The Health Benefits of Cranberries

Cranberries are also called “bounceberries” because they bounce when ripe.

Only three fruits – the blueberry, the Concord grape and the cranberry (all powerfoods) – can trace their roots to North American soil. The cranberry is versatile. They are commonly consumed during Thanksgiving and Christmas but can, and should, be used every day.

Did you know?

Sex and the City made the red juice of cranberries popular in the 90s with their favorite cranberry cocktail, the Cosmopolitan.
The estimated value of cranberries grown in the United States is several hundred million dollars.
Native Americans treated a variety of illnesses, including bladder infections, with cranberry preparations.

Nutritional Tips:

Cranberries are high in vitamin C, and have antioxidant and antibacterial effects in the body.

Benefits of the Cranberry:

Cranberries are a rich source of the flavonoid quercetin which can inhibit the development of both breast and colon cancers.
Preliminary studies show that drinking cranberry juice is good for the health of the heart.
Research indicates that cranberries are an excellent source of antioxidants which may protect against cancer, heart disease and other diseases.
Found to decrease production of cavity and plaque producing bacteria in your mouth.
Also found to reduce the bacteria associated with peptic stomach ulcers.
In clinical studies, cranberries have been shown to help maintain a healthy urinary tract.
Cranberries are especially beneficial to the eyes (they significantly improve symptoms of cataracts, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy).
Evidence on how cranberry juice fights bacteria that cause urinary tract infections.

But…The health benefits of cranberries are almost totally depleted when generous amounts of sugar is added. Thus the cranberry cannot provide you with its full phytonutrient benefits when there has been lots of sugar added.

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Read more: Food, General Health, Health, cranberries, Powerfoods, superfood

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Jasmine Santa M.

8:29PM PDT on May 15, 2012

I suffer from chronic bladder infections and before I discovered Lady Soma's Cranberry Supplements, I was at the doctor's office about every 3 months. I have been taking the Lady Soma Cranberry every day for about 6 months now and I have not had to go back to the doctor.

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MarilynBusy F.

7:18AM PDT on Mar 17, 2012

I'm allergic to raisins/grapes, so I use dried cranberries in their place and love them in salads.

Just be sure to buy organic ones!

Brenda T.

7:15AM PDT on Mar 17, 2012

Are dried cranberries good?

Elisabeth T.

5:33PM PST on Jan 3, 2012

Thanks for this great information..

Chinmayee J.

3:54AM PST on Dec 29, 2011

Thanks for sharing - I knew that it was good for the UTIs but I didn't know about the ulcers...

Sam T.

9:24AM PST on Dec 28, 2011

I love making cranberry sauce! The whole berries make it better! Thank you!

Darren L.

3:27PM PST on Dec 27, 2011

The most awesome drink I had was Aloe Vera with Cranberry and wow what a difference it made to me, I drink Aloe Vera regularly but this was so refreshing and made me feel so good.

Caitlin F.

11:54PM PST on Dec 23, 2011

Thanks - I knew they were good for you, but I didn't knoew they could bounce!!!

pat B.

11:38PM PST on Dec 23, 2011

Cranberries and OJ may be good .

11:33PM PST on Dec 23, 2011

Souds delicious Think I will start with real cranberries and cooking them...sans sugar .