Urban Processing: Health Benefits

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Nutritional Information
Nutrients per 100gm

Calories 321
Calories from Fat 4.23
Calories from Sat. Fat 1.08
Total Fat 0.47g
Saturated Fat .12g
Cholesterol 0.00 mg
Sodium 9.71mg
Total Carbohydrate 78.97g
Dietary Fiber 4.20g
Sugars 51.68g
Protein .18g
Vitamin A 77.0IU
Vitamin C <1.00 mg
Calcium 7.27mg
Iron .86mg

Urinary Tract Infections
In the last six years, medical research has clinically confirmed that cranberries can play an important role in maintaining urinary tract health. In a study conducted by a team of Harvard researchers in 1994, elderly women who drank 300ml of cranberry juice daily reduced their odds of having infection by 58%. In a follow-up study published in October 1998, scientists from Rutgers University confirmed the Harvard study by pinpointing the compound existing in cranberries that prevents bacteria from adhering to cells of the urinary tract. Cranberries have what Rutgers researchers call "anti-adhesion" properties that significantly reduce the risk of urinary tract infections.

Periodontal Disease
In December 1998, a team of researchers from Tel Aviv University determined that the same "anti-adhesion" properties that prevent bacteria from forming in the urinary tract prevent bacteria from forming in the mouth. They discovered that the "anti-adhesion" compound that exists in cranberries also reduces the amount of oral bacteria. By creating a "bacteria-inhibiting" effect, cranberries minimize the formation of dental plaque, which is the leading cause of gum disease.

Heart Disease
An ongoing University of Wisconsin study is researching the cranberry’s ability to significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Scientists found that cranberry extract contains antioxidants, which play a fundamental role in slowing the oxidation that leads to heart disease. One of the two biologists conducting the study states that as little as "one-fourth of an ounce could have some benefit."

Cancer
Cranberries contain anthocyanins, proanthocyanins and phenolic compounds that are known for their anticancer properties. Cranberries contained significantly more disease-fighting antioxidant phenols than any other fruit measured. Ongoing studies at several respected universities indicate consistent and strong evidence that a diet high in fruits and vegetables, including cranberries, reduces the risks of some types of cancer.