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CRANBERRIES - Flu Food can be Saucy!

Americn Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccus) bog Photo: www.ars.usda.gov

Getting tooled-up to meet winter’s colds and flu could feature Cranberries in the diet for more than sauce to go with the turkey this year. Back in September when there were rumblings about a compound in cranberries with the capacity to stop or reduce the ability of the flu virus to adhere to cells and infect them, it did not make resounding headlines,¹ but since the emergence of Avian flu it may well be that more research will be forthcoming and cranberries will be taken even more seriously in future as a Food Medicine.

The spread of flu hinges on the virus taking over human cells (sticking to them and penetrating them), thus getting them (host cells) to reproduce the virus, which leads to flu infectivity in human or other animals’ bodies.

It is well-known that cranberry is bactericidal and the juice contains compounds that stop bacteria spreading. However, cranberry juice contains high molecular materials (NDM) that inhibit bacterial adhesion to host cells, as well as the co-aggregation of many oral bacteria.^2A&B Because of cranberry’s broad-spectrum activity, researchers in Israel, (anti-viral specialists at the University of Tel Aviv), investigated NDM's potential for inhibiting influenza virus adhesion to cells, and subsequent infectivity.² They found that even small amounts of these compounds – 20 times less than that normally found in cranberry juices – are enough to obstruct the flu viruses.

This ability of cranberry juice to block infections is thought to be why it is effective in the treatment of various other health problems. As precautious in ‘wording’ results and conclusions as researchers must be, nonetheless they stated that: “Our cumulative findings indicate that the inhibitory effect of NDM on influenza virus adhesion and infectivity may have a therapeutic potential.”³ Now the bitter cold weather has descended upon us, in science-speak that’s about significant enough a signal to get cracking with cranberries.

Cranberry’s Activity Against Other Infections:

Earlier in the year Stateside researchers found that adding cranberry juice to intestinal viruses in laboratory conditions blocked their ability to infect intestinal cells. This research part-funded by the Cranberry Institute was presented to The American Society for Microbiology.⁴ Good news for us all, but especially in developing countries where the bulk of intestinal viral infections are responsible for thousands of infant deaths each year. This work demonstrated that after the viruses were treated with cranberry juice they were unable to infect intestinal cells in the usual way. It seemed to have an effect on the replication cycle of the virus at an early stage preventing penetration of the host cell.

Further research is required because there is some uncertainty regarding the mechanism, although it was stated that the key might be the chemical components of the juice, namely antioxidant flavonoids and tannins present in the berry’s fruit; both of which have previously been shown to have an anti-bacterial effect.⁵

What is loosely termed ‘Food Medicine’ is that which is often referred to by Science as ‘functional food’ – a food that has a beneficial effect beyond its nutritional impact. Whichever way one wants to ‘call it’ Cranberry meets these important criteria.

Bacterial adhesion is of great research interest to Science, yet few studies had addressed molecular level adhesion until September this year, when work with cranberry was done on strains of the vile bacterium E. coli that makes people sick with food poisoning or can lead to death in the vulnerable.⁶

Finnish researchers have not been idle, they have been researching the antimicrobial activity of some of their Nordic berries and their phenolic extracts and purified phenolic fractions against human pathogens.⁷ Although they found Cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus) and Raspberry (Rubus idaeus) were the best inhibitors, Listeria strains were not affected by berry compounds, with the exception of – wait for it - Cranberry! Earlier it was found among different berries and berry phenolics, cranberry, cloudberry, raspberry, strawberry and bilberry especially possess clear antimicrobial effects against, e.g. Salmonella and Staphylococcus.

For the good of our health, this research also gives us more than a hint and nudge to grow or buy familiar delectable raspberries to eat when they are plentiful and in season, as well as cranberries. This study may have considerable impact, as the Fins concluded that “the antimicrobial properties of berries could be utilized in ‘functional foods’. Moreover, these compounds would be of high interest for further evaluation of their properties as natural antimicrobial agents for food and the pharmaceutical industry.” If there is potential for till-ringing as well as bells, we may be sure that there is a good chance of seeing a great deal more enlightening berry research in the not too distant future.

More of Cranberry’s Gut Reaction

The cranberry phenomenon does not stop here, only this time last year Israeli researchers who are specialists in the bacterium Helicobacter pylori found it also to be susceptible to the anti-adhesion activity of a high-molecular-weight constituent of cranberry.⁸ The resulting data suggested that a combination of antibiotics and a cranberry preparation may improve Helicobacter pylori⁹ eradication, which is particularly good news for duodenum ulcer sufferers.

Earlier American ‘in vitro’ work had already shown that cranberry can work with the antibiotic drug Clarithromycin¹⁰ and enhance its effect against H. pylori. It is again noteworthy that of the berries tested i.e. raspberry (Rubus idaeus), strawberry (Fragaria spps.), cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccus), elderberry (Sambucus nigra), blueberry (Vaccinium spps.), bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L), and OptiBerry – a blend of the six berries, two of which are Vaccinium spps. are related to the cranberry, that all berry extracts significantly inhibited H. pylori, compared with controls, and also increased susceptibility of H. pylori to clarithromycin, with OptiBerry demonstrating maximal effects. It should also be noted that clarithomycin is used to treat AIDS, so this is an important breakthrough.

Cranberry for Herpes?

