Ayurveda can be overwhelming, and confusing when you first start learning about it. The practices might seem out there, or be counter advice to what you've always heard. How do you go about uprooting all of what you thought was true to explore this new subject? That is where I was at when I first learned about Ayurveda. I still struggle with transitioning all of my practices to an Ayurvedic one, I just love my cup of coffee to start my day. Well I want to share a few ways with you on where to start. I learned Ayurveda from a feminine form. Which means less rules, and more flow. I want you to listen to your intuition as you read the suggestions and decide what would be best for you to start 10 Practices to examine 1. Your 5 Senses This is one of my personal favorites as it's so easy to do for anyone. I have my son learning some of these techniques as well. Taste - Try and taste the 6 flavors according to Ayurveda during your meals. The 6 tastes are- bitter, sour, astringent, p...
Cranberry
is a small sized evergreen shrub normally found in North America. Also
known as red berries, the cranberries are used in beverages or food
drinks, various other food products, and herbal products in the teas,
tablets, capsules, , and extract forms etc. There are a large number of
health benefits of this fruit and this fruit is rich in Phyto-nutrients
and antioxidants. In addition, these berries contain a lot of active
chemicals that are effective for many diseases.
Cranberries
have been cultivated and used extensively in several regions of America
as well as Canada. These short shrubs or vines usually grow in marshy
bogs. Cranberries are acidic in nature and are a good substitute for
vinegar or lime. Cranberry juice has been consumed since time immemorial
but recent studies indicate the fruits consumed as a whole have greater
health benefits. Cranberry fruits are initially white and then turn red
as they mature. They are harvested by a water submerging method but
recent research also indicates the berries exposed to more sunlight have
more health benefits. Let us explore more of the red bog berry’s health
benefits.
Cranberries are rich in
vitamin-C and have attributes that make them effective anti-oxidants,
anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory agents. Health benefits of cranberries
are not just limited to reducing urinary tract infections (UTIs),
cardiac problems, cancers, digestive tract infections or immune
disorders. However, these have been extensively studied and documented.
Cranberries directly or indirectly affect the total health of all
systems in the body as well as help in the prevention and repair of
damages caused by external agents.
Health benefits of cranberry
Cranberries carry a large number of health benefits, which are as follows:
Cranberries in Urinary tract infections
According
to a research, cranberry is very helpful in preventing E. Coli, which
is the common cause of urinary tract infections. The anti-bacterial
properties of this fruit helps to reduce the ability of bacteria to
create urinary infections. Normally, the capsules or tablets of
cranberry extracts are used for this purpose.
Urinary
tract infections is very common among women and this is mainly caused
by bacteria or fungi. Initially the effectiveness of cranberries in
reducing UTIs was attributed to their acidic nature but later on the
reason was found to be proanthocyanidins (PACs). PACs are the pigments
that impart red color to the berries and they are the reason behind the
anti-adherence properties of the bog berries. Cranberries when consumed
regularly prevent the attachment of microbial cells with the uterine
lining and thus prevent their colonization. In addition, berries that
are darker in color have more of the PACs and thus they are more
effective in treating UTIs. Today most of the medications for UTIs
contain cranberry extracts.
Effect on the digestive tract of cranberry
As
with the urinary tract, cranberry prevents adherence of microbes to our
intestinal lining as well. Common stomach infections and ulcers are
caused by Salmonella sp. or Helicobacter sp. Cranberries have been
proved effective against these bacteria and hence they protect our
digestive system. Additionally, in spite of being acidic cranberries
have not been known to cause adverse effects on the digestive system,
even in people with an irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). On the contrary,
cranberry juice is recommended for IBS sufferers. This is because our
stomach is naturally acidic by itself and most types of IBS are not
attributed to acidity. Gas producing foods are the causative agents.
Cranberries have an inherently less amount of these gas-producing sugars
and thus are gentle on the digestive tract.
Improvement of mental health
Cranberries
are quite effective in lifting your moods by relieving anxiety, stress,
and depression. According to a research, these red berries are
excellent for brain and are helpful in improving the memory.
