First found in the swamps of North America, cranberries are an evergreen shrub related to blueberries, cranberries, blueberries, bearberries and leafy blackberries. The healing properties of cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) have been known for many thousands of years. Native Americans used raw cranberries to dress their wounds. Early settlers from England consumed raw and boiled berries to treat a number of ailments, including loss of appetite, digestive problems, blood diseases, and scurvy (a vitamin C deficiency that causes weakness, gum inflammation, and spontaneous subcutaneous bleeding). In the early 1920s, American scientists discovered that people who eat large amounts of cranberries have higher levels of acid in their urine than others. Since bacteria cannot survive in an acidic environment, scientists have suggested that a diet rich in cranberries can help prevent and treat urinary tract infections (UTIs), which are usually associated with the presence of E. coli in the body. Over time, the popularity of cranberries for the treatment of UTIS has increased significantly. Many women noted the positive effects of cranberry juice. Despite the fact that for many years scientists have tried to explain the medicinal properties of cranberries in different ways, today there is a huge amount of evidence of its effectiveness in the prevention and treatment of urinary tract infections.
Useful properties of cranberries
- Acidify urine and prevent bacteria from sticking to bladder cells
- Useful for kidneys, bladder and skin
- Have properties that reduce the risk of cancer
- Useful for infections of the urinary tract - the bladder and urethra
- Good source of vitamin C