Although it is early days yet and truly more research is required, it is probable that a near relative of the American cranberry, which veers towards the Heather family Ericaceae, could assist in treating herpes. Last year a Taiwanese study focused on "Alpine" or "Mountain" Cranberry – the Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea Linn.: Ericaeae) being the species in question.¹¹ It contains a plant compound called proacnthocyanidin A-1 which was isolated and is a tannin-like antioxidant. We know for sure that Cranberry juice derived form the American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon or Oxycoccus macrocarpus) contains both anthocyanin- and proanthocyanidin-rich fractions that have been studied for their antibacterial activity against bacteria strains by Brazilian researchers in the spring of this year.¹² Also in 2002 in an American researchers review it stated that: “Proanthocyanidins with unique molecular structures have been isolated from cranberry fruit that exhibit potent bacterial anti-adhesion activity.” ¹³

So, if this particular research is in doubt or requires further investigation, it sounds to be perfectly feasible that another relative of the Cranberry spps. could indeed have similar properties with different uses. The plant compound did not make herpes simplex-2 (HSV-2) any less infectious, but worked via interference with the virus when it tried to latch on to and penetrate cells. It is to be hoped that this research does go further because rates of herpes simplex virus infection have been continuously growing worldwide. Not only is herpes simplex one of the most common viral infections in humans, causing genital sores or ulcers, as well as inflammation of the brain and infection of newborns or the vulnerable with weak immune systems, at this time there is NO cure.¹⁴

Cranberry’s Contribution to a Healthy Heart

Cranberry, like all good herbs that are a Food Medicine, is about prevention as well as cure. An American study in 2003 found that drinking cranberry juice every day could significantly cut the risk of heart disease. It suggested 3 glasses a day can raise the amount of HDL cholesterol in the blood, reducing the chances of a range of cardiac conditions by as much as 40%.¹⁵ Lead researcher Dr Vinson stated that antioxidant levels in the blood of volunteers who were drinking 2-3 servings a day increased by 120%.¹⁶ It was also suggested that cranberry extracts, usually in tablet or capsule form, could be similarly beneficial if taken regularly.¹⁷

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation is closely implicated in the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD), and thus, reducing LDL susceptibility to oxidation with antioxidants could be of importance in CVD prevention. Flavonoids, polyphenolic compounds found in a large selection of fruits and vegetables, have been characterized as having a strong antioxidant potential, and intake of flavonoid-rich foods has been related to decreased morbidity and mortality from heart disease, among which foods cranberry features.

However, the debate about cranberry’s usefulness in the area of CVD is still in conflict. In July of this year researchers in Scotland concluded that: “Cranberry juice consumption did not alter blood or cellular antioxidant status or several biomarkers of lipid status pertinent to heart disease. Similarly, cranberry juice had no effect on basal or induced oxidative DNA damage. These results show the importance of distinguishing between the ‘in vitro’ and ‘in vivo’ antioxidant activities of dietary anthocyanins in relation to human health.”¹⁸ But, in the same month, Canadian researchers stipulated: “Our results show that short-term cranberry juice supplementation is associated with significant increase in plasma antioxidant capacity and reduction in circulating OxLDL concentrations. Although the physiological relevance of our observations needs to be further examined, our study supports the potential role of antioxidant-rich foods in maintaining health and preventing CVD.”¹⁹

Oh dear! What a ‘Carry on …’ - not a happy bunch of bunnies. What to do whilst the scientific community reassorts itself? Cranberry juice is full of healthy antioxidants and if it doesn’t prevent heart disease, it’s excellent in so many other ways why not carry on drinking-in its diverse benefits. It will not do you any harm unless you are on Warfarin, but remember that all things good are best in moderation.

Although the warning on Warfarin, which was originally developed as a rat poison and as such is still widely used, this precautious research is entitled: ‘Possible interaction between warfarin and cranberry juice’; it is based on ‘case work’ only so far and not trials! However, until further confirmational research emerges, drinking cranberry juice for those taking Warfarin, which is an anticoagulant drug, is potentially dangerous and so it should be carefully avoided.^20&21

Cranberry for Cancer?

Cranberry has not undergone any very wide or large scientific investigations as an anticarcinogenic compared with some plants and their products. American scientists, in 1996, investigated fruit extracts of four Vaccinium species (lowbush blueberry, bilberry, cranberry, and lingonberry) that were screened for anticarcinogenic compounds. Generally speaking the results were not particularly strong, but components of a fraction of bilberry and of the proanthocyanidin fraction of lowbush blueberry, cranberry, and lingonberry did exhibit potential anticarcinogenic activity as evaluated by ‘in vitro’ screening tests.²²

Later on in 2004, a study by complementary medicine researchers looked at supplement use by a cohort of cancer survivors taking vitamins in their lifestyle. This use of specific supplements by 10,857 cancer survivors was carried out as a preliminary work to assess the efficacy and safety of using specific supplements in specific cancer populations. It was found that among the strongest positive associations cranberry pills with bladder cancer were used.²³

In June the same year, Canadian researchers pursuing the continuing need for effective anticancer agents, and the association of fruit and vegetable consumption with reduced cancer risk with edible plants increasingly being considered as sources of anticancer drugs, investigated flavonoids from Cranberry press-cake extracts. Cranberry press-cake is the residue left after squeezing the juice from cranberries. Previously, Cranberry press-cake when fed to mice bearing human breast tumour cells, was shown to decrease the growth and metastasis (spreading of the disease to another part of the body) of tumours. A warm-water extract of cranberry press-cake containing flavonoids demonstrated antiproliferative activity in human cell lines; in conclusion it was described as potentially a source of a novel anticancer agent.²⁴

