As you get set for Christmas day, it’s time to look at the health benefits of cranberries. Think of the berry as more than just something you turn into a sauce.
What are cranberries?
A native of North America, these bright red berries have long been enjoyed by American Indians, accustomed to eating them fresh or dried for their distinctive sweet-tart taste. The berries were recognized for their health and nutrition benefits early on, and have been used widely in traditional medicine and as a diet supplement during long cold winters. In fact, the American Indians used cranberries to make a survival cake called “pemmican”, a combination of dried deer meat, cranberries and melted fat.
What are the health benefits?
Cranberries are brimming with health benefits as bright as their colour suggests. They are high in antioxidants and vitamin C, but it’s a special compound called proanthocyanidins (or PACs) that turns them into a wonderberry. PACs have unique anti-adhesion properties that allow them to attach to some types of bad bacteria, preventing them from sticking to healthy cells. This assists in the flushing out of the body — particularly through the cleansing of the urinary tract system and the prevention of infections.
Where can I get them?
The best year-round approach is to drink cranberry juice, but you can also enjoy cranberries as a sauce or dried as craisins. Cranberry juice comes in a number of forms, including “no added sugar”, as well as mixes with raspberry and ruby red grapefruit juices.
Christmas capers with cranberries
Add zing to cocktails with cranberry juice
Poach summer fruit in cranberry juice
Place a dollop of cranberry sauce on turkey and ham
Serve up dried cranberries and nuts as part of a gourmet cheese platter
Add craisins to stuffing mixture, fruit cakes and puddings
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