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November 2, 2004
Drink a toast to your heart
in cranberry juice
By Robin Yapp, The London Times
Cranberry juice could be as effective as red
wine in helping to prevent heart disease, scientists said yesterday.
A glass a day can stop arteries clogging up and boost circulation.
The juice works by boosting the body's supply of so-called good cholesterol,
which is known as HDL.
In turn, it counters bad or LDL cholesterol.
The findings will be welcomed by teetotallers who do not drink red wine.
But they will come as no surprise to the Duchess of York, who promoted cranberry juice on U.S. television.
'We found that by consuming a daily glass of light cranberry juice, the good cholesterol found in blood increased,' said Dr Charles Couillard, who led the Canadian study.
'An increase in HDL cholesterol is a sign that the arteries are clearing up the accumulated cholesterol, which is positive for heart health.' Dr Couillard and his colleagues at Laval University looked at 30 men aged between 18 and 70 who were slightly overweight and had high levels of bad cholesterol.
After 12 weeks of drinking a glass a day of a juice called Cranberry Classic Light, their levels of good cholesterol increased by an average of eight per cent.
The Duchess earned Pounds 270,000 for pushing another brand in two 30-second commercials.
The ex-wife of Prince Andrew told millions of viewers: 'Instead of tea, I serve Ocean Spray. The taste gives me a real zing.' The Canadian findings were backed by a second study in Britain.
Cranberry juice was compared with two red wines, a Californian merlot and an Argentinian cabernet sauvignon, by experts at the William Harvey Research Institute at St Bartholomew's H o s p i t a l , London.
They found that a glass was as effective as the wines in stopping bacteria from clinging to cell walls suggesting it is just as good at preventing the dangerous furring of arteries.
Lead author Professor Roger Corder said the benefit was brought about by naturally- occurring substances found in cranberries and in red wine called proanthocyanidins.
'Given that cranberry juice is a rich source of proanthocyanidins and provides an equivalent vascular benefit as the average red wine, it makes sense to drink a couple of glasses a day,' said Professor Corder.
Previous research has shown that cranberry juice can bring other health benefits.
It has been found to ward off urinary infections and scientists believe it may also cut the risk of gum disease and stomach ulcers.
But Dr Couillard said those with cholesterol problems should also eat healthily and take exercise.
'Drinking cranberry juice every day is certainly a good habit to adopt, but to maximise the benefits you need to get more active and also eat less fat,' he said.
The studies will be presented at a conference on the benefits of cranberries at the Royal Society of Medicine in London this month.