Only the month before, American researchers worked on American Cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) as an excellent dietary source of phytochemicals that include flavonol glycosides, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins (condensed tannins), and organic and phenolic acids were also tested on human tumour cell lines. They were looking for the ‘active agent(s)’ and found that enhanced antiproliferative activity of total polyphenols compared to total cranberry extract (TCE) and its individual phytochemicals suggested synergistic or additive antiproliferative interactions of the anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, and flavonol glycosides within the cranberry extract.²⁵

The total polyphenol fraction was the most active fraction against all cell lines with up to 96.1% inhibition of human oral cancer cells. For the colon cancer cells, the antiproliferative activity of this fraction was more successful against some colon cancer cells than others, but showed up to 92.1% success in one line. TCE and all fractions showed (>/=50%) antiproliferative activity against prostate cancer cells with total polyphenols being the most active fraction at 99.6%.²⁶

Further research is needed in every area of Cranberry to get to know exactly just how powerful a good Food Medicine it really is, but as the above indicates, not every part of a plant or its compounds are suitable for all uses and when it comes to pharmaceuticals other considerations predominate, such as manipulation for manufacture &c. for a plant with anticarcinogenic properties that has been investigated by science to be deemed suitable to be turned into a pharmaceutical drug. Nevertheless, when these various myriad healing properties are present in something as simple as Cranberries and its juice, and we know it, whether or not and for whatever non-detrimental reason it is never employed in orthodox medicine, the potential and confirmed benefits cannot be ignored. In the case of Cranberries as an anticarcinogenic, in less than a decade their constituents have progressed from not being of particular interest within the realms of potential cancer treatments to looking like a darned good highly antioxidant preventive to be added to the diet.

Cranberry for Urinary Tract Infections

However fascinating to some it might be, it would take a booksworth to reiterate all the Cranberry research done and findings in this connection for its use for urinary tract infections (UTI’s). Scientifically speaking, the ball of ‘it works, no it doesn’t’ falls in first one side of the court and then the other. As Australian researcher, Christine Carson, the well-known protagonist for Tea-Tree oil’s efficaciousness, outlined a couple of years ago wrote and published:

“The emergence of multiple antibiotic resistant organisms in the general community is a potentially serious threat to public health. The emergence of antibiotic resistance has not yet prompted a radical revision of antibiotic utilization. Instead it has prompted the development of additional antibiotics. Unfortunately, this does not relieve the underlying selection pressure that drives the development of resistance. A paradigm shift in the treatment of infectious disease is necessary to prevent antibiotics becoming obsolete and, where appropriate, alternatives to antibiotics ought to be considered. There are already several non-antibiotic approaches to the treatment and prevention of infection including probiotics, phages and phytomedicines. … Many infections may prove amenable to safe and effective treatment with non-antibiotics”²⁷

Cranberry juice for urinary tract infections was cited.²⁸

In 2001 it was announced by Finnish scientists that cranberries have been found to cut urinary tract infections (UTIs).²⁹ This was great news for women in the 25-29 age group and the over 55s, who are at most risk of UTI. For up to 60% of women are said to experience UTI at some point in their lives and at least a third of these will have recurrence within the following year of the onset. At the end of this six month trial the scientists found that out of the women who had taken cranberry and lingonberry juice only 16% had infections, compared to 36% in the control group.³⁰ The cursed E. coli being the stickler for this type of infection. The researchers said that the study confirmed the common belief that symptomatic recurrences of urinary tract infection can be prevented with cranberry juice.³¹ What is more, if cranberry juice could indeed be found to sustain such a performance it could drastically reduce not only UTIs but the cost of medical bills, e.g. in the US more than $1.6bn are spent annually on antibiotic prescriptions for women with UTIs.³²

Come 2004, Israeli researchers were making some valid points and posing a lot of questions as to the effectiveness of cranberry, what product(s) were working and what in them was the efficacious active agent(s). “Cranberries contain two compounds with anti-adherence properties, which prevent fimbriated E. coli from adhering to uroepithelial³³ cells in the urinary tract. Approximately a dozen clinical trials have been performed testing the effects of cranberries on the urinary tract. However, these trials have a number of apparent limitations. Most importantly, the trials have used a wide variety of cranberry products, such as cranberry juice concentrate, juice cocktail, and cranberry capsules, and have employed different dosing regimens. Further research is required to clarify unanswered questions regarding the role of cranberries in protecting against UTI in general and in women with anatomical abnormalities in particular.³⁴

In a subsequent updated review to assess the effectiveness of cranberries in preventing UTI infections the reviewers concluded: “There is some evidence from two good quality randomized control trials that cranberry juice may decrease the number of symptomatic UTIs over a 12 month period in women. If it is effective for other groups such as children and elderly men and women is not clear. The large number of dropouts/withdrawals from some of the trials indicates that cranberry juice may not be acceptable over long periods of time. In addition it is not clear what is the optimum dosage or method of administration (e.g. juice or tablets). Further properly designed trials with relevant outcomes are needed.”³⁵ Cranberry was taking a bit of a thrashing!

