Survival of the Fittest – September 2010

Survival of the Fittest

by Christine Cowheard,
founder/CEO of A Natural Difference Skincare

Suppose you had to choose just one fruit for your overall health and skin care regimen.
Would you not select the only one that could assist in
repairing and preventing sun damage, enable moisture
retention, improve cellulite, disable bacteria, provide a healthy scalp with shiny hair, and possibly reduce cancerous tumors? Cranberry does all of this and more.
If you were to compare the phytonutrient values of fruits, cranberry would come out on top every time. Providing vitamins C, A, E, and K with an abundance of nutrients, minerals and amino acids, there really is only one clear choice.
The American Cranberry (Vaccinium Macrocarpon) was revered by Native Americans for its medicinal and preservative qualities. Early settlers caught on quickly to its varied benefits and even hauled cranberries across the ocean when sailing back and forth to the New World, when they discovered that cranberry prevented scurvy, a dietary deficiency of vitamin C.
Modern science however, is constantly calculating cranberry uses that go way beyond scurvy prevention.
New methods of determining nutrient values and ingredient functioning have produced multiple reports on the benefits of this nutrient rich fruit. For decades western physicians have recommended cranberry juice to combat urinary tract
problems, both as a curative and preventative. There are in vitro studies where cranberry juice has shown to interrupt the life cycle of the H. Pylori stomach bacteria. Recent strides are even pointing to the amazing ability of proanthocyanidins in cranberry to reduce cancerous tumors.
The benefits of consuming cranberries in all available forms are well documented. These same scientific principles and applications translate into superb topical advantages when the cranberry’s natural compounds are scientifically infused with other ingredients by experienced formulators.
Cranberry is an excellent source of Omega-3, Omega-6, and Omega-9 fatty acids which have shown to improve collagen and elastin skin fibers, plus assist in the reduction of UV and environmental damage. These balanced omegas provide the same moisture retaining properties as fish oil without the ghastly odor.
Natural compounds called proanthocyanidins disable certain harmful bacteria while amazingly keeping the good bacteria intact. The combined antibacterial and anti-viral capabilities make cranberry an excellent ingredient for acne and psoriatic formulations.

Cranberry’s extremely high antioxidant content helps prevent and repair stress and age related degeneration while improving circulation. The cranberry’s antioxidant content is higher than any of the top 20 common fruits.
So whenever possible use cranberry in your daily diet, nutritional and skin care choices.