What are the nutritional and health benefits of cranberries?

As one of the three traditional fruits in North America, cranberries are popular in the United States. Cranberries are rich in nutrition and have excellent health care functions. With the gradual deepening of its nutritional and health care functions, consumers in China have begun to recognize, accept and enjoy cranberries and their products. This article focuses on the nutritional composition of cranberries and their health care functions, in anticipation of a more comprehensive understanding of the nutritional and health care functions of cranberries, which will contribute to the better development of cranberries and their products in the Chinese market.
Cranberry is a kind of bright red small round berry, which is widely planted in North America. For Indian tribes, cranberry is a symbol of nutrition and health. Cranberries can be used to make jam and dried fruit, etc. Consumption of cranberries can prevent scurvy. With the improvement of people’s living standard, consumers pay more and more attention to the nutritional composition of fruits and their health effects. Cranberries are rich in nutrients and have excellent health care functions, so it is necessary to discuss them in detail to promote consumers in China to have a more comprehensive understanding of them.
Nutritional composition and function of cranberries
1.1 Thermal nutrients per 100g of cranberries in the carbohydrate, protein, fat content of 12.9g, 0.4g and 0.2g. From its composition, it can be seen that cranberries are a kind of low-calorie, green, healthy fruit. Dietary fiber. The content of dietary fiber in every 100g of cranberries is 4.6g. Dietary fiber has a preventive effect on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer. In addition, dietary fiber can promote gastrointestinal motility, promote digestion, and prevent constipation.
1.2 Minerals cranberries are rich in potassium, sodium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium and other minerals, per 100g of cranberries in potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, sodium content of 8mg, 13mg, 8mg, 6mg, 2mg. cranberries in the potassium content of the relatively high, the sodium content of the relatively low, help to reduce blood pressure, cardiovascular protection.
1.3 Vitamins cranberries are rich in a variety of vitamins, especially the highest content of Vc. Per 100g of cranberries, the content of Vc reaches 13.3mg. Vc can prevent leukemia, promote collagen synthesis, reduce fatigue.
1.4 Phenolic compounds per 100g of cranberries in the content of proanthocyanidins 34.3mg, anthocyanins content of 0.77mg. proanthocyanidins and anthocyanins belong to the phenolic compounds, the former is a kind of natural antioxidants, able to remove free radicals in the body; the latter belongs to the water-soluble antioxidants, free radicals can be removed to improve the circulation of the blood vessels, to improve the smoothness of the skin. In addition, cranberries are rich in phenolic acid, flavonols and other substances that can inhibit the occurrence of cancer.
Health functions of cranberries
2.1 Preventing urinary tract infection In the early 18th century, cranberry juice was used in England to treat urinary tract infection diseases. Further research in later years found that cranberry juice has adhesion to E. coli on the epithelial cells of the urethra, so it can play a role in preventing urinary tract infections. Researchers use gene chip technology, focusing on the study of cranberry’s PAC gene for the prevention of urinary tract infection mechanism of action.
Beauty, antioxidant and anti-aging. Cranberries have a high content of Vc, which can be regarded as the king of fruits. Vc can promote the formation of collagen in human body, which has the effect of beautifying the face and reducing fatigue.
In addition, cranberries are rich in proanthocyanidins and anthocyanidins, which can effectively remove free radicals from the human body and slow down the rate of human aging.
Protect the stomach and intestines, reduce gastric ulcers. The human body is infected with Helicobacter pylori, easy to trigger chronic gastritis, consumptive ulcers. Relevant studies have shown that cranberry juice can inhibit the adsorption of Helicobacter pylori on human gastric mucus, which in turn protects the stomach and intestines and reduces the occurrence of gastric ulcers.
2.2 Protect the oral cavity cranberry can effectively inhibit the formation of gingival biofilm, and thus achieve the prevention and treatment of periodontitis. Studies have shown that cranberries are rich in polyphenolic compounds, can inhibit the periodontitis cure bacteria secretion of protease; prevent Streptococcus pyogenes in the teeth indicate the adhesion, effective prevention of dental caries; reduce the adhesion of bacteria inside the mouth, improve oral health.
2.3 Anti-cancer, anti-tumor, protect blood vessels cranberry is rich in phenolic acid, flavonols and other substances, can inhibit the occurrence of cancer. Relevant studies have shown that cranberry extract can effectively inhibit the proliferation of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-435 breast cancer cells.
Proanthocyanidins in cranberries can effectively inhibit the occurrence of lung, colon, stomach and ovarian cancers. As a natural antioxidant, anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins effectively inhibit cancer cell lesions and suppress the expression of tumor necrosis factor.
In addition, researchers found that the content of dietary fiber in every 100g of cranberries is 4.6g. Dietary fiber has a preventive effect on cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and so on. In addition, dietary fiber can promote gastrointestinal motility, promote digestion, and prevent constipation. Cranberries can reduce the content of cholesterol in blood vessels to achieve the effect of protecting blood vessels.
In summary, cranberries are rich in nutrients and have excellent health care functions. Accompanied by the attention of Chinese consumers to the nutritional composition and health effects of fruits, cranberries and their products are gradually recognized, accepted and loved by Chinese consumers. At present, cranberries and their related products are more and more abundant in the market, which also supports this point. The author expects that through the introduction of this paper, there will be a more comprehensive understanding of the nutritional and health care functions of cranberries, which will help the better development of cranberries and their products in the Chinese market.

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