Klukva (pron. kloo-kwuh) is Russian for cranberry, the crimson berry which
for centuries has been used in beverages, sauces, glazes, and a host of
baking recipes. However, this versatile fruit – grown primarily in northern
wetlands throughout Europe and North America – is also a key ingredient in
traditional and modern medicine.
Why Cranberry?
The health benefits of
cranberries cannot be overstated. Not only are they a
medically-documented remedy for bladder and urinary tract infections,
but they are also a leading source of antioxidants – naturally-occurring
nutrients that may protect against cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other
chronic illnesses.
Pure Science
Cranberries contain a group of
plant chemicals (called flavonoids) that may play a role in preventing
certain types of cancers, as well as heart disease. For example:
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Researchers
at the University of Western Ontario have linked cranberry consumption
with the delay of
tumour development and a reduction in the spread of tumours to the
lungs and lymph system. [1] |
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A rich source of the flavonoid
quercetin, cranberry consumption has also been shown to combat the
development of breast and colon cancers. [2] |
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Flavonoids, including the
antioxidant known as anthocyanin, have also been linked with a reduction in
the incidence of cardiovascular (i.e., heart) disease, by preventing the
oxidation of cholesterol in the blood. [3] |
Cranberries also are a unique source of compounds known as condensed tannins
(or proanthocyanidins) which have been associated with the fight against
bacteria-causing infections:
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A 1998 study
published in the
New England Journal of Medicine identified condensed tannins as the
compounds responsible for preventing and treating
urinary tract infections. They work by preventing harmful bacteria
from binding to the wall of the urinary tract. [4] |
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Laboratory research has also
revealed that these same compounds prevent the bacteria H. pylori –
responsible for 80% of gastric ulcers – from “sticking” to the
stomach lining. [5] |
These are just some of the health benefits associated with cranberries (and
in many cases with the other berries in our
Klukva Pure juices). Of course, because no sugar has been added, all our
juices are diabetic friendly and well-suited to calorie-reduced diets.
Nutritional information for our
Klukva Pure
Cranberry & Double Berry
ready-to-mix juices
| |
Cranberry |
Cranberry Raspberry |
Cranberry Blueberry |
Cranberry Blackberry |
Cranberry Strawberry |
| Energy |
57 Cal |
54.5 Cal |
55 Cal |
59.3 Cal |
59.8 Cal |
|
Protein |
0 g |
0.28 g |
0.14 g |
0.39 g |
0.14 g |
| Fat |
0.1 g |
0.23 g |
0.28 g |
0.21 g |
0.11 g |
|
Carbohydrate |
14.4 g |
13.3 g |
13.7 g |
14.8 g |
12.7 g |
|
Sugars* |
11 g |
9.7 g |
12 g |
9.7 g |
9.7 g |
| Sodium |
2 mg |
1.3 mg |
1.7 mg |
1.7 mg |
2 mg |
|
Potassium |
18 mg |
59.2 mg |
29.9 mg |
58.3 mg |
50.9 mg |
|
Vitamin A |
2.8% |
3.6% |
2.9 % |
4.3% |
2.0% |
|
Vitamin C |
7.6% |
8.5% |
8.3% |
7.7% |
14.3% |
|
Calcium |
5.3% |
8.1% |
4.6% |
10.6% |
6.2% |
| Iron |
0.2% |
0.24% |
0.5% |
0.24% |
0.2% |
* Naturally occurring sugars
The medical virtues of cranberries are widely published. Here are a few
sites you may wish to visit.
References
| [1] |
Journal of
Nutrition 133 (2003): 3846S. |
| [2] |
Natural Health, May-June, 2002 |
| [3] |
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 1992. Vol. 35: Issue 20, pp. 3595-3606. |
| [4] |
New England Journal of Medicine, 1998. 339: 1085-1086. |
| [5] |
New England Journal of Medicine, 1991. 324: 1599. |
A comprehensive bibliography of research on the health benefits of
cranberries can be found at
The
Cranberry Institute.
© 2005 Hosted by ATS Canada
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