Is the cranberry on the altar a universal superfood?
In recent years, nutritional supplements have been quite popular in China. Cranberry can be regarded as one of the stars in health supplements, and there are many rumors about cranberry. Some say that cranberry is a gynecological magic weapon, which can solve gynecological problems, some say that cranberry can prevent and treat urinary tract infections, and some say that cranberry is the king of antioxidants, which can prevent aging and cancer after eating, etc.
There are thousands of rumors, are they true?
In 1677, the colonies of the British Empire in North America wanted to send some local specialties to King Charles II of England, so they prepared 2 barrels of corn, 3,000 cod and 3 barrels of cranberries. Unexpectedly, the sailing ships at that time were slow, and it took about two months to return to England from North America. When they arrived in London, the cod and corn were smelly, but the two barrels of cranberries were fresh and complete and presented to the King of England. From then on, this fresh and fine wild fruit became famous.
In the golden autumn season, thousands of acres of cranberries are harvested in Heixiazidao Town, Fuyuan City, Heilongjiang Province, located at the easternmost end of my country's land. At the beginning of this year's "Ice and Snow Season", Heilongjiang selected 100,000 boxes of high-quality Fuyuan cranberries and shipped them to Nanning in batches in order to "embrace" Guangxi's "Sugar Orange". This small fruit with a sour taste, known as the "North American Ruby", has become popular in an unexpected way.
Cranberries, known as "North American Ruby", are small round berries that grow on short vines with bright red color. Cranberries can be made into dried fruits, jams, juices, etc. The commonly used preservation method is hot air drying. After hot air drying, the skin of cranberries will turn black. Cranberry sauce is a traditional ingredient for turkey, the main dish of American Thanksgiving.
Because cranberries themselves have a strong natural sour taste, in order to make the juice taste sweeter, people often add sugar to cranberry juice or mix it with other juices. Diabetics and people who lose weight should pay attention.
Are there any magical ingredients in cranberries?
Cranberries contain 87% water, 12% carbohydrates, and negligible protein and fat. In the reference amount of 100g, raw cranberries provide 46 calories and moderate levels of vitamin C, dietary fiber, and low-content minerals such as magnesium, iron, and manganese. It can be seen that there is no special magical ingredient in cranberries.
Can cranberries beautify and resist aging?
Merchants hype cranberries as superfoods, saying that cranberries are rich in vitamin C and proanthocyanidins, and are the well-deserved king of antioxidants.
But in fact, the content of vitamin C in cranberries is not high, about 14mg/100g, which is really not outstanding among fruits, and is far less than the vitamin C content in strawberries and kiwis.
As for proanthocyanidins, cranberries do contain a lot, but proanthocyanidins are not unique to cranberries. Proanthocyanidins are commonly found in foods such as grapes and blueberries. If proanthocyanidins can beautify and resist aging, then there are so many anti-aging foods, why must we rely on cranberries?
Can cranberries really prevent and treat urinary tract infections?
Cranberries have been widely used to prevent and treat urinary tract infections. In order to prove its authenticity, researchers have conducted evidence-based medical demonstrations to evaluate the effectiveness of cranberries in treating such infections. There is still insufficient evidence to show that cranberries are effective in treating urinary tract infections.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved that cranberries have health benefits. In addition, in terms of lifestyle to prevent urinary tract infections, professional organizations such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of the United States only give the advice of "drinking more water" and do not recommend eating cranberries to prevent and treat urinary tract infections.
What should I do if I have a urinary tract infection?
Once a urinary tract infection occurs, seek medical attention in time, and antibiotic treatment is the right approach. Take medication as prescribed by the doctor and do not delay treatment. Never count on eating cranberries or drinking cranberry juice to treat urinary tract infections.
Cranberry extract has a variety of potential benefits, including:
Preventing urinary tract infections: It is often used to reduce the incidence of urinary tract infections because it prevents bacteria from attaching to the bladder wall.
Antioxidant effects: It is rich in antioxidants, which help fight free radicals and may help slow the aging process.
Heart health: Studies have shown that it may help improve cardiovascular health and lower cholesterol levels.
Support the immune system: Its nutrients may enhance immune system function and help fight infection.
Digestive health: It helps maintain a healthy gut and improves digestion.
Can cranberries prevent cancer?
The anti-cancer effect of cranberry advocated by merchants is basically centered around antioxidant ingredients such as proanthocyanidins in cranberries. In fact, there is still insufficient evidence to support whether such antioxidants can prevent and fight cancer.
In addition, science shows that no specific food can prevent and fight cancer. We don't have to be superstitious about a specific food. What we can do is eat more fruits and vegetables and maintain a comprehensive and balanced diet.