Kidney and bladder problems
The
presence of citric acid and other essential nutrients prove to be very
beneficial in preventing several bladder and kidney problems such as
kidney stones etc.
Antioxidant action of cranberries
The
tannins, flavonoids and other anti-oxidant compounds in the berries
make them effective in fighting against cancers. They seem to
specifically attack the tumor cell proteins and thus prevent spreading
of cancer. The same anti-oxidant property also makes cranberries
effective against many immune disorders including arthritis, diabetes,
IBS etc. Autoimmune disorder is a condition in which the body starts
attacking its own parts assuming they are foreign. Again, studies show
that certain components in the berries can interfere with this mechanism
and prevent damage to the cells.
Bog
berries are also being extensively researched for their role in
apoptosis or cell death, which could reveal the mechanism behind their
anti-aging properties as well. Cranberries are also found to control
some specific types of kidney stone problems. However, calcium and
oxalate induced stone formation in the kidneys is an exemption.
Strengthens the immune system
The
antioxidants in cranberries work hard to flush out the destructive
toxins which inhibit the immune system. With the help of removing these
toxins, the immune system gets stronger thus enabling to bear any
disease or sickness.
Prevention of dental problems
The
consumption of cranberries on regular basis proves to be very effective
in preventing various dental problems such as um disease, plaque and
cavities build-up, and gingivitis.
Heart diseases
Cranberries
are very useful for a healthy heart and help to decrease the level of
bad cholesterol which clogs the arterial walls. In addition, they also
help in the prevention of plaque formation on the arterial walls that
can cause atherosclerosis. As a result, the possibilities of heart
attack and stroke are reduced to a large extent.
The
red berries are cardiac friendly. They tend to increase the proportion
of high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) and lower the low-density
lipoproteins (LDLs). LDLs are the bad cholesterol fractions that line
the walls of blood vessels, clog them and lead to cardiac arrest
eventually. Again, cranberries tend to prevent the adherence of LDLs to
the blood vessel walls and reduce LDL levels in the body, thereby
preventing heart attacks. Bog berries are termed rightly as super foods.
Peptic ulcers
The
fruits rich in flavonoids like cranberries, garlic, and apple are quite
useful in reducing the risks of various stomach disorders, particularly
stomach ulcers.
Prevention of different types of cancers
Cranberries
help to prevent several kinds of cancer such as prostate cancer, breast
cancer, and colon cancer etc. due to the anti-cancer properties this
fruit suppresses the growth of cancer cells in the body.
Health benefits of cranberry juice
Cranberry
juice is rich in essential nutrients and carries a large number of
health benefits. The juice contains iron, calcium, magnesium, sodium,
potassium, zinc, phosphorus, and vitamins such as B-6, K, niacin,
riboflavin, thiamin, and vitamin E etc. normally, the cranberry juice is
used by the majority of people as compared to the raw fruit.
Side-effects of cranberries
In addition to a lot of benefits, there are a few cautions of cranberries such as,
- The people taking aspirin as blood thinners should avoid using cranberries as it contains salicylic acid which is also present in aspirin. In the same way, the people allergic from aspirin should also avoid using cranberries.
- The patients having kidney stones should use cranberries after the recommendation of the doctor because it contains a high concentration of calcium and oxalate.
- The people taking warfarin as a blood thinner should avoid using cranberries in higher amounts.
Magic of the red bog berries to make them one of superfoods
Cranberries
can thus be termed super foods, magic berries or what not.
Nevertheless, incorporating them in our diet does require some effort.
They can be used in syrup form, juice form, in salads, sauces or can be
eaten raw as well. Eating raw cranberries is the best way for one can
benefit from the richness of the fruits in an undiluted form. So far,
there are no proven cases of interference and ill effects of cranberries
with other drugs but medical advice is always good if there is a
specific health condition. However, the red bog berries can do magic to
your health, do try them and enjoy.
You can get Cranberry capsules from iHerb https://fas.st/cbh5ps
Comments
Post a Comment