What Is Glutathione? Is it Good or Bad?

Oxidative Stress refers to effects from endogenous (produced in the body) toxins (free radicals) produced in the body by normal metabolism and exogenous toxins from the environment. Historically, oxidative stress was not as important because our environment was not as filled with toxins as it is today. Additionally, people ate what they grew, or what they "caught," or killed. Those foods were natural and healthy. Even the meats which were eaten were healthier because they contained less fat. Actually, men and women have taken antioxidants for centuries, but didn't know it. They called them "vegetables."

Remember the "antioxidant network?" This is a term applied to five antioxidants which work together to help protect the body against the effects of free radicals and aging.

They are:

* Vitamin C
* Vitamin E
* CoQ10
* Alpha Lipoic Acid
* Glutathione

Because of oxidative stress placed on our bodies by normal metabolism, bad habits, bad food and bad environmental conditions, all adults should be taking supplemental dosages of these antioxidants. As will be shown, Glutathione is the most difficult because it is questionable whether supplements of glutathione effectively increase glutathione blood levels. Therefore glutathione levels should be "boosted" in the body by taking the building blocks which raise glutathione levels. Some of those "building blocks" are the essential branched amino acids found in whey, cysteine, Vitamin C and N-acetylcysteine.

What is Glutathione?

Glutathione is a small protein composed of three amino acids: cysteine, glutamic acid and glycine. It is involved in detoxification of the liver and the body. Glutathione to toxins, such as heavy metals, solvents, and pesticides, and transforms them into a form that can be excreted in urine or bile.

Glutathione is also an important antioxidant, counteracting the effects of free radicals produced in the body by oxidation reactions. In preliminary research, dietary glutathione intake from fruit and raw vegetables has been associated with protection against some forms of cancer. Glutathione has also inhibited cancer in test tube and animal studies. In preliminary research, higher glutathione levels have also been associated with good health in older adults.

Dietary Glutathione

Where is it found? Dietary glutathione is found in:

* fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables,
* fish and meat.
* Asparagus,
* avocado and
* walnuts are particularly rich dietary sources of glutathione.

Glutathione can be taken in supplement form but may not be effective. The production of glutathione by the body can be boosted by taking supplemental:

* N-acetylcysteine or
* L-cysteine plus
* L-methionine.

Studies suggest that this may be a better way or raising glutathione levels than taking glutathione itself.

Glutathione's Defense of the Body

Glutathione helps to defend the body against damage from:

* cigarette smoking -- see below for the dramatic and frightening result of a single puff of smoke from a cigarette
* exposure to radiation
* cancer chemotherapy
* toxins such as alcohol
* As a detoxifier of heavy metals and drugs, it aids in the treatment of blood and liver disorders
* Glutathione protects cells in several ways:
* Neutralizes oxygen molecules before they can harm cells.
* With selenium, it forms the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, which neutralizes hydrogen peroxide -- one of the most aggressive and harmful free radicals produced by the oxidation reaction in cells.
* as a component of another antioxidant enzyme, glutathione S-transferase, which is a broad-spectrum liver-detoxifying enzyme.
* Glutathione also protects individual cells and the tissues of the arteries, brain, heart, immune cells, kidneys, lenses of the eyes, liver, lungs, and skin against oxidant damage.

Glutathione also:

* Plays a role in preventing cancer, especially liver cancer.
* May have an anti-aging effect.

Increasing Glutathione Levels in the Body

If glutathione is manufactured within the body, what can we do to maintain or increase Glutathione levels? Some pharmaceutical drugs can do it, and so can some natural sources. Eating glutathione cannot. There are many ideas about how to raise Glutathione levels in the body but only a few actually work --- and some of them have side effects.

The following "co-factors" are important to the production and/or function of Glutathione:

* Vitamin B-1
* Vitamin B-2
* Vitamin B-6
* Vitamin B-12
* Vitamin C
* Vitamin E
* Folic Acid
* Selenium
* Magnesium
* Vanadium
* Zinc

Many of these are antioxidants in their own right. The key ingredient to the increasing of Glutathione levels in the body is a nutritional source of cysteine in a form which can be used by the body. It must be in a form that can survive the trip from our mouths to our cells. Unfortunately, merely eating either Glutathione or the free amino acid cysteine does not give the cell what it needs to manufacture Glutathione.

