The Native Americans were on to something with this ruby berry…they used it as a healing remedy and food. It kills germs, speeds skin healing, and reduces fevers. And now, researchers have found it fights cancer.
Best of all…it does what no mainstream cancer treatment has been able to do. It leaves healthy cells alone, targeting only cancer cells.
A study published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture showed the berry extract prevented cancer cells from breaking off and spreading to healthy cells.1 And it inhibited the growth of human lung, colon, and leukemia cancer cells.
A study from Canada confirmed the berry’s cancer-fighting properties.2 Prostate cancer cells self-destructed when exposed to the berry extract.
You definitely don’t get the same results with chemo.
The tart berry the Native Americans knew to be a powerful disease fighter?
The cranberry…
Probably best known for treating urinary tract infections, cranberries are a powerhouse of antioxidants.
Two flavanols found in cranberries are quercetin and ursolic acid. Both have shown to prevent inflammation and inhibit tumors.3
Cranberries also contain anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins (PACs). It’s these compounds that give the berry their scarlet color. They are also potent factors in cancer inhibition. Especially PACs.
Cranberry PACs have a special structure that blocks enzyme activity and pathways leading to cancer.4 They also interrupt cell signaling that could be harmful to the body.
There are many ways to include cranberries in your diet. You can enjoy them fresh, dried, and frozen. You can even reap the benefits by enjoying a glass of 100 percent organic cranberry juice. Just make sure to check the label for no added sugar. And not from concentrate.
When selecting fresh cranberries choose plump and firm to the touch. And don’t forget—the redder the better. The deeper the color, the higher the concentration of healing antioxidants.
Cranberries lose some of their nutritional value when cooked. So whenever possible, eat them fresh.
If you don’t care for the taste or want to ensure you are getting the maximum health benefits, cranberry supplements are available. You can buy them in pill, liquid, or powder form.
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References:
1 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jsfa.2347/abstract
2 http://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21161819
3 http://nutrition.highwire.org/content/137/1/186S.full
4 http://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20626034