Cranberry is a small red berry. Compared with ordinary fruits, the special ingredients in cranberry can also act as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and regulate intestinal flora through the action of probiotics in the human body. Regulate blood pressure and blood sugar and other health benefits.

Antibacterial effects of cranberry

Cranberry contains a large number of proanthocyanidins, flavonols and hydroxycinnamic acid. These components can prevent the adhesion and aggregation of bacteria in the mucosa in the human body, and reduce the formation of biofilms, thereby reducing inflammation.

The antibacterial properties of proanthocyanidins in cranberry are related to the degree of polymerization and the ratio of A-type/B-type bonds. Procyanidin with a high degree of polymerization can better inhibit the growth of Candida, while procyanidin with a higher proportion of A-type bonds also has a better antibacterial effect and can more effectively inhibit the activity of bacteria.

Procyanidins interfere with the aggregation of bacteria in the early stage of infection, prevent bacteria from multiplying and form biofilms, and achieve antibacterial effects-the widespread hydroxyl structure in procyanidins can promote the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds, allowing small molecules to aggregate and interact with cell surface receptors Interactions interfere with the adhesion of bacteria to each other, and hinder the formation of biofilms in the mouth, stomach, urinary tract, female vagina, small intestine and colon in the human body.

In the cranberry complex extract, there are also non-phenolic compounds such as isoprenoid, ursolic acid and xyloglucan, as well as active ingredients such as arabinosyl glucan, which, when combined with proanthocyanidins, can more effectively prevent bacteria Adhesion to epithelial cells and biofilm formation.

The metabolites of cranberry polyphenols in the colon, hydroxylated benzoic acid and phenylacetic acid, can also effectively inhibit the adhesion of uropathogenic Escherichia coli and bladder epithelial cells and the formation of biofilms.

Regulate intestinal flora metabolism

The balance of intestinal flora is one of the key factors for human health, and they affect the availability and metabolism of food ingredients. The integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier can provide effective resistance to harmful microorganisms in food and the environment.

If the intake of saturated fat and sugar in the daily diet is high, and the intake of fiber is low, it will cause the loss of the intestinal mucosal barrier function, increase intestinal permeability, and make it easier for bacterial endotoxins to enter the body. When endotoxin enters the blood and tissues, it will stimulate the innate immune response of macrophages, neutrophils, endothelial cells and fat cells, and cause inflammation in the body.

Cranberry extract can relieve intestinal mucosal barrier dysfunction and chronic inflammation caused by an unbalanced diet, and reduce the levels of endotoxin, TNF-α and other inflammatory factors in plasma.

Promote lipid metabolism

In an experiment involving 30 patients with type 2 diabetes, the patients took cranberry extract daily for 12 weeks, and their low-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol levels decreased.

Lower blood pressure

Studies have proven that cranberry extract helps lower blood pressure. In the experiment, volunteers suffering from obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease were supplemented with 346-835mg of cranberry polyphenols daily for a period of time, with the intake of cranberry extract Increased, systolic blood pressure decreased by 3mmHg on average.

In the volunteer population without other diseases, the diastolic blood pressure dropped by an average of 4.7mmHg after supplementing with cranberry extract at a low dose daily for 8 weeks.

Regulate blood sugar metabolism

In animal experiments, cranberry polyphenols exhibit multiple regulatory effects on sugar metabolism-inhibit the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates in the intestine, stimulate pancreatic β cells to secrete insulin, and activate insulin receptors in insulin-sensitive tissues. Promote the absorption of sugar and regulate the release of liver glycogen.

Clinical studies have also shown that increasing the intake of food-derived polyphenols (the cranberry extract contains a large amount of polyphenols) can promote blood sugar control in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Guarantee the effectiveness of cranberry ingredients

The effect of cranberry on human health is realized through its effective ingredients such as plant polyphenols. Compared with cranberry juice, dried fruit and jam, fresh cranberry and cranberry freeze-dried powder have a higher active ingredient content, and the active ingredient in the cranberry peel is more than that in the pulp.

Since fresh cranberries are difficult to store and transport over long distances, the whole cranberry freeze-dried powder/extract is the most convenient and effective choice for keeping the active ingredients of cranberries.