N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) is commonly used in critical care medicine, toxicology, and pulmonary medicine. It has been the most researched of the GSH-promoting modalities, and newer clinical applications are being developed all the time.

Many natural products exert some of their positive effects by supporting or directly raising Glutathione levels. Undenatured whey proteins are an exciting development. A whey protein isolate, Immunocal, has recently been patented to augment Glutathione levels and enhance immune function.

Recommendation:

Supplements are medicines and should not be taken carelessly. Before beginning any serious program of supplements, you should discuss your plans with your healthcare provider. If he/she is unfamiliar with supplements and their benefits and cautions, consult a healthcare provider who is. Once you have your healthcare providers advice, being the following:

1. Vitamin C -- at least 1000 mg a day
2. CoQ10 -- at least 100 mg a day and up to 400 mg a day if you are diabetic or have heart disease.
3. Alpha Lipoic Acid (in the R-form) -- at least 200 mg a day and up to 400-600 mg a day if you have a diabetic neuropathy.
4. Vitamin E - 400 IU daily
5. Glutathione -- Add at least 1000 mg of NAC to your diet, and at least one scoop of a high quality whey to your diet each day and 1000 mg of Methionine daily.

At present Glutathione supplements do not appear to be effective, but taking the precursors of Glutathione increases your body's production of Glutathione.

Glutathione Side Effects

The glutathione side effects vary from 'no known side effects' and zero side effects to many side effects depending on your sources of glutathione.
Foods high in Glutathione have ZERO side effects...however ineffective in raising your GSH levels beyond 40%. Read more: Foods high in Glutathione
Glutathione supplements or glutathione pills have zero side effects to very rare side effects that may include skin hives, rashes, and itchy or swollen skin. Even more rarely are side effects of breathing problems or tightness in your throat or chest and even chest pain. Read more: Glutathione supplements
Intravenous glutathione or glutathione injections has zero short term side effects (other than the pain of being poked by a needle) but may possibly have long term side effects of increasing your chances of developing skin cancer and other skin disorders due to the synthethic glutathione found in glutathione injections/glutathione IV's. The synthetic glutathione inhibits your body's protection of melanin synthesis. Read more: Intravenous glutathione

Intravenous Glutathione

What do Magic Johnson and Suzanne Somers have in common?
Intravenous glutathione, that's what!
They both get glutathione injections weekly for $900 an injection! That is $3,600 a month for IV glutathione!
Yes, Suzanne Somers receives IV glutathione once a week! In fact, she wrote about it in her book: Breakthrough: Eight Steps to Wellness
Magic Johnson also gets injectable glutathione.
Why are celebrities willing to dish out a few thousand dollars each and every month to raise their glutathione levels?

Maybe it is the dramatic anti-aging properties of having high levels of the MOST POWERFUL antioxidant on earth!
Or maybe they like the high energy levels and strengthened immune system.
Or, it could be the improved athletic performance & recovery.
Or perhaps it is just plain feeling better, sleeping better, and improved mental functions, such as, focus, concentration, memory, and clarity.
Or maybe they like knowing that by raising their glutathione levels NOW and maintaining them high is protecting from degenerative diseases LATER.
I think it is a combination of all of the above, plus the hundreds if not thousands of other benefits.
However, with intravenous glutathione how much of the glutathione even makes it INTO your cells is questionable.
Getting glutathione intravenously injected does get into your bloodstream (as blood tests show) BUT the "injected" glutathione molecule is not fully absorbing into the cells because of it's size. The IV glutathione molecule is larger than the cell molecule.
Let's just assume some glutathione can squeeze itself into the cell (not likely), whatever glutathione does make into the cells starts going down daily until you get another injection the following week.
Worst of all, superficial glutathione (glutathione not produced by your own cells) may actually inhibit melanin synthesis!
Melanin (or pigment) is a substance that gives the skin its natural color AND protects you from the harmful rays of the sun.
So, if you are getting your glutathione through an IV or another method that gives you superficial glutathione, you are increasing your chances of developing skin cancer and other skin disorders.
On top of the possibility of developing skin cancer, what about the time loss, doctor's visits, gasoline, and needles-yuck! What if you get the injections more than once a week--then the costs go up as well (as does your risk of skin cancer).
(A much better, much more effective, and much less expensive and very convenient source for glutathione is the glutathione accelerator, which actually encourages one's own glutathione production within the cells as opposed to getting some glutathione from an outside source.)

