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| Common name: |
cranberry |
| Scientific name: |
Vaccinium macrocarpon |
| Synonyms: |
crane berry, marshwort, fenne berry |
| Parts used: |
fruit, fresh, dried or as a juice |
Overview:
Cranberries
grow on low spreading evergreen shrubs in marshes or boggy land. The
cranberry bush has upright branches with leaves that are flecked with
white dots on the underside. It produces pink blossoms in June and July
with the berries appearing soon after. The cranberry is closely
related to the blue berry, huckleberry and bilberry.
The use of cranberries dates as far back as the Iron Age. The
Romans were the first to record their medicinal properties. They found
the cranberry in use in the British Isles and brought them back to
Rome. The Romans used cranberries as a treatment for gout.
Since being mentioned by herbalist Henry Lyte in 1578, the cranberry
has been used to treat a variety of illnesses and conditions. Modern
science is beginning to confirm the cranberry’s usefulness in treating
a variety of illnesses and it nutritional value.
Active Ingredients:
| Protein |
0.36 |
g |
| Lipids |
0.13 |
g |
| Carbohydrates |
12.20 |
g |
| Fiber |
4.6 |
g |
| Sugars |
4.04 |
g |
| Calcium |
8 |
mg |
| Iron |
0.25 |
mg |
| Magnesium |
6 |
mg |
| Vitamin A |
60 |
I/U |
| Vitamin C |
13.3 |
mg |
| Thiamine |
0.12 |
mg |
| Riboflavin |
0.02 |
mg |
| Niacin |
0.101 |
mg |
| Phosphorus |
13 |
mg |
| Potassium |
85 |
mg |
| Sodium |
2 |
mg |
To see a complete breakdown of the nutrition in cranberry please
refer to the nutritional analysis from the USDA at the end of this
monograph.
Chemically active substances in cranberries are:
- Pterostilbene, a powerful anti oxidant found in cranberries with proven anti cancer properties.
- Proanthocyanidins
and anthocyanins. The substances that are responsible for the
cranberry’s red color and also many of its health giving benefits,
especially its ability to prevent urinary tract infections.
- Organic acids. These compounds give the cranberry its sour taste and are responsible for the cranberry’s ability to prevent kidney stones.
- Tannins. The compounds are astringent, or drying, and are useful in treating diarrhea.
- Pectins.
Soluble fiber that bulks up the stool and makes cranberries an
excellent source of fiber and helps control lipid levels and protects
against colon cancer.
Traditional uses:
The cranberry’s traditional uses are many. They include their use:
- As a treatment for gout and rheumatism
- As a treatment for diarrhea
- As treatment for constipation
- To treat scurvy, the disease caused by severe vitamin C defiency
- To treat skin conditions such as eczema
- To treat urinary tract infections and dissolve kidney stones.
Clinical uses:
The healing properties of cranberries have been extensively studied
by the scientific community. These studies have confirmed the
cranberries use for:
- Treatment and prevention of urinary tract infections.
Studies in the 1990’s confirmed that drinking cranberry juice. By
drinking 10oz of cranberry juice a day the risk of urinary tract
infections is greatly reduced. Researchers have found that it is not
the berry’s acidity that protects against urinary tract infections but
the antibacterial properties of its proanthocyanidins.
- Prevent
kidney stones. By simply drinking 16 oz of cranberry juice daily will
help prevent the formation of kidney stone. This is caused by the
ability of the cranberry to acidify the urine.
- The prevention and treatment of peptic ulcers. Preliminary studies have shown that cranberries can prevent the bacteria Helicobacter pylori
(responsible for the development of peptic ulcers) from adhering to the
lining of the stomach preventing the formation of ulcers.
- The
prevention of cavities and gingivitis. Several studies have shown that
cranberries help prevent cavities and gingivitis by the same method
that it protects the formation of peptic ulcer, by preventing the
bacteria from adhering to the teeth and gums.
- Helping to control HDL levels and improve the health of the entire cardiovascular system.
Recommended Dosage:
Pediatric
For minor urinary tract infections the average recommended dosage for
a 50lb child is 16 oz of cranberry juice/day. As more studies need to
be done in children, a child with a suspected or confirmed urinary
tract infection should have his or her care directed by a health care
practitioner.
Adult
- Juice: 3 or more ounces of cranberry juice per day.
