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Cranberries a great source of vitamin C

Crimson cranberries protect health

Date published: 10/5/2008

AMERICAN INDIANS have used cran- berries as a health remedy for thousands of years, and now modern science is proving many of these benefits, as well as finding new ones.

Cranberries are rich in vitamin C and naturally repel bacteria--plus they are deliciously tart.

The humble cranberry is one reason the first colonists survived here in America. After their voyage across the ocean, most colonists suffered from scurvy--a disease that began with bleeding gums and could progress to weakness and even death. At the time, no one knew that scurvy was actually caused by a vitamin C deficiency.

Cranberries were one of the only vitamin-C-rich foods that stayed fresh through the long, snowy New England winters. It is said that American Indians gave cranberries to the first colonists and cured their scurvy.

The Indians also used cranberries as a preservative in pemmican, a dried meat dish. They drank cranberry tea to ease indigestion. They even used poultices of roasted cranberries on wounds to prevent infections.

BERRIES FOR THE BLADDER

Nowadays, we have better things for wounds than cranberries. However, research shows that antibacterial cranberries are a safe way to prevent bladder infections.

It's important to go to the doctor whenever you are sick. However, if you suffer from repeated problems, the National Kidney Foundation recommends drinking 10 ounces of cranberry juice a day.

Natural chemicals in the berries, called polyphenols, appear to repel bacteria from the wall of the bladder, guarding against infection.

Two groups that suffer from repeated bladder infections are pregnant women and paralyzed people. A California study showed that pregnant women who drank cranberry juice daily cut their risk of bladder infections in half.

Cranberry pills also are effective, according to a study released in September. Scientists found that cranberry tablets cut bladder infections by 70 percent in veterans with spinal-cord injuries that paralyzed the bladder, a problem called neurogenic bladder.

Some small studies show cranberries also may reduce gum disease as well as stomach infections of the ulcer-causing bacterium Helicobacter pylori, but we need more research to be sure.

Don't overdo cranberries if you are taking the blood-thinning medicine called warfarin, also known as Coumadin. There have been a few cases of people taking warfarin and drinking quarts or gallons of cranberry juice who had bleeding problems.

Jennifer Motl is a registered dietitian. Formerly of Fredericksburg, she now lives in Wisconsin.

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Date published: 10/5/2008