In this blog, I wanted to spotlight the health benefits of cranberries. Cranberries are a popular fruit, especially around the holiday season. Cranberries pack a punch, when it comes to your health and  should really be consumed throughout the year. Cranberries are considered a super-food and are loaded with antioxidants, which help to protect your body from free radical damage. Like lemons, cranberries help fight inflammation, boost immunity and help prevent a number of illnesses. Some nutrients found in cranberries include: vitamin C vitamin E, vitamin B6, potassium, copper, manganese and more. In addition, cranberries are a good source of fiber. which is good for digestion. They have other nutritional benefits, as well.

Health Benefits Of Cranberries

Help Fight Urinary Tract Infections

If you’ve ever had a urinary tract infection, you probably know that cranberries can help combat the infection. That’s because they have a high antioxidant content and help prevent certain bacteria from adhering to the urinary tract walls. Doctors often recommend drinking cranberry juice as a preventative measure. When purchasing cranberry juice, make sure it is 100 percent pure and unsweetened (not the kind that is heavily sweetened with sugar.)

Helps Decrease Inflammation

Since cranberries are a high antioxidant food, they are known for decreasing inflammation in your body. Inflammation is the cause of most disease and illnesses, so it is important to include a variety of anti-inflammatory foods in your diet. Berries like blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and cranberries are nutrient rich and promote well-being. While they all fight inflammation, cranberries are considered a powerhouse and are one of the best sources of food that help fight inflammation. Make sure you try adding more cranberries to your diet, whether in a smoothie, juicing or adding them too a salad or favorite entree to receive their healthful properties.

Helps Prevent Cancer

Studies show that cranberries have certain cancer preventing properties. In fact, nutrients found in cranberries have been shown to slow and prevent tumor growth in certain types of cancer including: breast, lung, colon and prostate cancers. That’s good news and a great reason to include more cranberries in your diet.

Benefits Digestion

Cranberries have both cleansing and detoxifying properties that help aid digestion. As a matter of fact, cranberries have been shown to help balance the bacteria in your digestive tract. This is important as it helps create a healthy microbiome.  Cranberries have a similar affect to consuming probiotic rich foods such as yogurt, kombucha and kefir. Cranberries may help prevent an over-growth of bad bacteria in your gut, which can lead to a variety of digestive issues including: leaky gut, SIBO and others.

Helps Prevent Cardiovascular Disease

Cranberries are rich in polyphenols, which can help prevent heart disease. Their anti-inflammatory properties and high antioxidant levels also help with high blood pressure and cholesterol, which can be markers for developing cardiovascular disease. Taking cranberry extract, as well as including cranberries in your diet can be used as prevention for heart disease.

Thanks for reading!

Barb

P.S. If you are interested in reading more about healthful eating and living a healthy lifestyle, you might want to check out my book, Wholey Cow A Simple Guide To Eating And Living, which is available on Amazon. Click here for a FREE Chapter.

Source:

¹ “Levy, Jillian. “The Best Fruit to Treat UTI.” Dr. Axe, Dr. Axe, 12 Dec. 2014, draxe.com/cranberries/.

² “LD, Megan Ware RDN. “Cranberries: Health Benefits, Nutritional Content, and Risks.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 25 Sept. 2017, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/269142.php.