- Powdered in capsule form: 6 capsules per day
- Fresh or frozen berries: 1.5 ounces per day.
Contra-indications:
- Active urinary tract
infections. Cranberries should not be substituted for antibiotics in
active urinary tract infections but used as a supplemental therapy.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Large quantities of cranberry juice or capsules can cause diarrhea in IBS patients
- Diabetes. People with diabetes should used sugar free cranberry juice or take capsules or powdered concentrates
- Excessive cranberry consumption can lead to diarrhea and a risk of developing kidney stones.
Drug interactions
There have been no identifiable interaction between the consumption of cranberries and any drug.
Complete nutritional analysis from the US Department of Agriculture
NDB No: 09078 (Nutrient values and weights are for edible portion)
| Nutrient |
Units |
Value per
100 gms |
Number
of Data
Points |
Std.
Error |
Proximates  |
| Water |
g |
87.13 |
4 |
0.277 |
| Energy |
kcal |
46 |
0 |
- |
| Energy |
kj |
194 |
0 |
- |
| Protein |
g |
0.39 |
4 |
0.096 |
| Total lipid (fat) |
g |
0.13 |
4 |
0.032 |
| Ash |
g |
0.15 |
4 |
0.029 |
| Carbohydrate, by difference |
g |
12.20 |
0 |
- |
| Fiber, total dietary |
g |
4.6 |
4 |
0.117 |
| Sugars |
g |
4.04 |
4 |
0.255 |
| Sucrose |
g |
0.13 |
4 |
0.023 |
| Glucose (dextrose) |
g |
3.28 |
4 |
0.194 |
| Fructose |
g |
0.63 |
4 |
0.069 |
| Lactose |
g |
0.00 |
4 |
0 |
| Maltose |
g |
0.00 |
4 |
0 |
| Galactose |
g |
0.00 |
4 |
0 |
| Starch |
g |
0.00 |
4 |
0 |
Minerals |
| Calcium, Ca |
mg |
8 |
4 |
0.36 |
| Iron, Fe |
mg |
0.25 |
4 |
0.048 |
| Magnesium, Mg |
mg |
6 |
4 |
0.125 |
| Phosphorus, P |
mg |
13 |
4 |
0.659 |
| Potassium, K |
mg |
85 |
4 |
2.481 |
| Sodium, Na |
mg |
2 |
4 |
0.957 |
| Zinc, Zn |
mg |
0.10 |
4 |
0.006 |
| Copper, Cu |
mg |
0.061 |
4 |
0.002 |
| Manganese, Mn |
mg |
0.360 |
4 |
0.025 |
| Selenium, Se |
mcg |
0.1 |
2 |
- |
Vitamins |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid |
mg |
13.3 |
4 |
1.238 |
| Thiamin |
mg |
0.012 |
4 |
0.001 |
| Riboflavin |
mg |
0.020 |
4 |
0.004 |
| Niacin |
mg |
0.101 |
4 |
0.003 |
| Pantothenic acid |
mg |
0.295 |
4 |
0.03 |
| Vitamin B-6 |
mg |
0.057 |
4 |
0.013 |
| Folate, total |
mcg |
1 |
4 |
0 |
| Folate acid |
mcg |
0 |
0 |
- |
| Folate, food |
mcg |
1 |
4 |
- |
| Folate, DFE |
mcg_DFE |
1 |
0 |
- |
| Choline, total |
mg |
5.5 |
0 |
- |
| Vitamin B-12 |
mcg |
0.00 |
0 |
- |
| Betaine |
mg |
0.2 |
1 |
- |
| Vitamin B-12 |
mcg |
0.00 |
0 |
- |
| Vitamin B-12, added |
mcg |
0.00 |
0 |
_ |
| Vitamin A, IU |
IU |
60 |
4 |
5 |
| Vitamin A, RAE |
mcg_RAE |
3 |
4 |
0.25 |
| Retinol |
mcg |
0 |
0 |
- |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) |
mg |
1.20 |
4 |
0.119 |
| Vitamin E, added |
mg |
0.00 |
0 |
- |
| Tocopherol, beta |
mg |
0.00 |
4 |
0 |
| Tocopherol, gamma |
mg |
0.04 |
4 |
0.003 |
| Tocopherol, delta |
mg |
0.00 |
4 |
0 |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) |
