Cranberries were first studied for their plant pigments, but now scientists are looking at their unique health benefits.
By Alison Crane
For me, it started with a healthier version of an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie and the next thing I knew, I was adding them to salads and rice and bread and more. Until that fateful cookie, I had never been a fan of cranberries. Now, my whole family enjoys cranberries, and the benefits are not just a great added zing of flavor.
Nutritionally, cranberries have a lot going for them. Cranberries contain only about 25 calories in a half cup of fresh berries. Fresh cranberries contain no cholesterol, virtually no fat and very little sodium. One serving provides 10% of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C, plus vitamins A, E, and K and they are high in fiber. Cranberries also provide plenty of natural antioxidants, specifically from a subclass of flavonoids call proanthocyanidins and are also responsible for giving the fruit its red color.
Cranberries were first studied for their plant pigments, but now scientists are looking at their unique health benefits. Often, doctors will recommend drinking cranberry juice or cocktail as preventive for urinary tract infections due to its ability to prevent E. coli from adhering to the cells that line the urinary tract. The antioxidants also support cardiovascular health and may reduce the risk for some cancers.
For the holiday season, cranberries are a traditional dish that often stirs up debate on whether they should be eaten jellied from a can or as a relish sauce. Regardless of which way you prefer them, cranberries are a great addition to any meal and make a great taste contrast with chicken or pork as well as turkey.
If you would like to learn more about adding cranberries to your diet or would like some healthy tips for your holiday meal planning, contact the Garland County Extension Service at 501-623-6841 or email acrane@uada.edu.
You can visit our website at University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service (uada.edu).
Alison Crane is a Family and Consumer Sciences Agent with the Garland County Extension Service. The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