Bottom line:

1) Effectiveness--Minimal
2) Convenience--Not at all
3) Side Effects--may possibly increase your chances of developing skin cancer and other skin disorders.
4) Cost--Very Expensive

Glutathione IV

Getting glutathione IV goes into your bloodstream and tissues. Many used to think this was the most effective way to raise glutathione levels. However the "injected" glutathione molecule is not being absorbed into the cells because our cells do not have a receptor for glutathione.
In other words, our cells do not have a molecule (receptor) that recognizes or binds to glutathione injected into the bloodstream or tissues.
Why does that matter?
Almost 100% of glutathione is utilized, needed and found in the cells. If glutathione does not get to the cells where glutathione does it's job, it just simply cannot be effectively used!
To make matters worse, the injected glutathione in the blood or tissues will be rapidly broken down and eliminated from the body. Most of the glutathione gotten from an IV or injection goes out in our urine! (Now that is some expensive pee!)
Not to mention IV glutathione is artificial glutathione. Real glutathione is made by the body and anything outside of that is artificial, not as effective as the real deal and even has serious side effects. You can read more here: Intravenous Glutathione.
So the best way to increase glutathione in your body is to give your body glutathione precursors that ARE absorbed into the cell and your body then uses the precursors (building blocks) to make more glutathione WITHIN the cell where glutathione is efficiently utilized.
To date, the best product that does this most effectively is a glutathione accelerator, called MaxGXL.

Read more to learn more... :)

Some Important Insights On Why We Need to Fruitify and Veggify Our Meals?

I would like to add some insights on why we should fruitify and veggify our meals. I could give scientific basis but it would be too long and people will get bored and would not be interested of reading it. I would like to give two powerful insights that I am hoping that will help you not just try but really change your meal on a healthier way.

First, fruits and veggies are the source of foods for our body’s great defence against all sickness. I mean, our body can heal all sickness including cancer and HIV. Is that amazing? It is really amazing knowing that but only a few knows how it works. God, give us everything including a body that has its own doctor. We are like “Wolverine” that can heal itself when damage or get sick. But most of us don’t have any idea of who and what this Doctor inside us. This so called Doctor inside us has been known but kept silent by modern and western medicine. Our own Doctor that will fight against any sickness in our body is, our “IMMUNE SYSTEM”. Our immune system is our greatest ally to fight against any sickness that we will. It consists of 9 organs in our body (Tonsils, Adenoids, Thymus, Lymph nodes, Spleen, Appendix, Peyer’s patches, Bone Marrow, and Lympahtic vessels) that if these organs are healthy then no sickness can bother us. This is a gift from God for us for over centuries since the beginning. This is the very reason why people that came before us have lived for more than a hundred years and until now people who lives in the boondocks and provinces where fruits and veggies are so available have lived longer than us living in the cities. Know immunology, know how to take good care of our immune system, and know how to make it strong so that you will know from yourself and from your own body that it really works and that is all that we need for us to be healthy and no sickness. If you want to know more about the importance of our immune system read more to learn more: http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/medicine/immuneresponses/overview/

Second, do you know that the pH of our body should be alkaline? When our body is more alkaline, our immune system is strong, our body is bursting with energy, our body rapidly disposes of fat, our skins, bone and cell regenerates keeping it young. Any cancer cells won’t survive if our body is alkaline. But here’s a big problem, most us nowadays we are acidic. Why? There are a lot of reasons why we acidic nowadays and here some of the reasons that I would like to present:

