As the Holidays are upon us, they will be no lack of glasses lifted in toasts of holiday cheer and blessings. But, if you want to be blessed with a longer life, fill your cup of cheer with this healthy beverage!
Cranberries are a staple of the Holiday Season, but did you know that this unassuming tart berry is packed with powerful antioxidants and that studies have found that drinking cranberry juice could add years to your life!
Cranberry juice has demonstrated significant life-prolonging effects in a string of studies. The drink may also significantly lower high cholesterol.
The qualities of plants are largely attributable to their flavonoid content – a strong antioxidant that lowers inflammation, thereby warding off disease.
In boosting the immune defenses, fruits are better able to support longevity, but some more than others.
Cranberry is a good example of a plant that offers strong pro-longevity effects due to its high concentration of polyphenols and flavonoids.
According to current research, the antioxidant properties of cranberries increase the levels of gamma delta T cells, which are involved in immune response, as well as virus-fighting cytokines.
One recent study, in particular, published in the journal of Experimental Gerontology, found that cranberry supplementation “significantly” extended the lifespan of fruit flies.
For their experiment, the team administered cranberry extract to flies at three different stages of their life.
“Cranberry supplementation during any of these life stages extended the remaining lifespan relative to the non-supplemented and life stage-matched controls,” noted the team.
“These findings suggest that cranberry supplementation is sufficient to promote longevity when implemented during any life stage, likely through reducing oxidative damage.”
Oxidative damage is one of the hallmarks of aging, contributing to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the skin and degeneration of the body.
Longevity research to date revolves mainly around laboratory experiments on fruit flies or mice, with most studies on humans limited to observational methodology.
But of the existing studies on fruit flies to date, many have gathered promising evidence of the benefits of juice for longevity purposes.
In one laboratory experiment, researchers found cranberry to be particularly potent when it was combined with oregano extract.
So, raise a glass of cranberry juice this Holiday Season and literally drink “to your health!”
