In the quest for better health, there are also many choices that we are forced to make.
As far as healthy foods go, cranberries are at the top of the list due to their high nutrient and antioxidant content and are often referred to as a “super food.” Not to mention, half a cup of cranberries contains only 25 calories.
Here are some of the health benefits of this “super food”
- Cranberry juice is renowned for its effectiveness in treating urinary tract infections because it inhibits bacteria from attaching to the bladder and urethra. The high level of proanthocyanidins (PACs) in cranberries helps to do this.
- Consuming the humble cranberry just might prevent your next cavity or lower your risk for cancer.
- Cranberries work to boost your mouth health by inhibiting harmful acid production and preventing bad bugs, like Streptococcus.
- The same proanthocyanidins in cranberries that help prevent UTIs may also benefit oral health by preventing bacteria from binding to teeth. Cranberries are also beneficial in preventing gum disease.
- Some evidence suggests that the polyphenols in cranberries may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) by preventing platelet build-up and reducing blood pressure via anti-inflammatory mechanisms.
Starting with recipes, dried cranberries are famous for the delicious flavor and chewy tartness they lend to fresh spinach salad with pecans and feta cheese or chopped with other fruits such as oranges, apples, and pineapples.
Fresh cranberries contain the most antioxidants; dried cranberries run a close second, but bottled cranberry juice contains the least.
But in the end, each little red berry is worth its weight in nutritional attributes that can benefit nearly every area of the body.