1.       Air pollution

2.       Stress

3.       Radiation

4.       Drugs

5.       Soft drinks

6.       Alcohol

7.       Chemicals

8.       Pesticide

9.       Energy drinks

10.   Burgers

11.   Sugar

12.   Tobacco

13.   Fried Foods

14.   Artificial Sweeteners

15.   Un-natural Fruit Juices

16.   Processed Foods

17.   Imitation Foods

To get all the alkaline benefits, our body needs to be at pH 7.4. A quick fact, it takes 33 glasses of water to neutralize 1 glass of cola. When we’re too acidic, our body tries everything to get more alkaline. Sounds good, but this is where the trouble starts. The good and bad points are as follows: Good point 1, it stores some acid in your fat to keep it from harms way. Bad point 1, then our body holds onto fat for protection. Hence, it becomes our weight loss problem. Good point 2, it finds alkaline elsewhere from our bones and teeth. Bad point 2, our bones and teeth get the life sucked out of them and they became frail and decay. Arthritis coming in, and this why people shrink as they age. Good point 3, the acid settles away from healthier organs. Bad point 3, instead it hits your weakest organs that are already prone to disease or hereditary cancer (Cancer cells become dormant if you are at pH 7.4). On top all that, it contaminates something else our blood. Our body is like a car. Running a car on dirty oil would cause the engine parts to wear quickly, not operate like it was designed to. It becomes reliable and loses its power. Engine oils are to cars, what the blood is to humans. But our blood is more vital. Our red blood cells deliver oxygen to the tissues, collect carbon dioxide, and conveys sugar, vitamins and amino acids. Each red blood cell is surrounded by a negative charge, so they can frantically repel/bounce off each other, delivering their goodness at high speed. But! When we are too acidic, they lose their negative charge as they stick together. They sludge to the body at low speed. Struggling to absorb water, nutrients and oxygen, and can’t expel unhealthy toxins. Poisoning starts, we feel loss of energy. Even though you’re getting enough sleep. Our blood does this after drinking alcohol. Question, how is it possible to get alkalized nowadays? My answer is by in-taking more alkaline foods and drinks. See the pictures below on some charts that will help to be alkalized… God bless… :)

Real (Whole Food) Vitamins Versus Synthetic Isolated Vitamins

Many people take vitamins to gain energy, to prevent certain health conditions, and to avoid vitamin deficiency. Taking the wrong types and doses of vitamins can pose great health risks. But there are two types of vitamins. One is synthesized from plants or copied from active plant ingredients or synthetic and the other one is whole food vitamins.

There is a big difference between synthetic and whole food vitamins that most people didn’t know. Synthetic vitamins are manmade while whole vitamins are naturally available or God given. Synthetic vitamins are synthesized from plant active ingredients like Vitamins C while whole Vitamins are already available in most fruits and vegetables. Here is an example how synthetic vitamins are synthesized or manufactured: Sorbitol + Acetone (nail polish remover) + Perchloric Acid (A catalyst found in rocket fuels and explosives) + Benzene (gasoline) + Nickel + Caustic Bleach (NaOh) + Toluene (glues and paints) = Ascorbic Acid or vitamin C.

Here are some facts that you won’t find advertised on most of the vitamin supplements at your local store:

The majority of commercial vitamin supplements are made up of synthetic vitamins. Synthetic vitamins do not perform the same functions in your body as vitamins found naturally in whole food. Many synthetic vitamins deplete your body of other nutrients and tax your kidneys before being excreted through your urine. Anyone who studies biochemistry learns that vitamins do not exist as single components that act on their own. Vitamins are made up to several components – enzymes, co-enzymes, and co-factors - that must work together to produce their intended biological effects. Vitamins that are found naturally in whole foods come with all of their necessary components. The majority of vitamins that are sold in pharmacies, grocery stores, and vitamin shops are synthetic vitamins, which are only isolated portions of the vitamins that occur naturally in food.

A good example is vitamin C. If you take a look at a variety of vitamin C supplements, you will find that the majority of them contain only ascorbic acid or a compound called ascorbate, which is a less acidic form of ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid IS NOT vitamin C. It represents the outer ring that serves as a protective shell for the entire vitamin C complex, much like an orange peel that serves as a protective shell of an orange. Real vitamin C found in whole foods like fruits and vegetables contain the following components: Rutin, Bioflavonoids (vitamin P), Factor K, Factor J, Factor P, Tyrosinase, Ascorbinogen, and Ascorbic Acid. When you take only ascorbic acid found in your synthetic vitamin C tablet or powder, your body must gather all of the other components of the full vitamin C complex from your body’s tissue in order to make use of it. In the event that your body does not have adequate reserves of the other components, ascorbic acid itself does not provide any of the health benefits that the full vitamin c complex does. After circulating through your system, the unused ascorbic acid is eliminated through your urine.