In all fairness to researchers of cranberry concerned, scientific discoveries used to be shared all around the world between researchers, but this habit disappeared most notably when competition to produce data and results became not ‘knowledge for knowledge’s sake’ the raw material of human progress, but for profit. Funders and funding now more than ever dictates what a scientist is able to study or do. Since the advent of genetic engineering, which is genetic modification by any other name (GE/GM), entered the fields of Science far too much funding is devoted to this area and more often than not insufficient funding to those researches that can carry forward preliminary research work e.g. of subjects such as Cranberry. In fact, cranberry has fared rather well compared with many other potential natural aids to health. The last time scientists worldwide co-operated more freely and openly was with the threat of SARS³⁶ (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which was a potential pandemic.

Consequently, there will be many and various trials on the same plant and/or different parts of it and its products conducted in various parts of the world, but no ‘in common’ communication to ensure that all scientists are ‘on the same page’ at any one time. It is not surprising, therefore, that cranberry has been getting a rocky ride along the urinary tract. It has taken a decade to begin to see the questions that need answered to explain its working mechanisms which have so often led to its success to be better understood.

Who knows, with the latest research explaining the potential of cranberry’s mechanisms, research e.g. to determine whether antibacterial effects of cranberry extract will reduce or eliminate bacteriuria (the presence of bacteria in urine) and pyuria (the presence of white blood cells in the urine; symptom of UTI) in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) for which cranberry as a treatment could not be recommended, now might be redesigned and produce a different outcome.³⁷

Meanwhile, the latest plaudit of cranberry is a capsule that is said to soothe cystitis.³⁸ This is good news for 80% of women who may suffer bacterial cystitis, with one in five enduring at least one attack a year, which causes misery-making inflammation of the bladder and a lot of discomfort. What the manufacturers of Cran-Max, an American supplement just launched in the UK, are saying is that until now the difficulty has been consuming enough cranberries in the form of juice or supplements to reap all the benefits.³⁹ However, this particular capsule is 100% cranberry and with a new extraction process means it is made up of all the vital parts of the fruit including the fruit, seeds, skin, pulp and juice, with no added bulking ingredients.⁴⁰ It takes 34lbs. of cranberries to produce 1lb. of the product.⁴¹

There may be a lot of as yet unanswered questions or tests of cranberry’s prowess awaiting official approval; what ere befall, the news that it may aid influenza comes at a very apt and opportune time.

A Sip of Cranberry History

19^th- Century Harvesting of Cranberries

The Cranberry Harvest on Nantucket Island 1880

Source: Johnathan Eastman Johnson (1824-1905)

Unlike most herbal plants and food medicine’s Cranberry does not appear to have any ancient history. It seems inconceivable that a plant sporting such bright shiny seductive berries would not have claimed attention. Nevertheless, to date, they are not apparently on any ancient records.

However, it is known that cranberries have been eaten by Arctic peoples for millennia and are still very popular fruit for wild-harvesting in the Nordic countries and Russia.⁴² In the UK, in Scotland the berries used to wild-harvested, but with loss of appropriate habitat leading to scarcity, this no longer is the case.⁴³

It is acknowledged that in North America the natives were the first to recognize and use cranberries as a food source, a discovery they reportedly kindly shared with starving English settlers in Massachusetts c.1620.⁴⁴ It is these settlers who subsequently incorporated cranberries into the traditional ‘Thanksgiving’ feast.⁴⁵ Note gardening enthusiasts: it is alleged that the American Revolutionary War veteran Henry Hall was the first to cultivate the cranberry commercially in the Cape Cod town of Dennis c.1816.⁴⁶

The most sacrosanct of all American secular festivals, which is all encompassing and embraces Christians, Muslims, Jews or any other religions or heathens is ‘Thanksgiving’. The celebratory ceremony was inaugurated by a 33-year-old Yorkshireman, William Bradford, who was then governor of the colony which had been set up at Plymouth, Cape Cod, c.1622 when the colony was two years old. The colony had a good harvest; accordingly Bradford said they should all celebrate by falling on their knees and “blessing the God of Heaven who had brought us over the vast and furious ocean, delivered us from the perils and miseries thereof to set our feet on the firm and stable earth.”⁴⁷ From this time American ‘Thanksgiving’ was established.

Although the puritans did not condone feasting of any kind they had discovered two novelties in their vicinity, which was at least 400 miles from their original intended landfall. One was a clucking bird; it came out of the cranberry bogs that spread over the Cape of Cape Cod! – the other the bog berries.⁴⁸ As you can imagine, their lives were harsh and strict; but their natural inclination was to roast the bird and make a sauce of the cranberries, serving them together – for this was heaven-sent largesse.

About a decade later most of the New England colonies took up the practice of an annual Thanksgiving after harvest, but it was not a national holiday, though President Abraham Lincoln towards the end of the Civil War proclaimed it a National Day of Thanksgiving.⁴⁹

At a time of great anxiety both sides of the Atlantic, when Hitler was on the rampage and WWII was pending, on 19^th November 1938 President Roosevelt announced on the radio: “I Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States, do hereby designate Thursday 24^th November 1938 as a day of general Thanksgiving.”⁴⁹ And ever since that’s how the last Thursday in November, coincidentally 24^th November 2005, the Americans give thanks for the special blessings of the year and recall the original first Pilgrim Father’s harvest, celebrating it with the traditional pumpkin pie, sweet potatoes, the turkey and, of course, accompanying cranberry sauce.

