By Lauren Wanko
Correspondent
Cranberries typically nab the co-starring role on the Thanksgiving table, next to the turkey of course, but researchers insist the healthy fruit should be enjoyed year round.
“Cranberries are not just for the holidays anymore because really they have benefits beyond other fruits and vegetables,” said Rutgers Associate Research Scientist Amy Howell.
For years, people have been consuming cranberries to prevent urinary tract infections. Howell hopes her work will reduce antibiotic use.
“In 1998 we isolated the compound called proanthocyanidin, or PACs, as the active compound from cranberries that prevent bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall and that anti-stick mechanism actually prevents the infection,” Howell said.
That’s because the bacteria have to stick to cause the infection. Howell says recent research indicates cranberries promote oral cavity and stomach health and reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
Howell says all forms of cranberry have medicinal benefits — everything from juices to fresh, dried, even jelled sauces — because the compounds that prevent bacterial infections survive the cooking process.
Howell’s recommendation? A daily single serving of cranberry in any form.
“There’s competition for stomach space here. We can only put so much in our bodies. Why not put something like cranberries in there? That’s going to give us multiple health benefits,” she said.
Outside the lab, the cranberry plants fill the breeding greenhouse at the Rutgers Philip E. Marucci Center for Blueberry and Cranberry Research.
“Fruit rot is one of the major problems for New Jersey growers here and what we think is we can develop varieties that have higher resistance to fruit rot,” said Center Director Nicholi Vorsa.
Vorsa says New Jersey cranberry growers are in the warmest, most humid climate of all cranberry-growing areas in North America. The Garden State ranks third nationwide in cranberry production with more than 54 million pounds produced, valued at more than $20 million.
“New Jersey’s the best place to breed cranberries for disease resistance because this is where we can select under the most severe conditions,” Vorsa said.
So far the researchers here have released four different cranberry varieties. It typically takes about 10 years to evaluate the fruit’s effectiveness. Vorsa cross breeds two different varieties to create a cranberry with desirable qualities from both parents.
“I liken it to shuffling a deck of cards and trying to pick a better hand then we currently have genetically,” he said.
No matter the variety, researchers insist cranberries all have one thing in common — its health benefits. Tomorrow maybe you won’t feel bad going for that extra helping of cranberry sauce.