Researchers at the University of Rochester have published
information showing that the cranberry may be effective at
preventing tooth decay. The research focuses on the inhibiting
effect of some compounds found inside the cranberry against a
key bacterium blamed in the formation of cavities.
"Scientists believe that one of the main ways that cranberries
prevent urinary tract infections is by inhibiting the adherence
of pathogens on the surface of the bladder. Perhaps the same is
true in the mouth, where bacteria use adhesion molecules to hold
onto teeth," says Dr. Michel Koo, an oral biologist and food
scientist at the university's medical center.
While this may sound like good news for those who are looking
for natural ways to support their body, it's very important to
understand what's in cranberry juice before making a purchase.
Always remember to read the labels. Most cranberry juice is
cranberry flavored apple juice. Sometimes it is also mixed with
grape juice. Other ingredients may even include high-Fructose
corn syrup. Towards the end of the ingredient list is found
cranberry concentrate.
While, drinking apple juice and grape juice is probably a
dietary improvement for most people, juices that are made with
so much processed sugar are clearly little more than cranberry
flavored juices. They're unlikely to contain significant amounts
of the compounds that make cranberries useful in the prevention
of tooth decay and tend to contain large amounts of the
compounds that are blamed on tooth decay.
Purer forms of cranberry juice have a very strong flavor. Some
people can develop a taste for unsweetened cranberries, while
other people can only handle cranberries when blended with some
other juice. If choosing a cranberry blend, be sure to read the
ingredient label and avoid juices that are sweetened with
processed sugars and diluted with juices that are mostly the
sugars that lead to cavities.
Further research will be necessary before cranberries can
actually be promoted as a preventative for tooth decay. However
others sugars such as Xylose, are already used in "sugarless
gums" because of their proven ability to inhibit bacterial
development on the surface of teeth. Such gums are of course
called sugarless because they do not have sucrose and glucose
which are the sugars associated with cavities.
Cranberries have also been shown to have beneficial effects for
people with chronic urinary tract infections. The compound
believed to be responsible for this is a simple monosaccharide
sugar called Mannose. Identified in Harpers Biochemistry as one
of eight sugars necessary for normal cellular function, Mannose
has also been shown to prevent bacterial infection and
development.
These necessary monosaccharide sugars can all be found in a
single dietary supplement. It also contains the other sugars
identified in Harpers Biochemistry, based of their importance in
biological functions. This can provide a more convenient choice
for people wishing to improve their diets by increasing their
nutrient intake while limiting the intake of food compounds
which are not beneficial to good health.
About the author:
Dave Saunders is a certified nutrition and health educator and
the host of a weekly telephone presentation on nutrition.
Receive free nutrition tips by registering for his newsletter
and announcements list at
http://www.glycoboy.com.