Modern Harvesting of Cranberries

Cranberry harvest in New Jersey

Photo by Keith Weller – www.ars.usda.gov

Food, Fun and Glorious Cranberries!

No matter how imaginative you may get with cranberry cuisine, it is important to know just how nutritious they are as a regular food and juice, as well as a medicine. Cranberry fruits and juices contain many vitamins A, B₁, B₂, B₃, B₅, B₆, C (good source), E & K, as well as minerals potassium (high), phosphorus, calcium, manganese, magnesium, sodium, sulphur, selenium, zinc, iron and copper. Not forgetting the other pharmacological bio-active antioxidants known as proanthocyanidins/anthocyanidins and beneficial organic acids: ellagic, citric, malic, quinic, benzoic, chlorogenic, eugenol, ferrulic; also beta carotene, lutein and quercetin.⁵⁰

Usually cranberries are served as a compote or jelly or called ‘Cranberry sauce’. Cranberry juice is popular in the UK, but cooking with cranberries has not yet found its way far enough into the consciousness of the British housewife on an everyday basis, although cranberries came out of the cupboard and got an ‘outing’ by Delia Smith, Britain’s Queen of TV Chefs, in the late 1990s in her How to Cook series, which introduced new ingredients such as dried cranberries. Delia’s impact on the public is so influential that her first name has become sufficient to identify her, ‘ doing a Delia’ is the phrase used when preparing a dish according to one of her recipes. Since then other chefs and celebrity TV chefs have introduced traditional or innovative new dishes featuring cranberries, which are no longer tied to the once-a-year Christmas turkey.

Here are some examples of recipes you might try from the BBC’s recipes and TV Celebrity chefs: ‘Peppered steak with roasted butternut squash and cranberries and shallot compote’⁵¹. If you are feeling traditional why make cranberry an inside story and try your ‘Roast turkey with cranberry and apple stuffing’, or if you are into wild food and game cook ‘Venison, red wine and cranberry braise’⁵² any time of the year venison is available to you. For a change and transformation of meats that go with cranberry, surprise yourself and your guests with ‘Roast shoulder of lamb with apricot, cranberry and rosemary stuffing’⁵³ in the spring when new lamb comes onto the market, or even try the same stuffing recipe with inexpensive boned and rolled roast belly of pork.

There are other versions of ‘cranberry sauce’ to accompany meats (hot or cold), such as ‘Cranberry and pear relish’⁵⁴ and ‘Cranberry sauce with port and orange’⁵⁵ and a whole lot more.

Cranberry desserts there are a-plenty: ‘Cranberry and ginger pudding’ a warming cold weather recipe. ‘Orange crumble with cranberries’.⁵⁶ Why not sample Anthony Worrell Thompson’s ‘Cranberry parcels’ or more upmarket and herbal: ‘Sweet onion and ricotta cheesecake with cranberries and sage’. ‘Sparkling cranberry jellies with orange langue de chat biscuits’, which is non-alcoholic and suitable for children, but why not be tempted to mix some champagne with the cranberry juice ingredient and give it more of a ‘wow factor’ for the sophisticated adult. A classy recipe to give special guests this winter is ‘Mulled fruit puddings in a glass’.⁵⁷

For children and children’s party fare, The Cranberry Society has come up with ‘Cranberry gingerbread people’. Having folks to tea is fashionable again, so why not give them something unusual like ‘Mincemeat orange and cranberry strudel’.⁵⁸

Beautiful seasonably red coloured Cranberries are not only for festive food and medicinal or judicious juice drinks, they have a partying ‘fun and frolic’ side to them too. For the cocktail movers and shakers there is Cranberry Sangria as a ‘cool’ alternative to mulled wine and Cranberry Sunrise for Father Christmas! A refreshing Cranberry Spritzer for those lighter on the alcohol, but needing to ‘wake up’ a bit after hard work in the kitchen is an interesting choice – all of which are also excellent summer drinks. For those who still would like a ‘hot’ drink, ‘Cranberry Mist’ with cinnamon and cloves looks to be well-liked.⁵⁹ A more innocent looking bevy is ‘Cranberry and Grand Marnier smoothie’ that has a continental touch.⁶⁰

If you shop for your Cranberries early, why not have a go at making your own Gunther Anderson’s ‘Homemade Cranberry liqueur’, one that is not too sweet. This one contains cinnamon and allspice for that ‘festive flavour’ and the extra je ne sais quoi of lime instead of lemon peel has been added. There are other versions of this liqueur, but this recipe is simple and clean without any processed additives.⁶¹

If you are not wild about drinking liqueurs, they are always worth having around to add to a variety of dishes, or for the festive table to add to a deep red ‘Cranberry (Mooseberry) Jelly’, which without this adult addition is a good simple dessert choice for children.⁶²

For those who like their liqueur to have a ‘kick’ to it, cranberry and vodka go well together; there is a liqueur recipe to satisfy that contingency too, but as this one mellows with age, it might be best to make it this year for the next winter period.⁶³

Cranberry and School Dinners

Who knows what next with Jamie Oliver celebrity chef and UK School Dinners campaigner at the helm, we may yet see cranberries added to the British school menus. In this respect, the United States has not been sitting on its cranberry laurels. In the summer of 2000 there was a Cranberry revolution for School Dinners in America, it was ‘Cranberries with everything’.⁶⁴ Even if this did not occur on medicinal grounds, but in an attempt to support cranberry growers facing falling prices during a glut, the US government intervened by buying huge quantities of the fruit for school meals. With 5.5 million pounds of cranberry sauce designated for school use, cranberry is no longer just for Thanksgiving Day. And, if they found that pupils began to suffer from cranberry fatigue, a plan is in place for any left over sauce to be passed on to schemes providing this healthful food for the poor or homeless. Where’s the meat you might ask? Well, it’s not ideal, but did you ever dunk a spoon into a pot of jam when you were a kid – at the very least people will be getting something much better for them than ‘jam’.

