Natural Cook Studio of Bend

Whats more American than apple pie? How about cranberry pie? Of the more than 7,000 varieties of apples known today only one is native to the United states, so not “American” and that one is the crabapple (not often eaten), but cranberries are one of the three fruits native to American soil (the others: blueberries and Concord grapes). Some sources state that the Indians presented the Pilgrims with gifts of cranberries and that they were on the first Thanksgiving table in 1621, but there is controversy about whether or not this is true. It is generally agreed that the Pilgrims gave the berry the name we use today. The nodding pink flowers with their long pistils reminded them of the heads of cranes, so they called the plant the “craneberry”. Fresh cranberries, which contain the highest levels of beneficial nutrients, are at their peak from October through December, just in time to add their festive hue, tart tangy flavor and numerous health protective effects to your holiday meals.

Cranberries are valued for their ability to help prevent and treat urinary tract infections, but do you know why? It acidifies the urine, contains an antibacterial agent called hippuric acid, and also contains other compounds that reduce the ability of E. coli bacteria to adhere to the walls of the urinary tract. Before an infection can start, a pathogen must first latch on to and then penetrate the mucosal surface of the urinary tract walls, but cranberries prevent such adherence, so the E. coli is washed away in the urine and voided. Since E. coli is the pathogen responsible for 80-90% of urinary tract infections, the protection afforded by cranberries is quite significant!

Now, recent studies also suggest that this native American berry may also promote gastrointestinal and oral health, prevent the formation of kidney stones, raise HDL (good) cholesterol, and prevent cancers as well as number of other diseases in much the same way as in the urinary tract infections. The majority of infectious diseases are initiated by the adhesion of pathogenic organisms to the tissues of the host.

New research that I found to be very interesting on a powerful antioxidant compound called Pterostilbene (pronounced TARE-oh-STILL-bean), found in cranberries, which is already known to fight cancer, may also help lower cholesterol disease risk. Cranberry phytonutrients greatly inhibited proliferation of human breast cancer cells, both by causing the cancer cells to commit suicide and by shutting down their ability to multiply by stopping their process of cellular replication before its completion. After just 4 hours’ exposure to cranberry phytonutrient extracts at the low dose of just 50 milligrams per milliliter, the ratio of breast cancer cells committing suicide to total cells increased 25% compared to control cells not exposed to cranberry phytonutrients. There are magnitudes of studies being done on this berry but my favorite study of all is done by my taste buds.

Enjoy and Happy Holidays to you all.

In Health,