How Cranberry Affects Blood Pressure

The beneficial properties of the cranberry has long been known, it is used in folk medicine as an antiseptic, diuretic, as a source of vitamin C. But its use can be muchWider, because few people think, raises cranberry pressure or lowers.

What is this plant?

On peat bogs and marshes you can find a small evergreen shrub, this is cranberry. Thin lignified shoots spread along the ground, covered with small leathery leaves with wrapped down edges. The berries are sent from the end of August until the beginning of October. It is then that ripen sour, bright red fruits. Some do not go to the forest, but successfully grow it on their household plots.

For medicinal purposes, berries are predominantly used. Their composition is rich in organic acids( ursolic, quinine, apple, amber, lemon).There are vitamins of group B, K, and by quantity of ascorbic acid cranberries are equated to lemons.

The carbohydrate composition is represented by glucose, fructose and pectins. From microelements are allocated: potassium, phosphorus, iron, manganese, copper. Other useful substances:

• anthocyanins - natural dyes, which have anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, diuretic, insulin-like effect, as well as reduce cholesterol;
• catechins have an antioxidant effect;
• bioflavonoids - antioxidants is uniting under the name of vitamin P, acting in tandem with vitamin C, to protect it from decay.

Analyzing the list of chemicals, it can be assumed whether the cranberry reduces pressure.

Read, raise or lower the pressure of cognac. The action of an alcoholic drink on the vessels.

Learn how green tea affects blood pressure: raises or lowers?

How useful cranberry

Berry is able to affect almost all body systems:

• stimulates appetite and increases the secretion of gastric and pancreatic juices;
• has an uroseptic and diuretic effect;
• bactericidal action;
• antioxidants protect cells from inflammation and cancer development;
• regulates the ratio of lipids to the "good" side;
• lowers cholesterol and prevents the formation of atherosclerotic plaques( see atherosclerosis.);
• suppresses the amount of prothrombin and improves fluidity;
• makes the walls of the vessels more elastic, which allows them to respond properly to blood pressure;
• has antipyretic effect.

Contraindications

But there are some diseases and conditions that make the treatment of cranberries impossible. Gastric ulcer, gastritis with high acidity can become aggravated against the background of taking the berries themselves or dishes based on it.

People with liver disease should also not irritate the stomach and pancreas sour berries, because the liver will also react amplification function.

The weakened enamel of teeth acutely reacts to an acidic medicine with unpleasant sensations. Therefore, with such a pathology use cranberries with caution.

Effect on pressure

American scientists in 2012 conducted research on the influence of cranberries on pressure. Subjects were hypertensive( see Arterial hypertension), people with normal pressure and hypotension( see Arterial hypotension).For 8 weeks it was necessary to drink 3 cups of cranberry juice every day.

The pressure was measured three times a day. It was found that cranberry juice stably reduces pressure in hypertensive patients. For hypotension, the effect was expressed in the normalization of pressure indices due to increased elasticity of the vascular wall. For people with normal pressure, the effect of the berry has gone unnoticed. Many noted improvement in overall health, a reduction in the frequency of respiratory diseases.

Pressure reduction occurs in several ways:

1. Eliminates spasm of vessels, they expand and pressure drops.
2. Diuretic action helps to get rid of excess fluid.
3. Potassium normalizes heart contractions.

Vessel examination after juice intake showed that small uncalcined atherosclerotic plaques tend to resolve, larger ones to stabilize. But in most cases there is no need to use drugs to reduce cholesterol.

How to save the useful properties of

To maximize the full use of all healing properties, the berry must be stored correctly. Strongly it is not recommended to boil them, when cooking, vitamin C is destroyed, it also oxidizes on contact with air. Therefore, to preserve the berries, they are washed, dried and frozen in their entirety. It can be rubbed with sugar, densely laid in a dry jar and closed with a lid. Keep refrigerated.

All about the effect of valerian on pressure: raises or lowers?

Read how karkade tea affects blood pressure: readings, recipes, recommendations.

Recipes with kalina for reducing pressure. Tips for the correct use of berries.

Traditional medicine recipes

High-pressure cranberries are used in several cooking options:

1. Honey berry. For cooking, take 50 grams of natural honey and cranberries. Ingredients are twisted in a meat grinder or blender to obtain a homogeneous gruel. Transfer to a glass container, stored in a refrigerator. Daily eaten on a teaspoon 30 minutes before eating. It takes a course of up to 2 months, then take a break for 3 weeks, then you can repeat the procedure. If honey is intolerant, it can be replaced with sugar or fructose.
2. Cranberry-beet juice. Medium-sized beetroot in raw form and squeeze 100 g of cranberries on a juicer, mix the juice 1: 1.Take the whole meal before meals, can be on an empty stomach. Each time they prepare fresh juice.
3. Cranberry-deciduous infusion. Several leaves and half a glass of berries pour cooling water 50 degrees, close in a thermos. Infuse for 2 hours. Take daily after eating instead of tea, you can improve the taste with honey.

Prophylactic use of cranberries is perfectly acceptable, if there are no contraindications. But before any application of traditional medicine recipes( see Folk remedies for hypertension), a doctor's consultation is recommended.