*Cranberries are fruits of the evergreen shrubs or vines, Vaccinium oxycoccos, native colder regions of the Northern Hemisphere like US, Canada and Europe.

*Cranberries are small, shiny, and pale to dark pink fruits, botanically berries, with a very tart or acidic taste. These are closely related to blueberries.

*They are mainly used in the preparation of sauce, juice and dried cranberries (that are usually sweetened). Cranberry sauce is part of traditional Thanksgiving menu.

*Buying and storage: Select good quality dried cranberries. Store in airtight containers or zip-lock bags at room temperature where they will keep for seneral weeks to months.

Is it raw?

Yes and No.
*Yes, fresh, frozen or sun dried cranberries are raw.
*No, because sometimes dried cranberries at the supermarkets are sweetened. Make sure you read the label.

Health Benefits

1. Fresh and dried cranberries are rich in polyphenols, the phytonutrients that have beneficial effects on our health.

2. The tannins present in cranberries have anti-bacterial properties. They are effective in reducing the risk of bacterial infections, because they reduce the ability of various bacteria to adhere to the walls of the GI tract, urinary tract, etc.

3. Regular consumption of cranberry juice reduces the risk of urinary tract infections, by reducing the ability of the E. coli to adhere to the walls of the urinary tract. But they cannot cure urinary tract infections once the bacteria establish themselves in the urinary tract.

4. Reduce the risk of gingivitis and building of plaque in the oral cavity.

5. The phytonutrient, proanthocyanidins, present in cranberries have ant-viral properties. They act in a similar way to the tannins by reducing the ability of various viruses to adhere to the walls of the cells. Cranberries are especially effective in combating the herpes simplex virus.

6. Prevents the formation of kidney stones. Quinic acid present in these berries slightly acidifies the urine, which is enough to prevent the formation of stones in the kidneys.

7. The polyphenols also reduce the risk of oxidation of LDL cholesterol, increase the levels of HDL cholesterol and prevents the build up of plaque in the blood vessels, thus preventing the risk of heart diseases.

8. The polyphenols improve the function of the blood vessels, thus again reducing the risk of heart disease, heart attack and atherosclerosis.

9. The phytonutrients actually act as natural probiotics, supporting the growth of healthy intestinal bacteria.

10. Cranberries contain the highest amount of polyphenols, which also act as natural antioxidants and are effective in scavenging the free radicals from the body.

11. Moderate source of manganese, which is an essential cofactor in many enzymatic reactions in the body, especially in the production of energy and antioxidants defenses.