When it comes to healthy foods, the star this month is undeniably the cranberry. Cranberries are well known for treating and preventing kidney, bladder and urinary tract infections. Yet there are many other benefits to this brightly colored fruit. Here are a few lesser-known nutritional facts and benefits off cranberries that will help you keep them top of mind during the holiday season.
Cranberry Facts
Extensive studies show that cranberries are a powerful anti-cancer food that helps prevent prostate, breast, lung, and even colon cancer. They provide many amazing antioxidants, compounds that react with and capture dangerously reactive compounds called free radicals before the radicals can react with other biomolecules and cause serous damage. Cranberries also offer naturally occurring phenols such as cinnamic, cyanidins, quercertin and hydroxy-cinnamic acids among others that are believed to be cancer chemopreventives or compounds that may decrease your risk of developing cancer.
Cranberry Benefits
- Lowers blood pressure
- Lowers LDL or bad cholesterol while boosting your good HDL cholesterol
- Helps prevent ulcers by stoping helicobacter bacteria from sticking to stomach linings
- Helps prevent macular degeneration and cataracts, as well as gum disease
- Boosts your immune system to help prevent colds and flu
- Promotes digestive and gastro-intestinal tract health
As you plan your Thanksgiving meal, remember to include cranberries. On this occasion, the most popular option is cranberry sauce. Avoid added processed sugar by making your own using fresh cranberries and substituting pineapple juice, organic orange juice, raw honey, or natural stevia (not altered forms like Truvia) for the sweetener. A quick search online will present many fairly simple recipe options. If you want a healthy beverage with a little kick, cranberry juice is a great way to go. Make sure it is 100% cranberry juice, not juice cocktail. The label will list cranberries as the only ingredient and the taste will be tarte, not sweet. Cranberries are also great in salads or simply as a garnish to add color and zest to your plate.
New research shows that eating fresh or frozen cranberries do a significantly better job at preventing disease than cranberry supplements. So remember to add cranberries to more of your meals for all the added health benefits and flavor. Plus the rich cranberry color will make any feast seem just a little more festive.
Source: Dr. James Haider, OM Times
Cranberry Facts
Extensive studies show that cranberries are a powerful anti-cancer food that helps prevent prostate, breast, lung, and even colon cancer. They provide many amazing antioxidants, compounds that react with and capture dangerously reactive compounds called free radicals before the radicals can react with other biomolecules and cause serous damage. Cranberries also offer naturally occurring phenols such as cinnamic, cyanidins, quercertin and hydroxy-cinnamic acids among others that are believed to be cancer chemopreventives or compounds that may decrease your risk of developing cancer.
Cranberry Benefits
- Lowers blood pressure
- Lowers LDL or bad cholesterol while boosting your good HDL cholesterol
- Helps prevent ulcers by stoping helicobacter bacteria from sticking to stomach linings
- Helps prevent macular degeneration and cataracts, as well as gum disease
- Boosts your immune system to help prevent colds and flu
- Promotes digestive and gastro-intestinal tract health
As you plan your Thanksgiving meal, remember to include cranberries. On this occasion, the most popular option is cranberry sauce. Avoid added processed sugar by making your own using fresh cranberries and substituting pineapple juice, organic orange juice, raw honey, or natural stevia (not altered forms like Truvia) for the sweetener. A quick search online will present many fairly simple recipe options. If you want a healthy beverage with a little kick, cranberry juice is a great way to go. Make sure it is 100% cranberry juice, not juice cocktail. The label will list cranberries as the only ingredient and the taste will be tarte, not sweet. Cranberries are also great in salads or simply as a garnish to add color and zest to your plate.
New research shows that eating fresh or frozen cranberries do a significantly better job at preventing disease than cranberry supplements. So remember to add cranberries to more of your meals for all the added health benefits and flavor. Plus the rich cranberry color will make any feast seem just a little more festive.
Source: Dr. James Haider, OM Times
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