COMMENT:

With kind permission of Cheri Sicard from ‘Crazy for Cranberries’, here are some tips.⁶⁵

Cranberry Tips

· Look for bright, plump cranberries, avoid soft, crushed, or shrivelled berries.

· Peak season (US) is September through December Fresh cranberries will keep in the refrigerator for 4-8 weeks.

· You can freeze cranberries for longer storage.

· You can substitute frozen cranberries in most recipes calling for fresh.

· Do not wash cranberries until ready for use, as moisture will cause quicker spoilage.

· When a recipe says “cook until the cranberries pop,” don’t expect popcorn. This simply means the berry’s outer skin will expand until it bursts.

[NB: Fresh Cranberries are in the UK shops this November and can be found at other times, or use ‘dried’ cranberries as an alternative.]

Cheri’s ‘Fabulous Foods‘ website also gives various versions of Cranberry Sauce, recipes for breads, cakes, cookies, scones, salads, cranberry dressings and mixed sauces, slaw, desserts, sorbet, smoothies and a punch.

Of these exciting recipes perhaps ‘Cranberry slaw’ offers a particular aid against winter infections to colds and flu, containing several antibacterial agents, including cabbage, onions salt, black pepper, cumin and mustard powder with immune boosters such as olive oil and red wine vinegar. (See ‘Kimchi’ and ‘Sauerkraut’ in Herbsphere’s article Avian Flu is ‘in the soup’ on www.herbsphere.com .)

References:

1. ‘Cranberry juice may help protect against the flu virus’ – Daily Mail, 20^th

September 2005.

2. ‘Cranberry juice constituents affect influenza virus adhesion and infectivity.’ Weiss E L, et al. Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Hebrew University-Hadassah, Jerusalem, Israel. Antiviral Res. 2005 Apr; 66(1):9-12.

2A. ‘Inhibitory effect of a high-molecular-weight constituent of cranberry on adhesion of oral bacteria.’ Weiss E L, et al. Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dental Medicine, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2002; 42(3 Suppl):285-92.

2B. ‘Inhibitory effects of cranberry juice on attachment of oral streptococci and biofilm formation.’ Yamanaka A, et al. Department of Microbiology, Tokyo Dental College, Chiba, Japan. Oral Microbiol Immunol. 2004 Jun; 19(3):150-4.

3. ‘Cranberry juice constituents affect influenza virus adhesion and infectivity.’: Weiss E L, et al. Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Hebrew University-Hadassah, Jerusalem, Israel. Antiviral Res. 2005 Apr; 66(1):9-12.

4. “Hemagglutination (HA) of red blood cells (RBC) caused by representatives of both influenza virus A subtypes (H1N1) and H3N2) and the B type was inhibited by NDM at concentrations of 125 microg/ml or lower, which is at least 20-fold lower than that usually found in cranberry juice. A dose-response effect of NDM on HA was demonstrated. The infectivity of the A and B types was significantly reduced by preincubation with NDM (250 microg/ml), as reflected by the lack of cytopathic effect on Madine-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells and the lack of HA activity in the media of infected cells. The effect of NDM was also tested after A or B type viruses were allowed to adsorb to and penetrate the cells. Various levels of reduction in virus tissue culture infective dose TCID50 were observed. The effect was most pronounced when NDM was added several times to the infected MDCK cells.”

5. ‘Cranberries ‘block gut viruses’ BBC Online News 7^th June 2005

Flavonoid: Any of a group of antioxidant chemical compounds widely found in certain

fruits, vegetables, teas, wines, nuts, seeds, and roots, often as a pigment.

Tannins: Any of various complex phenolic substances of plant origin; used in tanning

and in medicine.

Phenol: Any of a class of weakly acidic organic compounds; (molecule contains one or

more hydrozyl groups).

6. Ibid. Acc. Researcher Dr Steven Lipson. The study was performed by Patrice Coohen, Louisa Sethi, and Cindy Bastien, under mentorship of Drs. Steven M. Lipson and Allan Burdowski and in collaboration with Dr. Robert Gordeon, from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. The study was funded by the Cranberry Institute, the Wisconsin Cranberry Board, Inc., and by a St. Francis College Faculty Research Grant.

7. ‘Role of cranberry juice on molecular-scale surface characteristics and adhesion behavior of Escherichia coli.’ Liu Y, et al. Department of Chemical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609. Biotechnol Bioeng. 2005 Sep 2; [Epub ahead of print]

8. ‘Berry phenolics selectively inhibit the growth of intestinal pathogens.’ Puupponen-Pinia R. et al. VTT Biotechnology, Espoo, Finland. J Appl Microbiol. 2005; 98(4):991-1000.

‘Bioactive berry compounds-novel tools against human pathogens.’Pupponen-Pinia

R, et al. VTT Biotechnology, P.O. Box 1500, 02044 VTT, Finland. Appl. Microbiol

Biotechnol. 2005 Apr; 67(1):8-18. Epub 2004 Dec 2.