mcg |
5.1 |
4 |
0.448 |
Lipids |
Fatty acids, total saturated |
g |
0.011 |
0 |
- |
| 4:0 |
g |
0.000 |
0 |
- |
| 6:0 |
g |
0.000 |
0 |
- |
| 8:0 |
g |
0.000 |
0 |
- |
| 10:0 |
g |
0.000 |
0 |
- |
| 12:0 |
g |
0.000 |
0 |
- |
| 14:0 |
g |
0.000 |
0 |
- |
| 16:0 |
g |
0.006 |
0 |
- |
| 18:0 |
g |
0.002 |
0 |
- |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated |
g |
0.018 |
0 |
- |
| 16:1 undifferentiated |
g |
0.001 |
0 |
- |
| 18:1 undifferentiated |
g |
0.018 |
0 |
- |
| 20:1 |
g |
0.000 |
0 |
- |
| 22:1 undifferentiated |
g |
0.000 |
0 |
- |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated |
g |
0.055 |
0 |
- |
| 18:2 undifferentiated |
g |
0.033 |
0 |
- |
| 18:3 undifferentiated |
g |
0.022 |
0 |
- |
| 18:4 |
g |
0.000 |
0 |
- |
| 20:4 undifferentiated |
g |
0.00 |
0 |
- |
| 20:5 n-3 |
g |
0.00 |
0 |
- |
| 22:5 n-3 |
g |
0.00 |
0 |
- |
| 22:6 n-3 |
g |
0.00 |
0 |
- |
| Cholesterol |
mg |
0 |
0 |
- |
| Amino acids |
| Tryptophan |
g |
0.003 |
0 |
- |
| Threonine |
g |
0.028 |
0 |
- |
| Isoleucine |
g |
0.033 |
0 |
- |
| Leucine |
g |
0.053 |
0 |
- |
| Lysine |
g |
0.039 |
0 |
- |
| Methionine |
g |
0.003 |
0 |
- |
| Cystine |
g |
0.003 |
0 |
- |
| Phenylalanine |
g |
0.036 |
0 |
- |
| Tyrosine |
g |
0.032 |
0 |
- |
| Valine |
g |
0.045 |
0 |
- |
| Arginine |
g |
0.056 |
0 |
- |
| Histidine |
g |
0.018 |
0 |
- |
| Alanine |
g |
0.049 |
0 |
- |
| Aspartic acid |
g |
0.188 |
0 |
- |
| Glutamic acid |
g |
0.146 |
0 |
- |
| Glycine |
g |
0.048 |
0 |
- |
| Proline |
g |
0.031 |
0 |
- |
| Serine |
g |
0.051 |
0 |
- |
| Other |
| Alcohol, ethyl |
g |
0.00 |
0 |
- |
| Caffeine |
mg |
0 |
0 |
- |
| Theobromine |
mg |
0 |
0 |
- |
| Carotene, beta |
mcg |
36 |
4 |
3 |
| Carotene, alpha |
mcg |
0 |
4 |
0 |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta |
mcg |
0 |
4 |
0 |
| Lycopene |
mcg |
0 |
4 |
0 |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin |
mcg |
91 |
4 |
9.478 |
References
- Steven Foster.com
- WHFoods.com
- Answers.com
- Holistic Online
- USDA
Printed Reference Material
- Ahuja S, Kaack B, Roberts J. Loss of fimbrial adhesion with
the addition of Vaccinum macrocarpon to the growth medium of
P-fimbriated Escherichia coli. J Urol. 1998;159:559-562
- Avorn
J, Monane M, Gurwitz JH, Glynn RJ, Choodnovskiy I, Lipsitz LA.
Reduction of bacteriuria and pyuria after ingestion of cranberry juice.
JAMA. 1994;271:751-754.
- Bomser J, Madhavi DL, Singletary K, Smith MA. In vitro anticancer activity of fruit extracts from Vaccinium species. Planta Med. 1996;62(3):212-216.
- Burger
O, Ofek I, Tabak M, Weiss EI, Sharon N, Neeman I. A high molecular mass
constituent of cranberry juice inhibits helicobacter pylori adhesion to
human gastric mucus. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 2000 Dec;29(4):295-301.
- Fleet JC. New support for a folk remedy: cranberry juice reduces bacteriuria and pyuria in elderly women. Nutr Rev. 1994;52(5):168-70.
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