Discover the latest science on cranberries for whole-body health
CARVER, Mass. — The Cranberry Institute’s newly launched digital resource, The Berry Best Guidebook, delves deep into the latest research to reveal cranberries’ most powerful health benefits, backed by science, just in time for harvest season. The benefits are clear. Decades of research support cranberries’ role in health, but new research continues to uncover more potential benefits.
“The benefits of daily consumption of cranberries for the prevention of urinary tract infections are well established in meta-analyses of numerous clinical trials,” said Dr. Amy Howell, associate research fellow (retired) at Rutgers University. Masu. “However, research shows cranberries may have positive effects on many other important health goals, including improving the gut microbiome and reducing risk factors for stomach ulcers and heart disease. .”
Navigate The Berry Best guidebook with helpful links
It’s now easier than ever to explore the powerful bioactive compounds found in cranberries and their proven effects on the body. The Berry Best guidebook is easy to navigate using quick links to access the following sections:
Stomach – suppressing H. pylori Gut microbiome Urinary tract health Neurological and cognitive support Oral health Cardio-metabolic health Lowering overall mortality risk Cardiovascular health Diabetes and blood sugar management Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease Management of anti-cancer immunity and virus management
Cranberries are the best berries
Although most cranberries in the United States are harvested between September and October, all forms of cranberries (juice, fresh, sauce, and dried berries) are healthy and can be enjoyed year-round. Cranberries are rich in bioactive compounds with health benefits, including polyphenols such as proanthocyanidins (PACs), anthocyanins, and flavonoids. Cranberries are one of the only foods rich in type A PAC, which gives it the ability to inhibit bacterial attachment in the body. 1
Due to its high PAC content, it ranks at the top of the list of berries to choose for its health benefits. 2 In fact, cranberry anthocyanins have been shown to be the most available to the body when compared to other anthocyanin-rich berries.3
A small berry that prevents infection
Cranberry polyphenols provide multiple health benefits by preventing biofilm formation and keeping bad bacteria at bay. A biofilm is a layer of bacteria that grows and attaches to a surface. This can occur at the early stages of the development of an infection in the body.
Certain bad bacteria can form biofilms on internal surfaces, such as the bladder, harboring bacteria that protect them from antibiotics and acting as a reservoir for new bacterial infections.
Follow your gut – The fiber and healthy bioactive compounds in cranberries support your gut microbiome
Cranberries have been shown to support gut health. Extensive literature reviews on health foods include cranberries as an important food that benefits overall health and the gut microbiome. A healthy gut microbiome protects your body from bacteria and helps maintain overall health and immunity. 6,7,8
The beneficial bioactive compounds and fiber in cranberries keep the microbiome healthy in the gut and help break down and utilize health-promoting compounds in food. 8,9
Cranberry fiber and polyphenols support gut flora
Cranberries, cranberry sauce, and dried cranberries contain fiber that helps produce metabolites that support your gut microbiome. 8,9 Cranberry polyphenols are potential prebiotics that are thought to help improve the composition of the gut microbiota. 9
Cranberries are important for gut microbiome diversity and healthy metabolite production
Using an assessment of food data collected from more than 3,800 people through the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2005-2010), we created a dietary index of healthy gut microbiota. The study included a short list of foods found to benefit gut microbiome diversity and the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), metabolites produced by the fermentation of fiber by the gut microbiota. Cranberries were identified as part of it. 5,7 A growing body of research supports the role of SCFAs in fighting inflammation and supporting immunity. 10
To learn more about cranberries’ rich health properties, read the full Berry Best Health Guidebook here.
About Cranberry Institute:
The Cranberry Institute is a nonprofit organization founded in 1951 to promote the success of cranberry growers and the industry in the Americas through health, agricultural and environmental management research, cranberry promotion and education. The Cranberry Institute is voluntarily funded by supporting members who handle, process, and sell cranberries. Supporting members serve as representatives in domestic and international regulatory matters, and research activities are carried out on their behalf.
References:
Nemzer BV, Al-Taher F, Yashin A, Revelsky I, Yashin Y. Cranberries: chemical composition, antioxidant activity and effects on human health: an overview. molecule. 2022 2 23;27(5):1503. doi:10.3390/molecule27051503. PMID: 35268605; PMCID: PMC8911768. Calvano A, Izuora K, Oh EC, Eversole JL, Lyons TJ, Bass A. Dietary berries, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes: Overview of human feeding trials. Function of Food 2019 10 16;10(10):6227-6243. doi: 10.1039/c9fo01426h. PMID: 31591634; PMCID: PMC7202899. Wilken MR, Lambert MNT, Christensen CB, Jeppesen PB. Effect of anthocyanin-rich berries on the risk of metabolic syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabetes Stud Rev 2022 Mar 9;18(1):42-57. doi: 10.1900/RDS.2022.18.42. PMID: 35300756; PMCID: PMC9382680 Basu A. Role of berry bioactive compounds on lipids and lipoproteins in diabetes and metabolic syndrome. nutrients. 2019 8 22;11(9):1983. doi:10.3390/nu11091983. PMID: 31443489; PMCID: PMC6770868. Kase BE, Liese AD, Zhang J, Murphy EA, Zhao L, Steck SE. Development and evaluation of dietary indicators based on the literature on gut microbiota. nutrients. 2024 Apr 3;16(7):1045. doi:10.3390/nu16071045. PMID: 38613077; PMCID: PMC11013161. Frankenfeld CL, Fraard MAJ, Maskarinec G, Monroe KR, Shepherd JA, Franke AA, Randolph TW, Wilkens LR, Bouchey CJ, Le Marchand L, Lim U, Lampe JW. The gut microbiome is associated with circulating dietary biomarkers of fruit and vegetable intake in a multiethnic cohort. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2022 Jan;122(1):78-98. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2021.05.023. Epub 2021 7 3. PMID: 34226163; PMCID: PMC9019929. Pawa R, Goyal A, Jalal I. Chronic inflammation. (Updated 2023 8 7). Location: StatPearls (Internet). Treasure Island, Florida: StatPearls Publishing; from January 2024. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493173/ Blumberg JB, Basu A, Krueger CG, Lila MA, Neto CC, Novotny JA, Reed JD, Rodriguez-Mateos A, Toner CD. Effects of cranberries on gut microbiota and cardiometabolic health: Proceedings of the Cranberry Health Research Conference 2015. Adv Nutr. 2016 7 15;7(4):759S-70S. doi: 10.3945/an.116.012583. PMID: 27422512; PMCID: PMC4942875. Taibi A, Loft Z, Leituni-Imbriaco B, Komeri EM. The role of gut microbiota and microRNAs in the anti-inflammatory effects of cranberry: From preclinical to clinical studies. front nut. May 23, 2023;10:1092342. doi:10.3389/fnut.2023.1092342. PMID: 37287997; PMCID: PMC10242055. Xiong RG, Zhou DD, Wu SX, Huang SY, Saimaiti A, Yang ZJ, Shang A, Zhao CN, Gan RY, Li HB. Health benefits and side effects of short chain fatty acids. food. 2022 9 15;11(18):2863. doi: 10.3390/Food 11182863. PMID: 36140990; PMCID: PMC9498509.
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