Cranberries - So Much More Than Just Juice

Cranberries are rather taken for granted nowadays.  Consumed in massive quantities in the USA and Canada especially, they are used for juice for breakfast, added to snack bars for a quick efficient lunch and are the staple of the sauce used with turkey at traditional thanksgiving dinners.

But there so much more to this little berry that a lot of people just don’t know.  They have huge health benefits, and that’s what we’re going to look at now.

Firstly, cranberries are absolutely full of antioxidants, which help protect the body’s cells from damage by the unstable molecules called free radicals.

The National Institutes of Health is currently researching the cranberry’s effects on heart disease, yeast infections and other conditions.  And yet more researchers are investigating its potential against cancer, stroke and viral infections.

So far, this research has found:

• Drinking cranberry juice can block urinary infections by binding to bacteria so they can’t adhere to cell walls. While women often drink unsweetened cranberry juice to treat an infection, there’s no hard evidence that works.
• A compound Howell discovered in cranberries, proanthocyanidine, prevents plaque formation on teeth; mouthwashes containing it are being developed to prevent periodontal disease.
• In some people, regular cranberry juice consumption for months can kill the H. pylori bacteria, which can cause stomach cancer and ulcers.

Preliminary research also shows: 

• Drinking cranberry juice daily may increase levels of HDL, or good cholesterol and reduce levels of LDL, or bad cholesterol.

• Cranberries may prevent tumors from growing rapidly or starting in the first place.

• Extracts of chemicals in cranberries prevent breast cancer cells from multiplying in a test tube; whether that would work in women is unknown.

As you can see, the benefits of this little berry are huge.  It shows great promise, especially in treating cancers and for this reason alone, it’s worth it’s weight in gold.

What Is Chia?

Watch out hemp and flax, coz there’s a new kid in town!  The lastest super food seed has arrived and it’s called Chia!

It comes from the desert plant Salvia hispanica, a member of the mint family that grows abundantly in southern Mexico.  And its efficacy and potency was known by the Aztecs, who believed it provided supernatural powers.  We know that Chia is very rich in omega-3 fatty acids, even more than flax seeds. It’s also rich in antioxidants, and the seeds don't deteriorate and can be stored for long periods without becoming rancid. And, unlike flax or many other seeds, they do not have to be ground to make their nutrients available to the body. Oh, and Chia seeds also provide fiber (25 grams give you 6.9 grams of fiber) as well as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, molybdenum, niacin, and zinc.  Pretty amazing!

Something pretty extraordinary, but also a little weird, is that when added to water and allowed to sit for half an hour, chia forms a gel. Research has found that this extraordinary reaction also takes place in the stomach, thereby slowing the process by which digestive enzymes break down carbohydrates and convert them into sugar.

Chia doesn’t have a strong overpowering taste and is sold as a nutty topping for yogurts and salads and is used in cereals and energy bars. This type of chia reportedly packs more alpha-linoleic acid, an omega-3 fat, than flaxseeds, and also provides fiber, antioxidants and even some calcium and iron.

Research has also shown that adding it to chicken feed increases the omega-3 levels in eggs and enriches chicken meat with omega-3s.  Fed to cattle, chia enriches milk with omega-3s.

That's pretty super food!

Can Probiotics Help Your Brain

I’m sure we’ve all heard the phrase, “I’ve got a gut feeling about this,” or have had the sensation of ‘having butterflies in your stomach’ when you’re nervous, or even felt something in your gut when we’ve received bad news.  This is because the gut is lined with a complex web of neurotransmitters which scientists believe can have an effect on our mental state.  Our gut is now being thought of as our second brain!

Scientifically known as the enteric nervous system, this second brain is composed of more than 100 million neurons in the lining of the gut, all the way from the esophagus to anus. It even has more neurons than the spinal cord!

Although the enteric nervous system can’t control logic, movement etc. it does have its own senses and some control of bodily behaviors independent from the brain in our heads.  Equipped with its own reflexes and senses, the second brain can control gut behavior independently of the brain.

Scientists are starting to study this enteric system and the way foods can influence it, with one food in particular; probiotics.