9. ‘Susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori isolates to the antiadhesion activity of a high-molecular-weight constituent of cranberry.’ Shmuley H, et al. Helicobacter pylori Research Institute, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tikva, Israel. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2004 Dec; 50(4):231-5.

‘Inhibition of Helicobacter pylori in vitro by various berry extracts, with enhanced

susceptibility to clarithromycin.’ Chatterjee A, et al. Department of Pediatrics,

Creighton University Health Sciences Center, Omaha, NE 68131, USA. Mol Cell

Biochem. 2004 Oct; 265(1-2):19-26.

10. Helicobacter Pylori: Bacterium associated with peptic ulcers: an organism found in the stomach and duodenum of many people with peptic ulcers, which usually heal when treatment is given to kill these bacteria.

11. Clarithromycin: An antibiotic approved for the treatment of MAC and also used for preventing this disease in people with AIDS. Side effects include diarrhea, nausea and abnormal taste. Calrithromycin may cause severe abdominal pain at high doses.

MAC: A serious opportunistic infection caused by two similar bacteria (Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intercelulare) found in the soil and dust particles. In AIDS, MAC can spread through the bloodstream to infect lymph nodes, bone marrow, liver, spleen, spinal fluid, lungs and intestinal tract.

12. ‘Cranberries could treat Herpes’ BBC News Online 17^th October 2004 &

WebMDHealth ‘Cranberry May Help Fight Herpes Virus: by Miranda Hitti,

WebMD Medial News – Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario MD 20.10.2004

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/95/103387.htm Sources: Cheng H, et al. Journal

of the Science of Food and Agriculture. Volume 85, Number 1, 15 January 2005, pp. 10-

15(6) News release. The Society of Chemical Industry, Chemistry and Industry, 18^th

October 2004.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro anti-HSV-2 activity and mechanism of action of proanthocyanidin A-1, a compound isolated from Vaccinium vitis-idaea Linn (Ericaceae). The results demonstrated that proanthocyanidin A-1 exhibited anti-HSV-2 activity. The IC₅₀ value for the XTT assay was 73.3 ± 14.5 µM and the IC₅₀ and IC₉₀ values for the plaque reduction assay were 41.9 ± 2.0 and 62.8 ± 6.3 µM respectively. Proanthocyanidin A-1 showed no cell cytotoxic effect at concentrations that blocked HSV-2 infection, with a CC₅₀ value of 282.1 ± 27.5 µM. The mechanism studies demonstrated that proanthocyanidin A-1 did not reduce viral infectivity but inhibited viral attachment and penetration and affected the late stage(s) of HSV-2 infection. It was concluded that proanthocyanidin A-1 suppressed HSV-2 infection through many modes of action and thus merits further investigation. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry.

Mountain cranberry: Low evergreen shrub of high north temperate regions of Europe and Asia and America bearing red edible berries – (cowberry, lingonberry, lingenberry, lingberry, foxberry, Vaccinium vitis-idaea). Tart red berries similar to American cranberry, but smaller.

13. ’Antibacterial screening of anthocyanic and proanthocyanic fractions from cranberry juice.’ Leitao DP, et al. Departamentos de Fisica e Quimica e, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brasil. J Med Food. 2005 Spring; 8(1):36-40.

14. ‘Cranberry proanthocyanidins and the maintenance of urinary tract health.’ Howell, AB. Center for Blueberry and Cranberry Research and Extension, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Chatsworth 08019. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2002; 42(3 Suppl):273-8.

15. Herpes Simplex (HSV-2) for further information, a suggested website to visit : http://depts.washington.edu/herpes/herpes_qa.htm

16. ‘Cranberry Juice, A Friend to your Heart’ D. Mail 25^th March, 2003. First long-term study on the antioxidant-rich juice to helps lower risk factors for heart disease by Chemists at the University of Scanton, Pennsylvania, USA; unveiled by Dr Vinson at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society in New Orleans, 24^th March 2003.

17. Ibid.

18. Ibid.

19. ‘The effects of cranberry juice consumption on antioxidant status and biomarkers relating to heart disease and cancer in healthy human volunteers.’ Duthie SJ, et al. Phytochemicals and Genomic Stability Group, Rowett Research Institute, Greenburn Road, Bucksburn, Aberdeen (Sco) AB21 9SB, UK, Eur J Nuts. 2005 Jul 20; [Epub ahead of print]

Anthocyanins: The blue to red colouring matter of certain flowers. A water soluble pigment colouring in plants; the pigment acts as a powerful antioxidant to protect the plant from UV damage. Anthocyanins belong to a class of compounds called flavonoids.