Just like vitamin C, almost all other vitamins that we know of offer their full health benefits when they are in the presence of a number of enzymes, co-enzymes, co-factors, and even minerals. For example, Vitamin D may have as many as twelve different active components, while vitamin P has at least five different components. The mineral copper is needed for full vitamins C activity, while vitamin E works closely with the mineral selenium to provide its health promoting, anti-oxidative effect. Clearly, it is best to get your vitamins from whole foods. In many cases, whole foods also provide the minerals that are necessary for optimal vitamin activity. For example, sunflower seeds are an excellent whole food source of vitamin E and the mineral selenium, both of which need each other to offer their full health benefits. How do you know if the vitamins on your kitchen counter are from whole foods or if they are synthetic? If the list of ingredients includes an actual vitamin like Vitamin C” rather than an actual food that contains natural vitamin C like “acerola cherry powder” you can bet that it is a synthetic vitamin. If you choose to use nutritional supplements, it is in your best interest to use only those products that list actual foods as their ingredients rather than synthetic and isolated vitamins. While some synthetic and isolated vitamins have been shown to provide minimal health benefits, on the whole, most of them cause more harm than good and you are far better off spending your money on whole foods. It is important to note that the principles in this are just as relevant and applicable to minerals and mineral supplements.

Here are the lists of dangers of using synthetic vitamins:

1.    Synthetic Folic Acid Supplements

a.     increased colon cancer by 68%

b.    Increased the risk of prostate cancer by 167%

2.    Vitamin E

a.    John Hopkins University Study stated that taking too much vitamin E could possibly increase your risk of death or cause other serious side effects.

3.    Vitamin A

a.    Too high a dose of vitamin A in a pregnant woman can cause birth defects in her baby.

b.    Risk of liver damage

c.    Hair loss

d.    Weaken bones

4.    A study of 232,000 people showed taking vitamins A, E, C, Beta-Carotene and Selenium SHOWED NO IMPROVEMENT.

5.    Vitamin C

a.    A research conducted by Mount Sinai School of Medicine actually shows too much vitamin C can damage your cells.

Whole vitamins sources:

1.    Vitamin E

a.    Almonds

b.    Peanut butter

c.    Avocados

d.    Spinach

e.    Broccoli

f.     Asparagus

2.    Vitamin A

a.    Raw Carrots

b.    Sweet Potatoes

c.    Squash

d.    Spinach

e.    Canteloupes

f.     Leafy Vegetables

g.    Eggs

Now, it is really fascinating because most people would assume that their vitamins that they are taking are nature base not manmade? Our body wasn’t created in a laboratory our nutritional supplements shouldn’t be either. Nature really given us all we need for good health we just need to look it, harness it and use it.

"Know the labels of what you eat and drink. Have a healthy life."...:>)

Deoxyribonucleic Acid Alteration or DNA Mutation. A New Technology or A New Danger?

Have you heard of this chemical term, Deoxyribonucleic acid? Or DNA? According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA - Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a molecule that encodes the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms and many viruses. Along with RNA and proteins, DNA is one of the three major macromolecules essential for all known forms of life. Genetic information is encoded as a sequence of nucleotides (guanine, adenine, thymine, and cytosine) recorded using the letters G, A, T, and C. Most DNA molecules are double-stranded helices, consisting of two long polymers of simple units called nucleotides, molecules with backbones made of alternating sugars (deoxyribose) and phosphate groups (related to phosphoric acid), with the nucleobases (G, A, T, C) attached to the sugars. DNA is well-suited for biological information storage, since the DNA backbone is resistant to cleavage and the double-stranded structure provides the molecule with a built-in duplicate of the encoded information.

Today, the word DNA is so famous in the research world. Why? Modern scientist of today have found a way to manipulate our DNA for us to have a better body not prone to any diseases. They said that, with this technology any disease can be cured. But how? By DNA alteration or mutation. A change in DNA resulting from a copying error during DNA replication is called a mutation. Mutations happen naturally, by chance, and when that happens there is no way for the mutated cell to recover the original DNA sequence. Mutations play a role in evolution, where they sometimes lead to the rise of new traits, and in cancer, where mutations of cells within the body may cause the cells to start multiplying out of control.

