Cranberry
In many aspects, cranberry resembles lingonberry. It grows on the shores of forest ponds and lakes as well as on open marshes and on pine-growing marshlands. The berries are normally ripe for picking in late September and they are at their best after the first frosty nights. The acidy berries have a strong flavour; in the spring, once the snow has melted, the berries are much sweeter. The red berries contain a lot of citric acids and pectin. In the wild cranberry, there are a lot of fenolic compounds, such as flavonoids (flavonoids and antocyans), fenolic acids (hydroxy-cinnamon acid and hydroxy-benzic acid) as well as polyfenols (e.g. gallogenic acid). The fenolic acids are not actually counted as nutritents, but lately they have received a lot of attention, since it has been seen that they act, for instance, as:
- antioxidants
- preventives of cancer
- restraining the growth of viruses
- antibacterial substances
- preventives of infections
- preventives of allergies
Traditionally, cranberry has been used in the form of poultices in treating wounds, septicemia and disturbances of blood, in stomach disorders and problems with the liver. Cranberry has also been used for diarrhoea, problems in urinary tracts and diabetes.
It has been seen that the lactobacillus contained in the berries of the 'vaccinium' family and products of these have an effect on the coliformic bacteria which cause the infection of the urinary tracts. It has been proved that cranberry juice reduces the capacity of E.coli bacteria to attach itself to the urinary bladder and urinary tracts and prevents new bacteria from developing in the urinary tracts.
Cranberry is also used in treating the heart, ulcers and teeth and to prevent cancer.
Nutritive content of fresh cranberry / 100 g
| Energy, kj | 92 |
| Energy, Kcal | 22 |
| Protein, g | 0,4 |
| Fat, g | 0,3 |
| Carbon hydrate, g | 3,4 |
| Nutritional fiber, g | 3,3 |
| Vitamin A, ug | 3,6 |
| Vitamin E, mg | 1 |
| Tiamine, (B1), mg | 0,03 |
| Riboflavin (B2), mg | 0,02 |
| Niasine, mg | 0,2 |
| Pyridoxine (B6), mg | 0,04 |
| Vitamine C, mg | 1 |
| Natrium, mg | 0,9 |
| Potassium, mg | 0,2 |
| Calcium, mg | 13 |
| Magnesium, mg | 8 |
Nutritive content data: FINELI / and Ruoka-aineiden ravintosisältö, Kansaneläkelaitos, Helsinki, 1989
