Cranberries: Nutritional Facts & Health Benefits

People say that every tasty thing is supposed to be unhealthy but don’t worry, it might be because they have never tried out these little treats called cranberries! Cranberries are tiny, red coloured fruits which are tangy but very delicious. With being delicious they also have a lot of health benefits. This pandemic showed us how important it is to take care of our health, so here are a few health benefits cranberries have:

1. Prevention of UTI (Urinary Tract Infection)
   If you haven’t heard this before, but cranberries are great for prevention of UTI. The high level of proanthocyanidins found in cranberry can help lower the adhesion of certain bacteria to the urinary tract walls and prevent UTIs. But avoid having cranberry juice as they go through a lot of processes which in return has no benefits.
2. Oral care
   Proanthocyanidins in cranberries are also great for your oral health. They help to prevent gum diseases and also prevent bacteria from binding to the teeth.
3. Slowers Cancer Progression
   The phytochemicals in cranberries are beneficial in slowing down tumour progression. It is also shown positive effects against prostate, liver, breast, ovarian, and colon cancers and therefore is a really great food to add to your diet.
4. Boosts immunity
   Boosting your immunity is our top priority in these times. So cranberries can be helpful for this! Cranberries are rich in phytochemicals and antioxidants, so they promote a healthy immune system. They help in fighting against infections and also cures cold and sore throat.
5. Protects your heart
   Phytonutrients found in them guard against inflammation, delaying the process and offering protection against heart disease. Cranberries have proven beneficial for various heart disease risk factors by increasing your levels of HDL (good) cholesterol and lowering levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol. They also help in lowering blood pressure.

Adding cranberries to your diet will give you many other benefits like good skin health and aids in weight loss. Cell-protective properties and antioxidants are preserved when cranberries are dried or cooked into delicious sauces. Best way to consume cranberries is dried or cooked into tasty sauces rather than consuming in form of juices. This preserves the goodness and nutrients since juices go through a lot of processing. Consider adding dried cranberries to salads, breakfast cereals, yoghurt, hot tea, and even chicken dishes. They have a tart flavour that does not overpower.

You can also check Cranberries Recipes here: Berries Recipes