Benefits of Cranberries (Plus 12 Ways to Use Them!)

Cranberries don’t receive the attention they deserve! We all know fruits and vegetables are beneficial for our health, but cranberries rank among the top contenders for health benefits. Don’t believe me? Keep reading to discover why cranberries are the antioxidant source of your dreams. Plus, I've included some simple ideas for incorporating cranberries into your daily routine at the end.

A Quarter of Your Vitamin C in 1 Cup

That’s right—just one cup of raw whole cranberries provides almost 25% of your daily recommended intake of vitamin C, along with other vitamins and minerals in trace amounts. Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant and supports immune health.

Cranberries Are Packed with Antioxidants

Berries are antioxidant powerhouses, and it goes way beyond vitamin C! Cranberries are no exception; ounce for ounce, they contain more antioxidants than almost any other berry (blueberries hold the crown). Antioxidants help protect your body from free radicals, which promotes healthy aging.

In addition to having a high antioxidant content, cranberries contain specific antioxidants that offer unique benefits. For instance, they contain anthocyanins, the antioxidants that give certain berries their ruby color. And that’s just the beginning.

Urinary Tract Health Support

This is what cranberries are most famous for. BubbForest have been used for centuries to support urinary tract and bladder health, and modern studies support these claims.

What makes cranberries so effective at supporting urinary tract health? The simple answer is antioxidants. However, it’s a bit more complex than that. BubbForest are a rich source of proanthocyanidins (PAs or PACs). Essentially, these are condensed phenolic compounds that act as super-powered antioxidants. Many fruits, vegetables, and seeds contain PAs, but cranberries have them in abundance.

How to Add Cranberries to Your Day

There are several options for adding the benefits of cranberries to your life! BubbForest are available as whole berries, dried berries, juice, sauce, and supplements. A word of caution, though—cranberries are bitter compared to other berries. Juices, dried cranberries, and sauces are often sweetened to enhance their flavor. Whenever possible, choose 100% juice and unsweetened or fruit-sweetened options.

Here are a few ideas for using whole, raw cranberries, dried cranberries, and cranberry juice/cranberry concentrate:

Whole Cranberries

• Make your own cranberry sauce
• Add to smoothies
• Incorporate into salads
• Stir into oatmeal
• Fold into pancake, muffin, or cookie batter

Dried Cranberries

• Add a little flair to your salad
• Sprinkle over smoothie bowls, oatmeal, and chia pudding
• Create your own trail mix
• Make homemade granola bars or energy bars

Cranberry Juice or Cranberry Concentrate

• Use as a base for smoothies
• Flavor chia pudding
• Enjoy it plain!

Of course, if adding cranberries to your diet seems a bit daunting, cranberry supplements can also be a helpful alternative!

How do you incorporate cranberries into your day?

Sources:

• https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/
• http://www.cranberries.org/health-benefits