fibers also absorb excess water from our system and thus reduces the risk of diarrhea.
# Provides Anti-inflammatory benefitsConsuming cranberries on a regular and moderate basis is very effective for providing relief from pain and inflammation caused by inflammatory diseases like gouts, arthritis, and rheumatism, etc.
This benefits of cranberries are mainly due to the presence of Vitamin C in it. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that possesses anti-inflammatory benefits. It not only protects our cells from the oxidative damage caused by the free radicals but also provides relief from pain and inflammation caused by the inflammation problems like gouts, arthritis, and rheumatism, etc.