What??? Mutation? Are they saying that, in order for us to be better or to have a healthier body they need our DNA to be mutated into another one? So, meaning to say they are making mutants and Professor Charles Xavier Academy of mutants will come to fulfilment. I am kinda scared of this new discovery, I am not against it but I am just scared. Why? Because, until now they don’t have facts and proof of what kind of mutation our body will have and they only have one, only one proof that these technology are good for humans. Mutations in our body are happening everyday and these mutations are cause naturally. It doesn’t mean these mutations happened naturally for us to have a newer or mutated body but it happens for us to have a new cell, for mutations is a way of producing new cells in our body. There are a lot of fruits and vegetables that can do these mutations naturally like grape seed extract, resveratrol and etc.

These new technology is using synthetic chemicals for our body to have these mutations, and this makes me scared off for a lot of reasons. By using these synthetic chemicals mutations are force not naturally happening. With using unbalance synthetic ingredients not from the whole food or whole natural ingredients from plants, will create a bigger possibility of having side effects. As we all know, most synthetic drugs, medicines and synthetic ingredients have side effects. We may have good mutations, but what about the side effects? And we are not just talking side effects here like most drugs give, we are talking side effects here in DNA level. Which is the foundation of our cells and our entire body. Think about it? The side effects of these new technology will happen in our entire system. There are no known side effects yet nowadays, but I am pretty sure in 5-10 years side effects will be revealed and I hope there will be no cover up this time for the welfare of the consumer here is at risk.

These side effects won’t happen unless these giant companies sell or manufacture products from whole plant food or plant ingredients, not synthetically made or laboratory made. I know most scientists have an idea that the best way for us to have a healthier life is to eat what we have in our garden but they wanted to earn more and produce these synthetic drugs or medicines. God gives us a body that can heal itself whatever sickness do we have (Immune system), but we must eat the right kind of foods for these system to function well. God had given us everything for us to have a happy and a healthy life… J

Sources: http://www.councilforresponsiblegenetics.org/ViewPage.aspx?pageId=108

              http://www.genome.gov/10004764

Cranberries nutrition facts

Cranberries nutrition facts

Unique, wild and natural by habitat, cranberries are rich in phyto-nutrients (naturally derived plant compounds), particularly proanthocyanidin antioxidants, which are essential for all-round health and wellness. The berries are indeed packed with compounds that offer protection from tooth cavities, urinary tarct infection, and inflammatory diseases. The berry is an evergreen dwarf creeping shrub, or trailing vine belonging to the family of Ericaceae, in the genus Vaccinium, and subgenus: Oxycoccos.

Scientific name: Vaccinium macrocarpon.

In their natural habitat, they found in acidic sandy bogs throughout the cooler parts of the Europe, Northern states in the United States and Canada. The plants are actually dwarf, creeping shrubs, or vines which run up to 2 m long and 10 to 20 cm in height. They have slender, wiry, not so thick, or woody stems bearing small, evergreen leaves.

Cranberry season generally lasts from October till December. The fruit is small, round, red color berry. Each berry features four centrally situated tiny seeds enclosed inside the capsules. The fruit is very tart in taste.

Health benefits of Cranberries

• Delicious, tart cranberries have significantly high amounts of phenolic flavonoid phytochemicals calledpro-anthocyanidins (PAC’s). Scientific studies have shown that consumption of berries have potential health benefits against cancer, aging and neurological diseases, inflammation, diabetes, and bacterial infections.
• Antioxidant compounds in cranberries such as oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC’s), anthocyanidin flavonoids, cyanidin, peonidin and quercetin may prevent cardiovascular disease by counteracting against cholesterol plaque formation in the heart and blood vessels. Further, these compounds help body lower LDL cholesterol levels and increase HDL-good cholesterol levels in the blood.
• Research studies shows that cranberry juice consumption offers protection against gram-negative bacterial infections such as E.coli in the urinary system by inhibiting bacterial attachment to the bladder and urethra.
• Consumption of cranberries makes urine acidic. This, along with the bacterial anti-adhesion property of cranberry juice helps prevent formation of alkaline (calcium ammonium phosphate) stones in the urinary tract by working against proteus bacterial infections.
• Further, the berries prevent plaque formation on the tooth surface by interfering with the ability of another gram-negative bacteria, Streptococcus mutans, to sticking on the surface. It thus helps prevent development of cavities in a way similar to the action in preventing urinary tract infections.
• The berries are also good source of many vitamins like vitamin C, vitamin A, ß-carotene, lutein-zeaxanthin and folate and minerals like potassium, and manganese.
• Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity or ORAC (measurement of antioxidant strength of food items) demonstrates cranberry with an ORAC score of 9,584 units per 100 g, one of the highest in edible fruits.

