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Don't limit cranberries just to turkey day
USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), Nov, 2006
Cranberries may be a Thanksgiving Day tradition, but do not overlook these ruby gems of good health throughout the rest of the year, as they are a good source of vitamin C while containing phytochemicals--plant-derived nutrients that have potential health benefits. These phytochemicals make cranberries high in antioxidants--substances that prevent cell damage, explains Mayo Clinic HealthSource.
Cranberries and their juices also may prevent certain bacteria that cause urinary tract infection from accumulating in the bladder; have a role in treating various stomach ulcers; lower levels of low-density lipoprotein, the "bad" cholesterol; and increase blood levels of salicylic acid, an anti-inflammatory compound similar to aspirin. However, people who take blood thinners should be careful since bleeding times may be prolonged.
Incorporating cranberries into your diet can be a challenge because of their tartness. Try adding them to whole-grain cereal, serving cranberry chutney over poultry, or putting dried cranberries on granola. Cranberry juice, like all fruit juice, is high in calories. However, by drinking a reduced-calorie cranberry juice cocktail, or cranberry juice diluted with sparkling water, you can help keep the calorie content lower while still receiving its many benefits. Cranberry capsules or tablets are an alternative, but it is unlikely that they have the same potency and effectiveness as the real thing.
COPYRIGHT 2006 Society for the Advancement of Education
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