For decades cranberry juice and cranberry supplements have been recommended to support numerous aspects of one’s health and wellness, but can it truly be helpful? We're going to break it down for you and discuss what you need to know about cranberries and how they can help support our health.
Cranberries have been around in North America since the glacial era. Wide stretches of low-lying wetland that are ideal for cranberry cultivation were left by glaciers when the ice caps melted following the last ice age more than 10,000 years ago. Fast forward to the 19th and 20th centuries, where cranberries were important to the economies of Massachusetts and its adjacent states.
Wisconsin produces the most cranberries, 4.64 million barrels in total in 2020 (100 pounds of cranberries fit into a barrel.), while Massachusetts (2.06 million barrels) and Oregon (558,000 barrels) are the next-largest domestic producers.1
Nearly 400 million pounds of cranberries are consumed by Americans each year, 20% of which are consumed during the week leading up to Thanksgiving.1
Aside from being naturally sweet and vibrant in color, cranberries possess the following health benefits:
Scientific evidence exists indicating both cranberry extracts and cranberry juice may support a healthy urinary tract. It’s frequently suggested that high quality cranberry powder extracts taken as supplements may be preferable because they provide a consistent (and often higher) amount of key cranberry nutrients, without the sugar usually found in cranberry juice. In fact, cranberry juice can have as much as 30 grams of sugar per cup. On the other hand, cranberry extracts are low in sugar. For those not wanting to consume excess calories and sugar from juice whether they are managing their weight or their blood sugars, it is clear that a low or no sugar supplement containing cranberry extract would be a much more sensible choice.
Need a natural solution for supporting urinary tract health? That’s where PACran® comes in. PACran® is an innovative ingredient designed to help support a healthy urinary tract.
One of the keys to PACran®’s potency is the type of cranberries used – which are the rare “Early Black” cranberries. In fact, these berries are harvested from cranberry bogs in Massachusetts that are over 100 years old. Early Blacks are used because they’re the most potent cranberries around – and are the reason why PACran® naturally contains up to twice as many PACs as other whole cranberry powders.
Most cranberry extract powders are derived from cranberry fractions such as juice concentrate or certain isolated phytochemicals such as PACs. In contrasts, PACran® is a proprietary blend of the whole fruit. PACran® offers it all; the juice, the flesh, the skins and the seeds. As a whole cranberry matrix PACran® delivers the entire spectrum of the cranberry.
PACran® is also a key ingredient of NatureCity's AloeCran. AloeCran is a delicious sugar-free drink alternative to cranberry juice with organic aloe vera, whole cranberry fruit extract and 5 grams of soluble dietary fiber per serving. Not only does AloeCran promote urinary tract health and intestinal health, but it also supports healthy digestion, promotes regularity, and helps maintain already-healthy cholesterol, triglyceride and blood sugar levels.
Urinary tract health is often only discussed in regards to women’s health, however Flowens® is a cranberry extract that has been developed specifically for men. Research on Flowens® has indicated that it supports urinary tract and prostate health when 500mg is taken daily6. NatureCity’s TrueProstate provides the full 500mg daily serving of Flowens® to help optimize potential benefits. TrueProstate helps reduce urinary frequency, urgency and straining, Helps promote bladder emptying and a stronger urination stream and helps protect prostate cells and tissue from free radical damage.
As you can see, there are numerous benefits to incorporating a cranberry extract supplement into your daily life. Whether you are enjoying a glass of AloeCran or taking TrueProstate each day, it is easy to make sure you are taking advantage of the benefits that this nutritional powerhouse has to offer.
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- Maryann Walsh, MFN, RD, LDN |
Maryann is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist and a Certified Personal Trainer. Maryann pursued the study of dietetics and nutrition because from a young age she became conscious about making healthy decisions and how they can affect our overall health and happiness. Maryann wanted to become a dietitian in order to share her passion and enthusiasm for all things health and wellness with others and to help guide individuals on a path to a healthier lifestyle. Maryann possesses bachelors degrees in Biological Sciences and Dietetics as well as a masters degree in Food and Nutrition. Read more from Maryann! |