See the table below for in depth analysis of nutrients:

Vaccinium macrocarpon, Fresh, ORAC score 9584,
Nutritive Value per 100 g.
(Source: USDA National Nutrient data base)

Principle	Nutrient Value	Percentage of RDA
Energy	46 Kcal	2.3%
Carbohydrates	12.2 g	9%
Protein	0.4 g	1%
Total Fat	0.13 g	<1%
Cholesterol	0 mg	0%
Dietary Fiber	4.6 g	12%
Vitamins
Folates	1 µg	<1%
Niacin	0.101 mg	1%
Pantothenic acid	0.295 mg	6%
Pyridoxine	0.057 mg	4%
Riboflavin	0.020 mg	2%
Thiamin	0.012 mg	1%
Vitamin A	60 IU	2%
Vitamin C	13.3 mg	22%
Vitamin E	1.20 mg	8%
Vitamin K	5.1 µg	4%
Electrolytes
Sodium	2 mg	0%
Potassium	85 mg	2%
Minerals
Calcium	8 mg	1%
Copper	0.061 mg	7%
Iron	0.25 mg	3%
Magnesium	6 mg	1.5%
Manganese	0.360 mg	16%
Phosphorus	13 mg	2%
Selenium	0.1 mcg	0%
Zinc	0.10 mg	1%
Phyto-nutrients
Carotene-ß	36 µg	--
Crypto-xanthin-ß	0 µg	--
Lutein-zeaxanthin	91 µg	--

Selection and storage

Fresh cranberries are available from October until December. In the store, choose berries that are bright red in color, plump, free from wrinkles with intact skin, firm to touch, without any cuts or cracks.  Antioxidant pigments are largely concentrated in berries that feature deep red in color. Discard any wet, mottled ones, as they tend to spread the mold to rest others. 

Fresh, as well as dried berries contain the most antioxidants while bottled cranberry drinks and cranberry cocktails with added sugars contain the least.

Fresh berries can be stored in the refrigerator for several days. Sort out any discolored, soft, shriveled or sticky fruits before storing. They have very short shelf life if kept at room temperature.

Preparation and serving method

Here are some serving tips:The wild cranberries that are picked up by hand from their natural habitat can be consumed directly. While purchasing from the stores, choose berries with uniform surface and color. Wash them in cold water just prior to use to keep their texture intact.

• Raw, fresh, or dried cranberry can be eaten all alone as snacks.

• Tart berries can be a great addition in the preparation of green as well fruit salads.

• The berries can be used as an ingredient in sorbets and fruit cocktails.

• They are being used in the preparation of muffins, pie-fillings, breads, and ice creams.

• Used in the food industry in preparation of sauce, jam, jelly.

• Cranberry sauce is being used in traditional poultry dish.

Safety profile

Cranberries contain oxalic acid, a naturally occurring substance found in some fruits and vegetables (spinach,kale...), which may crystallize as oxalate stones in the urinary tract in some individuals. It is therefore, people with known history of oxalate urinary tract stones may not eat too much of these berries and, especially vegetables belonging to the brassica family. Adequate intake of water is therefore advised to maintain normal urine output.

Oxalic acids also interfere with the absorption of minerals like calcium and magnesium causing their deficiency.

Research studies have shown that cranberry juice potentiates the anticoagulant effect of warfarin. Some patients on warfarin therapy exhibited excessive bleeding in the organ system after they began to drink cranberry juice. It is therefore, patients using warfarin should be advised to avoid its juice.

(Medical disclaimer: The information and reference guides in this website are intended solely for the general information for the reader. It is not to be used to diagnose health problems or for treatment purposes. It is not a substitute for medical care provided by a licensed and qualified health professional. Please consult your health care provider for any advice on medications.) 

Source: http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/cranberries.html