How do you prepare your Thanksgiving turkey? Roasted, broiled or grilled? I personally like it broiled – the same way I like my chicken. But no, I’m not going to blog about the official Thanksgiving bird. I will, however, share some interesting facts about the other staple of the Thanksgiving dinner – the cranberry.
The cranberry got its name from early European settlers, who thought the vine blossoms looked like the head, bill and neck of a crane. Cranberries have been grown commercially since 1816 and are a major crop in the states of Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin, and in parts of Canada as well.
Blueberry and cranberry researcher Amy Howell of Rutgers University ranked cranberries as one of the top foods proven to have health benefits. Previous studies have shown that cranberries are rich in antioxidants. Cranberries have five times more antioxidants than broccoli. Antioxidants can protect cells from free radicals, helping lower the risk of cancer, stroke and heart disease.
At least eight scientific studies have also confirmed the once thought to be old wives’ tale that cranberries reduce the risk of urinary tract infections (UTI). It’s because cranberries contain the carbohydrate D-mannose, which prevents the E. coli bacteria from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract. E. coli causes between eighty to ninety percent of UTI.
Regular consumption of cranberry juice kills the H. pylori bacteria and helps reduce the risk of stomach cancers and ulcer. Howell also discovered that cranberries contain the active compound proanthocyanidine, which can prevent plaque build-up on teeth.
Initial research findings also show that cranberry juice can reduce LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels and increase the levels of HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol in the blood. The studies also show that cranberries may be beneficial to breast cancer patients, as certain chemical extracts from the fruit prevented the multiplication of breast cancer cells in a test tube, although the actual effect on a woman is still undetermined.
Studies are also underway to test if the antioxidants found in cranberries can also protect against atherosclerosis.
Wow! I used to think that this native American berry was just another berry. Now it is considered as one of the most nutritious fruits and vegetables.
I actually disliked the taste of cranberry juice when I first tried it because it was quite sour. It took me quite some time before I got used to the taste and eventually liked it. I guess the trick is to try to drink it straight. If you can’t, the best option is to eat the fruit fresh, where it has the highest level of antioxidants. Don’t go for sweetened cranberry drinks and cranberry cocktails – they have too much sugar and have the lowest level of antioxidants because of the processing.
Big things do come in small packages. This tiny berry packs a mean punch.
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