Back in 2007, Vyas and colleagues were studying the behavior of rats infected with the protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii.  They found that although this parasite can infect rats, it could only replicate in cats. And the parasite had found a way of increasing its chances of reaching a cat’s digestive system.  The researchers found that when a rat was infected with this parasite, it lost its natural aversion to cat urine.  So instead of avoiding cats and their territories, the rats actually moved towards them. This in turn increased the likelihood of the rat being eaten by the cat and the Toxoplasma parasite reaching the cat gut, where it can replicate.  In short, a colonizing microbe changed the behavior of its host.

As research begins to clarify the role that gut microbes play in modifying brain function and behavior, the next step will be in figuring out how microbes can be manipulated – by probiotics and other strategies – to correct microbe-associated aberrancies of the central nervous system.

We really could be what we eat.

The study can be found here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22968153

What are Probiotics?

Probiotics are bacteria that help maintain the natural balance of organisms (microflora) in the gut. The human digestive system normally contains around 400 types of probiotic bacteria that help reduce the growth of harmful bacteria and promote a healthy digestive system.  Lactic acid bacteria are the largest group of probiotic bacteria in the intestine, of which Lactobacillus acidophilus, often found in yogurts with live cultures, is the best known.

Ok, so now for some facts.  The root of the word probiotic comes from the Greek word pro, meaning "promoting" and biotic, meaning "life."  The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) defines probiotics as "live microorganisms, which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host."  Probiotics have been with us since birth!  When you are born, and travel through the birth canal, you pick up these beneficial bacteria from you mother.  If delivered through Cesarean section the infant can miss out on these vital microflora and research has shown this can lead to allergies, a less optimal immune system, and lower levels of gut microflora.

A healthy digestive tract filters out and eliminates harmful bacteria, toxins, chemicals, and other waste products. Of course, it also takes in the things that our body needs, including nutrients from food and water, aiding the delivery of these to the cells where they are needed.

When a person takes antibiotics, both the harmful bacteria and the beneficial bacteria are killed. A reduction of beneficial bacteria can lead to digestive problems, such as diarrhea, yeast infections and urinary tract infections.

A decrease in beneficial bacteria can also lead to other infections, like vaginal yeast and urinary tract infections, and symptoms such as diarrhea from intestinal illnesses.

Bear in mind that almost 80% of your immune system actually lives in your gut, so it naturally follows that probiotics can have a beneficial effect on both the health of your GI tract and your overall health as too. It’s all about balance!  The balance of good bacteria and bad bacteria.  Things like medications, diet, diseases, and your environment can upset that balance. And probiotics help to redress that balance.

But are probiotics safe?  Most probiotics are similar to the live cultures already in a person's digestive tract. Probiotics have been used for centuries in some form or other, such as in fermented foods.   And unless you are lactose intolerant, they don’t have a detrimental effect on the body.

What different probiotics are there?  Up until the 1960s, only small handful of probiotics had been identified; clostridia, lactobacilli, enterococci, and Escherichia coli. Since then, due to advanced scientific techniques, many more have been discovered:

Lactobacillus

There are more than 50 species of lactobacilli. They are naturally found in the digestive, urinary, and genital systems. Foods that are fermented, like yogurt, and dietary supplements also contain these bacteria. Lactobacillushas been used for treating and preventing a wide variety of diseases and conditions.

Bifidobacteria

There are approximately 30 species of bifidobacteria. The make up approximately 90% of the healthy bacteria in the colon. They appear in the intestinal tract within days of birth.

Saccharomyces boulardii

This is also known as S. boulardii and is the only yeast probiotic.

Enterococcus faecium

This is normally found in the intestinal tract of humans and animals.

Does Stevia Cause Infertility?

There has been a lot of debate in recent months as to whether or not Stevia can cause infertility. While Stevia is being touted as the “new” sugar substitute of choice, it is interesting to note that this all natural sweetener has been used for more than 1,500 years with little (if any) side effects.

So, why all the hype regarding Stevia’s ability to alter a woman’s fertility? The answer to that questions stems from two sources: someone mentioning that women in Paraguay use extracts from the Stevia plant as a contraceptive.  And a 32 year old study which cited that Stevia offers a contraceptive effect.

That begs to question, if Stevia can indeed prohibit a pregnancy, why hasn't more research been done to see if it can be used to develop better and safer contraceptives for women? The answer of that that questions is “It has!”
Since the first study performed in Uruguay was released in the 1960’s, there have been countless other studies completed which contradicts its findings. But, first let’s talk about the two main studies used by the FDA to keep Stevia from becoming a common sweetener in American homes.

