Health Benefits of Cranberry Juice

admin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:28:11 +0000

Whether it’s Ocean Spray, Juicy Juice or a host of other natural beverage providers, cranberry juice has been successfully marketed to a wide base of thirsty consumers. However, what you are drinking in these store bought containers is usually not pure cranberry juice. In its purest form, cranberry juice has a distinctively tart taste, bitter to some palettes. In order to make cranberry juice more enjoyable for the average drinker, sugar, artificial sweeteners or other fruit juices are usually added to give it the common taste you’ve come to expect. Even in this diluted form, cranberry juice still retains valuable health-enhancing incentives provided by natural cranberries, rewarding those who drink it regularly. If you want to take advantage of the cocktail’s healthy benefits, make sure whatever brand you buy actually contains a large percentage of authentic cranberry juice, with no preservatives, artificial flavors or artificial coloring.Cranberry juice is loaded with natural vitamins and minerals, in addition to large doses of dietary fibers, antioxidants and phytochemical nutrients, which help to combat heart disease and cancer. The large quantities of Vitamin C combined with high amounts of acid can help to prevent kidney stones from forming and break down existing ones. Your mouth benefits beyond your already thankful taste buds as cranberry juice can help to fight off the formation of oral bacteria, often leading to plaque buildup and gum disease.While everyone has a lot to gain from drinking a lot of cranberry juice, it is particularly important for women to incorporate it into their daily diet. An estimated one quarter of all women will be affected by a urinary tract infection at some point, with an elevated risk found in older women. Cranberry juice has been used both as a prevention method and remedy to urinary tract infections, dating back to what used to be an old wives’ tale. Scientific research, however, has substantiated this claim and cranberry juice is now widely recognized as viable aid.

Adding Cranberry to your Diet

admin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:26:29 +0000

Enjoyed both individually and as part of a side or main course dish, cranberries provide a very distinctive flavor many people find irresistible. Not only are they delicious, cranberries are actually good for you as well, believed to combat both heart disease and cranberries. Unfortunately, a lot of picky eaters will try anything to keep what they perceive as “health food” at least a full arm’s length away from their mouth at all times. Here are some old standbys and a new, innovative idea to make cranberries more enticing so that the whole family can enjoy them.

Cranberry Sauce With 12 ounces of cranberries, 1 cup of white sugar and 1 cup of orange juice or water, this Thanksgiving classic will satisfy any sweet tooth. The thick relish can either be enjoyed on its own or as a complementary topping or side item. Just dissolve the sugar in the orange juice or water, then stir in the cranberries. Cook about 10 minutes until the cranberries begin to pop. Finally, transfer the hot saucepan’s contents into a bowl so the cranberry sauce can thicken as it cools.
Strawberry-Cranberry Jam – Using 2.5 quarts of chopped strawberries, 12 ounces of chopped cranberries, 4 ounces of powdered fruit pectin, 1 teaspoon of margarine and 5 lbs of white sugar, this beautiful jam comes together as the perfect spread for crackers and bread alike. Once its boiled, stirred and jarred, this dark red jam can be easily preserved, providing an everyday snacking alternative to popcorn and potato chips.
Cranberry Pancakes For the lazier chef wanting to get his or her family a cranberry fix without having to start from scratch, chopped up cranberries can be stirred directly into store bought pancake batter at the discretion of the cook. Whether you want your pancakes to sparkle with cranberry red or just have a hit here and there, this one step solution adds a tasty touch of cranberry to a breakfast classic.

Ameri-cran » Diet Suggestions

Health Benefits of Cranberry Juice

Adding Cranberry to your Diet