It’s no secret that cranberries, one of the 20 most commonly consumed fruits in the American diet, provide a wealth of health benefits – but what do the latest findings reveal when it comes to gut health?
A new feeding trial has shown that cranberries reduce the negative impact of a low-fiber, animal-based diet on gut health by restoring a healthier microbiota profile. In a recent study, authored by Dr. Oliver Chen and published in The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, scientists found that consuming whole cranberry powder provided a protective effect on the gut microbiome for individuals on an animal-based diet. With an unhealthy gut contributing to a wide range of health issues including hypertension, kidney disease, diabetes and more, it’s more important than ever to identify foods that support optimal gut health.
Led by researchers from the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, a randomized, double-blind study was conducted in 11 healthy subjects – aged 25 to 54 years with normal digestive function. Cranberry consumption prohibited many of the negative consequences seen in the control (animal-based) diet, including reducing the rise in carcinogenesis-related secondary bile acids that have been associated with colon and GI cancer. In short, the treatment diet suggested that cranberry constituents support a healthy gut microbiome.
I’ve included a link to the press release in full here: Newly Published Feeding Trial Showed Cranberries Reduced the Negative Impact of a Low Fiber, Animal-Based Diet on Gut Health