The Kruc Study

In 1968, Professor Joseph Kruc, a member of Purdue University’s department of biochemistry conducted a study of Stevia at the University of the Republic in Montevideo. Giving a small number of rats very high doses of stevia, it was concluded that the rats given the herbal extract produced less offspring than those who were not.  The problem, even Kruc admits today, is that the rats in the study were given such high doses of Stevia for such a short period of time, that even if it did cause the fertility problems noted, it could have been because of an overdose of the compound. People ingesting Stevia as a sweetener would never be able to consume such a large amount in such a short period of time.

Another concern Kruc admits is that there is no evidence to show that the reaction experienced by the rats would also be experienced by humans.

The Alvarez Study

In 1988, professor Mauro Alvarez of Brazil’s University of Maringa Foundation, repeated the study, reporting in a Brazilian pharmaceutical journal that female mice given Stevia experienced a contraceptive effect similar to those reported by Kruc.

The problem with the results, argue critics is that the Alvarez study lacks the information and analysis required by such a research study and can not be considered valid. According to the Herb Research Foundation the study lacks any credibility at all and should be disregarded.
Even Alvarex himself now claims that further research has led him to believe that Stevia is completely safe for human consumption.  Despite the problems with both studies, the FDA continues to use them as their main source against Stevia.

More Recent Research

Trying to prove that Stevia is indeed a valid natural sweetener which offers no detrimental health or fertility effects to its users, dozens of other researchers throughout the United States and Europe have studied the herbal extract, but to date have found no evidence that it causes any of the problems cited in the earlier reports.

In 1999, the primate research center of Chulalonhkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand gave high doses of Stevia to both male and female hamsters to see if their fertility would be affected. Even though 2,500 mg a day was administered (a human dose is about 2 mg), there was no evidence of decreased fertility.

Then in 2008, researchers reported in the Journal of Endocrinology and Reproduction (vol 12, 2008) that stevia rebaudiana had absolutely no adverse effects of the fertility of female mice.
The same conclusion has been reached in a number of other studies including those conducted by The Herb Research Foundation, Medicinal Plant Research of the USDA and The Division of Pathology, National institutes of Health, Japan.

So, what’s the bottom line?

It seems that while two research studies dating back almost 40 years has kept the FDA from approving Stevia as a common sweetener due to concerns about its effects on both male and female fertility. Yet, dozens of further research studies show no evidence for concern.
Plus, there is some question as to why pharmaceutical companies worldwide have not used Stevia, a completely safe herbal extract, to develop better and more effective contraceptives if indeed it holds these properties. The answer may lie in the fact that it simply doesn’t.

Conclusion

Our conclusion? At this point, there is no evidence to support the claim that Stevia can – or does – cause a decrease in fertility for either men or women. Stevia may be a very useful herb for women who have PCOS and are seeking an alternative to using sugar in their diets. In short it seems that most modern day research shows no evidence that Stevia will decrease your fertility or that it can be used for contraceptive purposes. While this all-natural sweetener seems to appear safe for human consumption, it is important to note that if you personally are worried that it could have an impact to your fertility it is best to avoid it. After all, the stress of wondering whether or not it is keeping you from getting pregnant could in itself impede conception.

Update

In 2010, two review studies found no health concerns with stevia or its sweetening extracts.[1][2] In addition, a 2009 review study found that stevioside and related compounds have anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-diarrheal, diuretic, and immunomodulatory actions.[3]

In 2012, the FDA posted a note on their website regarding crude Stevia plant: "FDA has not permitted the use of whole-leaf Stevia or crude Stevia extracts because these substances have not been approved for use as a food additive. FDA does not consider their use in food to be GRAS in light of reports in the literature that raise concerns about the use of these substances. Among these concerns are control of blood sugar and effects on the reproductive, cardiovascular, and renal systems."(4)

Resources1. Science, (vol 162, Nov. 1968)2. Journal of Endocornoliogy and Reproduction (Vol. 12, 2008)3. The Stevia Cookbook, 199 by Ray Sahelian MD and Suan GatesSources:http://natural-fertility-info.com/does-stevia-cause-infertility.html(1) http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/09637480903193049(2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20370653(3) http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0163725808001927(4) http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/Transparency/Basics/ucm214864.htm