France: Blueberries, effective to help reduce the use of antibiotics

10/11/2015

Experts from around the world at the International Conference on Polyphenols and Health They addressed the nutritional contribution of blueberries to reduce the use of antibiotics and promote good health in general. Recent studies show that blueberries are effective in helping to reduce the use of antibiotics.

An international team of scientists presented new information that proves that cranberries can be an attractive tool to help reduce antibiotic resistance and oxidative stress.

During the International Conference on Polyphenols and Health last Friday, scientists unveiled increasingly strong evidence that cranberries can help control urinary tract infections; the second most common type of infection in the body. A lower level of infections would mean less use of antibiotics and less risk of developing resistance to them. In addition, they mentioned the exclusive combination of polyphenols and antioxidants of blueberries, which can help preserve cognitive and cardiovascular health, and avoid oxidative stress to help promote a good state of general health.

"We have been betting for a long time on the benefits that blueberries can provide to the health of the urinary tract" said Kalpana Gupta, a physician with a master's degree in public health, head of the Department of Infectious Diseases of the Boston Health System and professor of medicine at Boston University, but with these findings we confirmed the scope of those benefits.

According to the World Health Organization, approximately one 40% of women and one 12% of men experience at least one symptomatic infection of the urinary tract in their life, which explains why one of the most pressing health problems public worldwide is resistance to antibiotics. It is estimated that in Europe 400 thousand people per year are infected by some antibiotic resistant bacteria. And in the United States, at least two million people are infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In some cases, these innocuous-looking infections can cause complications that could have been prevented.

Gupta emphasized that increasing resistance to multiple classes of drugs has made oral medication options to treat ICUs less and less. Clinical trial results suggest that cranberries may reduce the incidence of symptomatic ICUs.

Christina Khoo, a doctor in nutritional biochemistry and director of the Department of Research Sciences of Ocean Spray, developed this topic and announced the elements that make blueberries a powerful nutritious method, with benefits for the whole body. Imagine controlling recurrent diseases like ICUs with the use of blueberries instead of antibiotics: it could be real.

How to harness the power of blueberries to control oxidative stress and promote cognitive and cardiovascular health.

In their list of healthy attributes, blueberries include the ability to promote cardiovascular and cognitive health. Peter Howe, a nutritionist and professor at the University of Newcastle, Australia, presented studies that explain how polyphenols, such as those found in blueberries and that help prevent bacteria from sticking to cells, exert a positive effect in the blood circulation, which could help improve overall cardiovascular health, as well as cognitive function.

Luis Goya, doctor in nutrition and researcher at the Department of Metabolism and Nutrition of the Institute of Science and Technology of Food and Nutrition of the Higher Council for Scientific Research of Madrid, made his contribution to the presentation of Dr. Howe and specifically addressed the important components of the blueberries and how they can prevent oxidative stress, which may help improve the human body's ability to counteract the damaging effects of stress.

«According to new studies, blueberries may be a unique nutritional source to address global health issues, especially within the framework of holistic health care alternatives» Howe said. «For me it is a pleasure to be part of this international team of experts, and to be able to present these scientific developments and continue evaluating possibilities for more discoveries.

A fruitful future ahead

Cranberries play a critical role in helping people consume the recommended daily portion of fruit, and the data revealed in the ICPH highlight the potential of blueberries to provide health benefits for the entire body. These studies are supported by other recent discoveries that show that drinking cranberry juice can help control the risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and stroke. The blueberries have a fruitful future ahead. But even better will be the future of those who know how to benefit from their nutritional elements.

Source: Informador.com.mx