CRANBERRY

Cranberry is a type of evergreen shrub that grows in wet areas, such as bogs or wetlands. Cranberry is native to northeastern and north-central parts of the United States. The shrub has small, dark green leaves, pink flowers, and dark red fruit that are egg-shaped.

Cranberry is most commonly used for the prevention and treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs). It's also used for kidney stones, neurogenic bladder, to deodorize urine in people with difficulty controlling urination, to prevent urine catheters from becoming blocked, and to heal skin around surgical openings in the stomach that are used to eliminate urine. Some people use Cranberry to increase urine flow, kill germs, and reduce fever.

Some people use Cranberry for, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), enlarged prostate, common colds, flu, heart disease, inflammation of the lining around the lung (pleurisy), and cancer.

In foods, Cranberry fruit is used in Cranberry juice, jelly and sauce.

How Does It Work?

People used to think that Cranberry worked for urinary tract infections by making the urine acidic and, therefore, unlikely to support the growth of bacteria. But researchers don't believe this explanation any more. They now think that some of the chemicals in cranberries keep bacteria from sticking to the cells that line the urinary tract where they can multiply.

Cranberry, as well as many other fruits and vegetables, contains significant amounts of salicylic acid, which is an important ingredient in aspirin. Drinking cranberry juice regularly increases the amount of salicylic acid in the body. Salicylic acid can reduce swelling, prevent blood clots, and can have anti tumor effects.