What is Cranberry Extract?

Cranberries are a group of evergreen dwarf shrubs or trailing vines in the subgenus Oxycoccus of the genus Vaccinium. In Britain, cranberry may refer to the native species Vaccinium oxycoccos, while in North America, cranberry may refer to Vaccinium macrocarpon. Vaccinium oxycoccos is cultivated in central and northern Europe, while Vaccinium macrocarpon is cultivated throughout the northern United States, Canada and Chile. In some methods of classification, Oxycoccus is regarded as a genus in its own right. They can be found in acidic bogs throughout the cooler regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

What are benefites of Cranberry Extract

Cranberry extract offers a host of antioxidants and nutrients that help fight infections and boost your overall health. Cranberries are already popular as juice and fruit cocktails; however, in medical terms, they are commonly used treat urinary complications. Cranberry extract might also play a role in stomach ulcer treatment. Due to the multiple vitamins and minerals present in cranberries, they can make a healthy addition to a balanced diet.

UTI Prevention

Urinary tract infections affect the urinary system, including the bladder and urethra, caused by the development of bacteria. Women are more likely to develop a urinary infection than men, and these infections are often recurrent and painful. According to MayoClinic.com, cranberry extract prevents the infection from reoccurring by stopping the bacteria from attaching to the cells that line the bladder. Antibiotics treat urinary infections; only use cranberry as a preventative measure.

Stomach Ulcer Treatment

Cranberry extract might help prevent stomach ulcers caused by the bacteria helicobacter pylori, known as the H. pylori infection. The H. pylori infection is usually asymptomatic and the bacterium is present in about half of the world’s population, according to MayoClinic.com, which also states that early studies have shown that cranberry can reduce the bacteria’s ability to live in the stomach. One such study, at the Beijing Institute for Cancer Research in 2005, observed the effect of cranberry juice on 189 subjects with the H. pylori infection. The study yielded positive results, thus concluding that regularly consuming cranberry can quell the infection in vastly affected areas.

Provides Nutrients

One 200 milligram cranberry extract pill provides about 50 percent of your recommended vitamin C intake, which is vital for wound healing and disease prevention. Cranberry extract is also a good source of dietary fiber, contributing 9.2 grams — providing relief from constipation, as well as blood sugar regulation. As part of a varied diet, cranberry extract can help boost your vitamin K and vitamins E levels, as well as provide essential minerals essential to bodily functions.

Dosage

Although there are no specific cranberry doses to treat health ailments, according to a 2004 review by the “American Family Physician,” 300 to 400 mg of cranberry extract twice daily can help prevent UTIs. Most commercial cranberry juice contains sugar, which bacteria feed on making the infection worse. Therefore, cranberry extract is a better option, or unsweetened cranberry juice.