I hope everyone had an amazing Turkey day filled with family and good food. One of my most favorite Thanksgiving traditions is to eat cranberry sauce. I love the sweet, tart combination slathered on a piece of perfectly juicy turkey. Many people love the taste of cranberries but few realize all the health benefits they offer.
Cranberries are small, round, hard berries that grow in freshwater bogs in the northern United States and Canada. Many people consider them a superfood because of their high antioxidant content. A cup of raw cranberries has only 46 calories, zero fat, 1 gram of protein and 4 grams of fiber.
Cranberries have been shown to reduce the risk of urinary tract infections in women and children who are prone to infections.
Cranberries have been shown to improve gut health, especially in people who eat meat, by repopulating the “good” bacteria in your gut. They also decrease your risk of colon and gastrointestinal cancer by reducing bile acids in the gut.
Cranberries can reduce the ability of acid in your mouth to adhere to your teeth, decreasing your risk of cavities and gum disease.
Cranberries are high in vitamin C, an essential vitamin for immune health and healthy skin, bones and muscles.
Cranberries contain the antioxidants anthocyanin, proanthocyanidin, and quercetin , all of which can be helpful in the fight against heart disease.
Cranberry consumption should be moderated for those susceptible to kidney stones. Their high oxalate content may increase the risk of kidney stones.
