Cranberries!

Cranberries aren't just for holiday meals!

🍒  Cranberries decreases inflammation, improve immune function, prevent and treat urinary tract infections, reduces the risk of heart disease, benefits the digestive system, and may help prevent cancer.

🍒  Cranberries have one of the highest concentrations of antioxidants of any fruit.

Anti-Inflammatory Properties

🍒  Anti-inflammatory foods such as cranberries, reduce low-level chronic inflammation by fighting free radicals.  Free radicals are a natural byproduct our body creates from doing regular daily activities.  When we don't consume enough anti-oxidant containing foods, the excess of free radicals harm our bodies.

🍒  Cranberries contain a high amount of the phytonutrient, Quercetin which has anti-inflammatory properties and has been proven effective in reducing allergies, improving joint pain and reducing inflammation of arterial walls.

Improves Immune Function

🍒  Cranberries contain high levels of a substance called proanthocyanidins, which help the body's immune system to ward off illness and disease.  

🍒  Proanthocyanidins are part of a larger class of polyphenols present in berries and other whole fruits and juices that nurture the lining of the gut, resulting in a healthier gut lining and greater immune function.

🍒  Also found in cranberries, especially in their unprocessed form, are a trio of antioxidants that when found together, have remarkable disease fighting capabilities.  These are resveratrol, piceatannol, and pterostilbene.  They provide maximum antioxidant benefits only when consumed together and with vitamin C and manganese, both of which are found in high quantities in cranberries.  Fresh is best as far as this combination goes!

🍒  Cranberries also contain one of natures most potent vasodilators, which open up congested bronchial tubes. 

Prevents and Treats Urinary Tract Infections

🍒  Cranberries  take an antiseptic role in treating urinary tract and yeast infections.  Cranberries contain compounds that have the ability to fight Streptococcus bacteria.

🍒  Cranberries contain the phytonutrient benzoic acid, that has powerful antiseptic properties, reduces the risk of infection and can kill bad bacteria to naturally treat UTI, bladder infections, and acne.

🍒  They also contain tannins, called proanthocyanidins, that wrap up non-beneficial bacteria in a coating that prevents them from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract.  Since the bacteria can't attach themselves, they're flushed away and can't cause infection.  Yeah!

🍒  Cranberries also help reverse gall bladder disease, help dissolve gallstones, and are a powerful liver cleanser. 

Reduces the Risk of Heart Disease

🍒  The combined impact of the antioxidants and anti-inflammatory phytonutrients in cranberries lead to a reduced risk of heart disease.  A daily serving of about a cup per day of fresh or frozen cranberries can prevent the triggering of two enzymes that are pivotal to the development of heart disease.

🍒  The antioxidant benefits are also associated with the decreased risk of high blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol levels.  Compounds in cranberries reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke by dilation blood vessels, reducing inflammation, and increasing blood flow.

🍒  Epicatechins found in cranberries are a class of phytonutrients also found in green tea and redline.  They're shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease.

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Benefits the Digestive System

🍒  Cranberries contain compounds that help balance the microbe by decreasing harmful bacteria while facilitating the growth of beneficial bacteria.

🍒  Cranberries also help the body eliminate toxins and buildup and aid in relieving water retention and bloating.

May Help Prevent Cancer

🍒. Cranberries contain cancer preventative substances that have been shown to be helpful in preventing breast, colon, lung, and prostate cancers.  In both human and animal studies cranberries have been shown to help slow tumor progression.

🍒  In general, cranberries high concentration of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds help lower the risk of developing many common types of cancers by lowering oxidative stress.

How to Eat Cranberries

🍒  Cooked or dried cranberries contain many of the beneficial nutrients and properties.  They can be cooked or baked into many sauces and breads.  

🍒  Fresh cranberries retain the most nutrients and health benefits.  They can be made into relishes and salsas and my favorite way to incorporate anything into my diet is by adding them to my morning smoothie.  

🍒  Unsweetened cranberry juice also contains many of the health benefits.

What's your favorite way to eat cranberries?  Are you inspired to include them in your diet?  Please comment below and share with a friend!