With Thanksgiving just around the corner we thought we would talk about the amazing health benefits of cranberries. This is because most of us just love that turkey served with cranberry sauce. And how else can we justify our extra serving of cranberry sauce and chasing it down with a nice Cape Codder?

Cranberries are one of those fruits that have a number of different names. For instance, in Canada they are called mossberries and where I come from, we just call them cranberries and we have a number of uses for them, as do other people. As for the Native Americans, they used cranberry fruit not only in food, but as a dye and medicine. They called these red berries sassamanash (correct?).

Uses of Cranberry Fruit

Cranberries are used in baking and are often combined with orange zest. They are also used in sauces, jam, soups and stews to add a tad bit of tartness to these dishes. On the other hand, cranberry juice can be sipped on its own or you can mix it with Vodka to make a mean Cape Cod cocktail. And if you want to keep your cranberries for another day, fresh frozen cranberries can be kept up to nine months and can be used in recipes without thawing.

Why Cranberries are Considered Healthy

These red and tart berries belong in the same group as some of other top healthy foods. They have high levels of antioxidants and nutrients which play a big role in maintaining heart health, brain and skin not to mention they are super low on calories. In fact, half a cup contains about 25 calories, which is almost nothing. Now I understand why someone I know has a big love for their juice.

There are quite a number of health benefits of cranberries, especially if you are using them for consumption purposes. Studies have shown that they help prevent certain types of cancers, can aid in stabilizing high blood pressure as well as the most common which is lowering the risk of urinary tract infections among others.

The amazing health benefits of cranberries are only second to blue berries when it comes to disease-fighting compounds. The fruit contains a compound known as phytonutrient, which plays a big role in the health benefits of cranberries as well as in keeping an array of health problems at bay.

Some Amazing Health Benefits of Cranberries

One of the leading health benefits of cranberries is the prevention of Urinary Tract Infections (UTI). But if you already have it, you better get treated by a doctor because the fruit doesn’t cure the ailment.
Consuming cranberry fruit can prevent the growth of plaque, meaning it aids in keeping your oral hygiene in check. But this does not mean you should slack on your oral routine.
Anticarcinogenic elements found in cranberries can help prevent certain types of cancers by interfering with the growth of cancer cells especially in the prostrate and colon.
Other health benefits of cranberries include weight control and weight loss. This is because they are high in fiber, meaning they leave you feeling full for long periods of time.
The antioxidant and anti inflammatory effects of the cranberry fruit can aid in keeping cardiovascular diseases under control, including lowering blood pressure.
And if you are suffering from a cold, some fresh cranberry juice can take care of it and a sore throat.

Here are some of the ways you can enjoy the health benefits of cranberries:

Normally I would give you about three or four cranberry recipes but I don’t want to bore you. So to start with, enjoy the amazing health benefits of cranberries by throwing in a handful of the frozen fruit in your favorite smoothie.

Last but not least, add cold cranberry juice to a single or double shot of vodka, add some ice cubes and garnish with a lemon wedge. Nothing tastes better than a Cape Codder.

As usual, seek medical advice before self-medicating.