Cranberry is little jewel color fruits outrank almost all other fruits and veggies when it comes to antioxidant power.
As a matter of fact the only fruit with more antioxidants than a cranberry is a blueberry. Cranberries are also high in phytonutrients high in fiber. They have lots of vitamin A and vitamin C. They're anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities have been shown to support immunity, heart health and gum health. They contain one of the highest amount of antioxidants. When compared to other fruits there are also great sources of powerful antioxidants and phytonutrients called anthocyanins and quercetin.
A lot of people think that cranberries grow in water but that is not true they
actually grow in sandy soil on a low trailing vine on sunken ground that people
call a balk. Twice a year the cranberry farmers will flood the box one time
they do this in the winter to protect the cranberries from the cold winter
weather and the second time is when it's time to harvest the cranberries. It's
actually a really fascinating process. It's
pretty interesting they have a really bright tart flavor and they're also a
little bit bitter which is why most times when you see a cranberry recipe.
There is some type of sweetener involved some other flavors that pair really
well with cranberries include avocado, apples, cinnamon, citrus, walnuts
pistachios and cheese like feta cheese or blue cheese.
These article include everything you need to know about
cranberries : health benefits, nutritional facts and how to buy, store and
clean the cranberries.
Table of contents
·
Nutritional facts of cranberries
·
Health benefits of cranberries
·
Everything you need to know about how to buy, store
and clean the cranberries
·
Summary
Nutritional facts of cranberries
The main nutrient in 100 grams of raw cranberries(USDA) contains:
·
Calories:
47
·
Protein:
0.4 g
·
Carbohydrates:
11.63 g
·
Dietary
fiber: 4.7 g
·
Sugar:
4.65 g
·
Total
Fat:0 g
·
Cholesterol : 0 mg
·
Sodium : 0 mg
Health benefits of cranberries
Let's discuss some of the amazing health benefits of consuming cranberries.1. Prevent urinary tract infection:
Studies have also
demonstrated that cranberries are effective in both preventing and treating
urinary tract infections. This is because they contain compounds and components
that help to keep unwanted and harmful bacteria from attaching to the urinary tract
wall. These important compounds are known as pro anthocyanidins which not only
prevent bacteria from binding to the walls of the urinary tract and bladder but
also prevent bacteria from multiplying. They can also be beneficial in the
elimination of these bacteria through urination. Benzoic acid which is found in
cranberries also has powerful antiseptic properties and can reduce the risk of
urinary tract infections. For these benefits you can drink a glass of cranberry
juice or consume a handful of cranberries regularly.
2. Anti-inflammatory properties:
Cranberries are well known for decreasing inflammation throughout the entire body and work as a great natural anti-inflammatory. This is often attributed to their high concentration of inflammation fighting antioxidants. These antioxidants and cranberries can help to eliminate free radicals in the body and prevent damage caused by them as well. They can also help to remove toxins and promote the proper functioning of our bodily organs.
3. Reduce the risk of cancer:
They can also help
them the prevention of some types of cancer and promote our overall health due
to their unique array of antioxidants and their ability to reduce inflammation throughout
the body. They can help lower the risk of some types of cancer. The antioxidants
found in cranberries fight free radicals which can cause damage to our cells
and DNA. They contain a high amount of
antioxidant flavonoids which are beneficial in preventing a number of different
diseases, while also reducing oxidative stress which can cause damage to our
bodies. Always discuss with your medical practitioner other cancer treatment
and prevention methods.
4. Promote digestive health:
Consuming cranberries
can also help to promote overall digestive health and benefit the digestive
tract. This is because cranberries have antiseptic, detoxifying and cleansing
properties. When consumed regularly they can help our bodies to eliminate
unwanted toxins and cleanse our entire body including important bodily organs
as well. They can help to relieve symptoms associated with bloating and water
retention. Cranberries can also help to balance the bacteria in our digestive tract
promoting healthy gut and creating an environment for good bacteria to thrive.
This can also help to relieve symptoms of diarrhea and constipation, while also
boosting our immune system.
5. Promote cardiovascular health
Cranberries are incredibly heart-healthy and can promote the
overall health of our heart. They are loaded with cardiovascular benefiting
antioxidants and phytonutrients which provide anti-inflammatory effects. They can
also help to decrease high blood pressure levels and reduce high cholesterol
levels. They can also help to promote the overall health of our blood vessels,
reduce the risk of heart attack and reduce inflammation. They are also an
excellent source of vitamin C which can help lower high blood pressure and
promote cardiovascular health.
How to buy and store the cranberries?
While fresh cranberries are ideal. You can also get a ton of
health benefits from frozen cranberries,
dried cranberries and cranberry juice but when you're buying the juice
you want to make sure to avoid cranberry cocktail and you want to look for
cranberry concentrate. Basically the concentrate is pure cranberry juice so
there's no added sugars and it's absolutely delicious if you just pour a little
bit into your water or into some sparkling water. You can find frozen and dried cranberries all
year round but the fresh cranberries start to come out around Halloween and
then they hang around through the early winter they're definitely like a
holiday fruit. People will string them and then put them on the Christmas tree
or around a fire place mantel or anywhere you want to decorate your house and
sometimes I've even seen them put in little glass jars and then used as little
table decorations.Lots of things to do with the beautiful cranberry.
When you're shopping for cranberries you want to look for
cranberries that are firm and plump and have this beautiful rich color to them.
Avoid any cranberries that are bruised broken shriveled up or sticky.
Oftentimes when you buy them at the grocery store they will already be in a
plastic bag which is a great for storage, if they're not in a plastic bag when
you get the home you want to put them in an air-tight plastic bag. Then they will last in your fridge for almost
two months. Here's the key though you have to make sure that before you put
them in for the long haul you pull out any berries that look like they're going
bad because if you've got one or two in the bunch they will cause the rest of
the cranberries to go bad.
How to clean cranberries and incorporate into your diet?
A lot faster once you're ready to use them simply give them
a rinse under some cold water and they're ready to go. The very easy ways you
can start incorporating them into your diet you could take a handful put it
into your oatmeal in the morning with a little bit of maple syrup and cinnamon.
You can toss them into your smoothies and I personally love adding them to
salads with a little bit of fresh feta cheese or avocado to balance out the
tart flavor, so lots of things you can do.
Summary
Cranberries provide many wonderful health benefits like improve heart health, prevents cancer and treat urinary infections.To add cranberries into your daily diet and enjoy health
benefits of its and stay healthy.
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