NICS Cranberries + Blackcurrant

Cranberries are the fruit of a plant native to North America. Its dark red berries decorate all winter long. Cranberries belong to the same plant family as blueberries and bilberries.

Blueberries have been consumed for their distinctive smell and refreshing taste long before they were thought to be beneficial. It was probably first eaten by pilgrims on a thanksgiving feast in 1621, but it was only after the Civil War that cranberry sauce became a national tradition. Captain Ulysses S. Grant considered cranberry sauce an important part of Thanksgiving. During the Battle of Petersburg in 1864, he ordered Union troops to be given cranberries. The soldiers took a liking to the previously unknown fruit and made a habit of eating it. The colonists did not know about the high vitamin C content of blueberries, but they became popular among the English sailors because those who consumed them did not develop scurvy. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the use of cranberries has become more widespread and has become very popular in recent years. Cranberries are eaten raw, dried, as jam, ground into flour and as sauces.

It is a scattered protected plant in our country, cultivated mainly for its fruit. The blackcurrant belongs to the currant family. Its clusters are smaller and much looser than those of its red relative. Its leaves contain flavonoids.

Live flora is made up of beneficial, living microorganisms that help maintain a healthy balance of gut flora by surviving the acidic environment in the digestive tract. Our products contain high germ counts of several live flora and Inulin, which promotes their reproduction.

The term Probiotic, also known as Living Flora, is of Greek origin, meaning for life. In its modern sense, the term probiotic was first used by R. B. Parker in 1974 to describe the organisms and substances responsible for the microbial balance of the intestinal tract. The characteristics of probiotics are that they are of human origin, non-pathogenic, resistant to the action of gastric acid, bile and digestive enzymes in saliva, pancreas and intestinal fluids. They retain their resistance during the shelf life of foodstuffs and during technological processes. In addition, probiotics are able to adhere to mucosal cells, exerting an antimicrobial effect against potential pathogens and reducing the adherence of pathogenic microbes to the mucosal surface. Probiotics are mostly lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria. The majority of the best known probiotic strains of lactic acid bacteria belong to the genus Lactobacillus, with a minority belonging to the genus Streptococcus.

Prebiotics are the natural nutrients that are typically the exclusive nutrients of probiotics and therefore promote their proliferation and predominance. In the oral cavity or gastrointestinal tract, digestive enzymes do not break down prebiotics, so they can pass undigested into the large intestine. Prebiotics are dietary fibres, but they are water soluble, making them the most excellent of all dietary fibres. In addition to their dietary fibre function, their real utility lies in the fact that they are the sole food source of probiotics. As the large intestine is already low in digestible food, i.e. relatively malnourished, ingested prebiotics offer the opportunity for the proliferation of human-friendly gut bacteria.

In their natural state, they are found in many foods, e.g. Jerusalem artichokes, chicory root, onions, garlic, leeks, artichokes, wholegrain cereals, wheat, bananas, flax, spinach, spinach, cabbage, Swiss chard, mustard, berries, pulses, milk and most mature cheeses.

One type of prebiotic is Inulin, basically a dietary fibre that enters the colon undigested, enhancing the reproduction and overgrowth of probiotics.

Their role: digestion, intestinal flora balance

Our intestinal tract, the largest surface area of our body, is about 7-9 metres long and is the way we communicate with the outside world. This makes it a potential site of attack for pathogens and toxic substances. Under normal conditions, the gut contains around 200-400 strains of bacteria. During foetal life, beneficial bacteria predominate in 95-98%. A healthy gut flora provides protection against many pathogens, ensures the integrity of the gut lining and helps the body absorb the nutrients it needs. They produce many vitamins essential for the body. If the defence mechanisms of the digestive tract are weakened, this can cause, among other things, a disturbance of absorption processes.

In order for probiotics to be able to have an effect on their environment, high abundance is a prerequisite, which means at least 108 c.f.u. organisms per gram of intestinal fluid.

What does the term c.f.u. mean?

c.f.u.: colony-forming unit per millilitre, the number of viable micro-organisms (germ count). In preparations, the number of bacteria is usually expressed in this unit. However, Inulin is expressed in mg. A minimum of 109 c.f.u. is accepted as an appropriate dose.

What is an effective live-flower preparation?

• Prebiotics promote the growth of probiotics, so the preparation should contain Inulin or fructo-oligosaccharides.
• They are resistant to the action of stomach acid, bile and digestive enzymes, allowing the beneficial bacteria to live and enter the large intestine, where they can multiply and thrive. It is essential that the bacteria retain their viability during their passage through the gastrointestinal tract.
• Good live-flora preparations contain a minimum of 5 to 6 strains, as we want to replenish the diverse multicultural gut bacteria.
• They retain their resistance during their shelf life and during technological processes.
• They contain an adequate number of germs, with a minimum of 108 or 109 colony forming units recommended by experts.