Quick!
What do you think of when you think of cranberries?
When we think of cranberries, many of us associate them with festive Thanksgiving and
Christmas dinners and consider cranberry sauce a staple at those meals.
But cranberries are a superfood that we should enjoy all year round.
Cranberries may have a tart taste to them, but they are loaded with powerful antioxidants
and many essential nutrients.
Cranberries provide vitamin C and fiber, and are only 45 calories per cup.
What’s more, when it comes to disease-fighting antioxidants, cranberries outrank nearly every
fruit and vegetable–including broccoli, red grapes, strawberries, spinach, apples, raspberries
and cherries.
In fact, one cup of whole cranberries delivers 8,983 total antioxidant capacity.
Only blueberries can top that antioxidant power!
With all of that antioxidant power, cranberries provide a wealth of health benefits:
Cranberries:
*Help Fight Cancers
Studies show that cranberry extracts are able to prevent breast cancer cells from multiplying and
that cranberries have helped to inhibit the development of cancerous cells in laboratory animals.
Colon, prostate and lung cancers may also be prevented by using cranberries.
*Boost the Immune System
Cranberries’ antioxidants help flush out the harmful toxins which suppress the immune system.
Once harmful toxins are removed, your strengthened immune system can ward off just about any
sickness or disease.
*Battle Heart Disease
Cranberries help to lower the bad cholesterol levels which can clog the arterial walls.
They also help to prevent plaque from forming on the arterial walls, which can lead to atherosclerosis.
You benefit because your chances of a stroke are reduced, and if you have suffered from a stroke,
consuming cranberries may help you to recover from it.
*Prevent & Heal Urinary Tract Infections
Cranberry juice is well known for it’s ability to block urinary tract infections.
In fact, I am a witness to the healing powers of cranberries where that is concerned.
Thanks to the power of proanthocyanidins, which help to prevent E. coli bacteria from sticking to the
walls of the uterus and bladder, a glass of cranberry juice a day will prevent and heal urinary tract infections.
*Thwart Kidney & Bladder Problems
Cranberries help to prevent kidney and bladder problems due to citric acid and other nutrients that can prevent
kidney stones, and other kidney and bladder issues.
*Support Weight Loss
High in antioxidants, cranberries help to flush out your system.
Flushing your systems improves your metabolism and digestive system so you can begin to lose weight quicker.
*Fight Dental Disease
Consuming cranberries on a regular basis can help you to avoid dental problems such as gingivitis, gum disease,
cavities and plaque build-up.
*Aid Mental Health
Research has shown that cranberries are healthy for the brain and can help to improve your memory.
Plus, they can also help to lift your moods by relieving anxiety, stress and depression.
*Anti-Aging Power
You’ll want to eat these berries as often as you can because the antioxidants contained in cranberries
help your body to get rid of all the free radicals which contribute to the aging process.
Cranberries will not only help your skin look younger, but your internal organs will also be able to function
longer without problems.
*Heal Skin Problems
This may surprise you but common skin conditions such as acne, dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema can
be healed with the use of cranberries.
Harness the Power of Cranberries
In view of their powerful health benefits, you’re probably going to want to devour these berries by
the bushel.
Although you can generally find fresh cranberries in fall and winter, frozen cranberries are available
year-round.
Note: Fresh cranberries stored in a tightly-sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator should last up to
two months.
Cooked cranberries can last up to a month in a covered container in the fridge.
There are many health benefits of cranberries, and you can make them a part of your daily diet by
eating the whole berry, drinking the juice, or adding them to your smoothies, salads, cereals and
delicious baked goods.
Here are two cranberry smoothie recipes that you can make or adapt using other ingredients in your
healthy, natural kitchen.
Cranberry Banana Fruit Smoothie
Add to your Vitamix or high speed blender:
1 cup Cranberries
1 Banana
1 Orange
1 cup filtered water, coconut water or nut milk
Blend until smooth.
Pour into a glass or mason jar.
Drink up and smile!
Cranberry Super Green Smoothie
Add to your Vitamix or high speed blender:
1 cup Cranberries
1 Banana
1 Orange slices
1/2 cup Pineapple chunks
1 cup Spinach
1 cup Kale
1-2 tbspns Chia Seeds
2 tbspns Flax Seeds
2 tbspns Hemp Seeds
1 cup filtered water, coconut water or nut milk
Blend until smooth.
Pour into a glass or a mason jar.
Save extra smoothie in a sealed mason jar for later, if necessary.
Drink up and enjoy!
So, are you cramming enough cranberries into your diet?
For optimum health benefits consume fresh cranberries, make your own cranberry smoothies
or fresh juice at home with a juicer, or opt for unsweetened, 100 percent pure, organic cranberry
juice.
There are zillions of ways to enjoy them.
But whatever you do, just consume them!
What are your favorite ways to enjoy cranberries?
Share your thoughts and suggestions with us.
“Shared on The Hearth and Soul Hop”
“Shared at Fabulously Frugal Thursday”
“Shared on Weekend Wholefood Blender Party”
“Shared on Gluten Free Fridays”
“Shared at Gluten Free Roundup”
“Shared on Mostly Homemade Monday”
“Shared on Waste Not Want Not Wednesday”
I saw this on your link up party and had to come and check it out! This looks sooo good! I am going to pin this for later!!
Oh and I am going to share this on the Adventures in Mindful Livings FB page today!
Hi Deborah, thanks for stopping by my blog and the follow! I’m following you now on bloglovin too! This post on cranberries is so good and healthy! Thanks and enjoy the rest of the week.
Julie at Julie’s Lifestyle
Great recipe Deb! Has all the ingredients we needs, antioxidants, protein, greens. So healthy and sounds absolutely delicious. Have a healthy wonderful day. Will share this.
These both sound SO delicious! I’m not honestly sure why I don’t do more with cranberries… outside of the dried cranberries I stick in the kids’ lunches! 🙂
I will definitely be trying these!
~ Christine
Cranberries are the best 😀 Loving this super-simple, superfood smoothie, as well as all the health info you’ve provided!
Thanks for sharing this post at the Weekend Wholefood Blender Party, always love your recipes 🙂
Deborah thanks so much for linking this up at the MaMade Blog Hop!! That smoothie sounds DELICIOUS and I am DEFINITELY going to have to try it!! 🙂 I pinned it so I can go back to it because it sounds so good I can’t NOT try it! haha
I’m a huge fan of cranberries but I was so pleased to read that they are even better for me than I thought they were! Thank you so much for sharing this informative post with us at the Hearth and Soul Hop, Deborah – as well as the two yummy smoothie recipes as well 🙂 I’ll be sharing your post on FB.
Thanks for sharing on Mostly Homemade Mondays! I look forward to reading what you post tomorrow when the link up goes live 🙂
Sincerely,
Kelli @ The Sustainable Couple
http://www.thesustainablecouple.com
Hi Kelli,
Thanks for visiting UrbanNaturale. I hopped over to you blog and I love it. We share a lot of interests in common, in fact I subscribed and also followed you on social media.
It is such a pleasure to participate in Mostly Homemade Mondays! What a wonderful collection of recipes and DIY projects to explore. All the best, Deborah
I love cranberries but have never tried them in a smoothie. Love the idea!
Wow, this looks great!!! I’ve never had a cranberry smoothie before but I’m going to try this one!