Proanthocyanidins: ‘The antioxidative function, preventive action on disease and utilization of proanthocyanidins.’ Ariga T. Research & Development Division, Kikkoman Corporation, Noda City, Chiba 278-0037, Japan. Biofactors. 2004; 21(1-4):197-201. “Proanthocyanidins, which belong to a class of polyphenols, are widely distributed throughout the plant kingdom. Most people ingest trace amounts of proanthocyanidins through foods such as red wine and cranberry juice. However, the functional properties of proanthocyanidins have been little understood. Since 1983, we have studied the antioxidative functions, preventive actions on diseases and utilization of proanthocyanidins. The antioxidative activities of proanthocyanidins were found to be much stronger than vitamin C or vitamin E in aqueous systems. The mechanisms for their antioxidative actions were shown to involve radical scavenging, quenching, and enzyme-inhibiting actions. The preventive actions of proanthcyanidins on diseases relating to reactive oxygen species was examined using animal tests. Proanthocyanidin-rich grape seed extract was showed to have preventive actions on diseases such as atherosclerosis, gastric ulcer, large bowel cancer, cataracts and diabetes. In human intervention trials, grape seed extract was shown to have preventive effects on the increase in lipid peroxides in human plasma after exercise and on muscle fatigue after training. The uses and manufacturing techniques of proanthocyanidin products were subsequently developed. The products were launched as antioxidants in food additives, ingredients in nutritional supplements, and cosmetics.”

20. ‘Changes in plasma antioxidant capacity and oxidized low-density lipoprotein levels in men after short-term cranberry juice consumption.’ Ruel G, et al. Lipid Research Center, Laval University Medical Research Center, CHUL Pavilion, Laval University, Quebec, Canada. Metabolism 2005 Jul;54(7):856-61

21. ’Cranberry juice clot drug warning’ BBC News Online, 18^th September, 2003.

22. ‘Warfarin’: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warfarin

23. ‘In vitro anticancer activity of fruit extracts from Vaccinium species.’ Bomser J, et al. Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801, USA. Planta Med 1996 Jun; 62(3):212-6.

24. ‘Supplement use among cancer survivors in the Vitamins and Lifestyle (VITAL) study cohort.’ Greenlee H, et al. Cancer Prevention Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA. USA. J Altern Complement Med. 2004 Aug; 10(4):660-6.

25. ‘A flavonoid fraction from cranberry extract inhibits proliferation of human tumor cell lines.’ Ferguson PJ, et al. Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London , ON, Canada. J Nutr. 2004 Jun; 134(6):1529-35.

26. ‘Total cranberry extract versus its phytochemical constituents: antiproliferative and synergistic effects against human tumour cell lines.’ Seeram NP, et al. Center for Human Nutrition, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA. J Agric Food Chem. 2004 May 5; 52(9):2512-7.

27. Ibid.

28. ‘Non-antibiotic therapies for infectious diseases.’ Carson CG, Riley TV. Department of Microbiology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia. Commun Dis Intell. 2003; 27 Suppl:S143-6.

29. Ibid.

30. ‘Cranberry juice beats infection’ BBC New Online 28^th June 2001.

31. Ibid.

32. Ibid.

33. Ibid.

34. Uroepithelial: of or affecting the epithelium of the urinary tract (cells).

Epithelium: Membranous tissue covering internal organs and other internal surfaces of the body.

35. [Cranberry juice and urinary tract infection] [Article in Hebrew] Raz R, et al. Infectious Diseases Unit, Haemek Medical Center, Afula, Israel. Harefuah 2004 Dec;143(12):891-4, 909

36. ’ Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections.’ Jepson RG, et al. Department of General Practice, Edinburgh University, 20 West Richmond Street, Edinburgh, UK, EH8 9DX.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;(2):CD001321

37. SARS: an atypical form of pneumonia that first appeared in November 2002 in Guangdong Province, China. It is now known to be caused by the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV), a novel coronaviurs and has a mortality rate of around 10%.

38. ‘Effect of cranberry extract on bacteriuria and pyuria in persons with neurogenic bladder secondary to spinal cord injury.’ Waites KB, et al. Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35249-7331, USA. J Spinal Cord Med. 2004; 27(1):35-40.

39. ’The Cranberry Capsule that soothes cystitis.’ Daily Mail, 15^th November, 2005.

Cystitis: main symptoms include pain when urinating, a feeling of urgency to urinate – even when there is little to pass - and cloudy or dark urine which may have a sour smell. Sufferers may also experience blood in the urine, fatigue, fever and chills, painful sexual intercourse and dull pain in the lower back.

40. Ibid.

41. Ibid.

42. Online Encyclopedia Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cranberry

43. Ibid.

44. Ibid.

45. Ibid,

46. ‘Patriotism, Thanksgiving – and apple sauce.’ BBC Online News 2^nd December 2002.

47. Ibid.

48. Ibid.

49. Ibid.

50. Happy Juicer: http://www.happyjuicer.com/Nutrition/cranberry-jucunuswtnd.aspx and Quest Health Library.com : Pharmacology – http://www.questhealthlibrary.com/herbs/cranberry

51. BBC Food Recipes: on website below unless otherwise stated – chefs names given: http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/sparklingcranberryje_74408.shtml from BBC: ‘Ready Steady Cook’

52. BBC: The Cranberry Society.

53. BBC: Jo’ Pratt from Nation’s Favourite Food.

54. BBC: Lotte Duncan.

55. BBC: Lesley Waters.

56. BBC: (Good Food Magazine).

57. BBC: James Martin from Housecall.

58. BBC: The Vegetarian.

59. Drink recipes by Recipe Cottage: http://www.recipecottage.com/drinks/

60. BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/sparklingcranberryje_74408.shtml

61. Cranberry Liqueur recipe(s): http://www.liqueurweb.com/fruitrecipes.htm

http://www.guntheranderson.com/liqueurs/cranberr.htm

62. Chef2Chef: http://chef2chef.net/news/club/vol3/recipe-club-III-097.htm