| With the holiday season just around the corner, | | | | compound in cranberries is known to keep |
| cranberries will start to make their yearly appearance | | | | Helicobacter pylori, the bacteria that causes most |
| in Thanksgiving and other seasonal meals. Their tangy | | | | gastric ulcers, from adhering to the cells of the |
| flavor and bright red color make them a favorite this | | | | stomach lining. Cranberries and Your Teeth A study |
| time of year (it's also when they're most plentiful, as | | | | published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and |
| their peak season runs from October to December). | | | | Nutrition in 2002 found that compounds in cranberry |
| But flavor and color aside, there's another reason to | | | | juice are great for your oral health. They help to |
| enjoy cranberries (and even make them part of your | | | | dissolve aggregates formed by many oral bacteria |
| diet year-round)--they're incredibly nutritious and | | | | while decreasing the level of Streptococus mutans, |
| great for your health. Cranberries and Your Heart | | | | the major cause of tooth decay. Tasty Cranberry |
| Studies have found that cranberries reduce the risk | | | | Recipes to Try This Season The best part about all |
| of heart disease. Most recently, a study presented at | | | | of this is that cranberries are not, like some health |
| the annual congress of the International Union of | | | | foods, hard to swallow. In fact, they add a unique, |
| Physiological Sciences in March/April 2005 found that | | | | tart flavor to all kinds of dishes, including these three |
| pigs with atherosclerosis (a primary causes of heart | | | | recipes for everyone's holiday favorite: cranberry |
| disease) that received a daily dose of cranberry | | | | sauce. Enjoy! Traditional Cranberry Sauce (No Sugar |
| powder had restored blood vessel health. Other | | | | Added!) Ingredients: 1 12oz bag of fresh or frozen |
| studies have also found that people who drink | | | | cranberries 1 cup fresh orange juice 1 tsp minced |
| cranberry juice have higher levels of good (HDL) | | | | fresh ginger 1 tsp minced orange zest 1/4 tsp |
| cholesterol and may have improved blood vessel | | | | cinnamon 1/2 cup crushed pineapple 1/2 cup honey |
| function. Antioxidant Powerhouses Cranberries are a | | | | Directions: Bring orange juice, ginger, zest and |
| rich source of antioxidants, according to the | | | | cinnamon to a boil on high heat in a medium |
| Cranberry Institute, a trade association for cranberry | | | | saucepan. Rinse cranberries and add once liquid is |
| growers. In a study funded by the Institute it was | | | | boiling. Reduce heat to medium and cook uncovered |
| found that: "Cranberries contained the most | | | | for about 10 minutes. Add crushed pineapple and |
| antioxidant phenols compared to 19 commonly eaten | | | | honey. Remove from heat and cool. Recipe from The |
| fruits. Cranberries are loaded with antioxidants and | | | | World's Healthiest Foods Spicy Cranberry Sauce |
| should be eaten more often," said study author Joe | | | | Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups water 1 orange (including juice |
| Vinson, Ph.D., research chemist at the University of | | | | and finely chopped rind) 2 cups sugar 1 piece stick |
| Scranton in Pennsylvania. Other studies also rank | | | | cinnamon 4 cups fresh or frozen cranberries |
| cranberries as leaders in phenolic compound content. | | | | Directions: Cook first 4 ingredients together for 5 |
| "These antioxidants may play a role in helping to | | | | minutes. Add cranberries. Cook until the berries stop |
| prevent heart disease and certain cancers," Vinson | | | | popping. Cool without stirring. Recipe from The |
| said. Cranberries Fight Cancer Certain compounds in | | | | Cranberry Lady Cranberry Chutney Ingredients: 2 |
| cranberries have been found to be toxic to many | | | | cups chopped Braeburn apple 2 cups whole |
| cancer tumor cell lines, including: Lung cancer Cervical | | | | cranberries 1/4 cup chopped onion 3/4 cup brown |
| cancer Prostate cancer Breast cancer Leukemia One | | | | sugar 1/2 cup golden raisins 1/2 cup white vinegar 1/2 |
| study, for instance, published in the June 2004 Journal | | | | tsp. chopped garlic 1 medium red pepper chopped 1 |
| of Nutrition, found that whole cranberries inhibit | | | | Tbsp grated ginger root (or 1 tsp ground ginger) |
| prostate, skin, lung and brain cancer cells. Experts | | | | Directions: Combine all in a non-aluminum kettle. |
| believe a compound in the whole cranberry (not just | | | | Simmer until all fruits and vegetables are tender, |
| the juice) is responsible for this effect. Unique | | | | about 20-30 minutes. Stir often to prevent scorching. |
| "Anti-Adhering" Properties Cranberries possess a | | | | Recipe from the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers |
| unique ability to inhibit bacteria, including E. coli, from | | | | Association This article was provided by the world's |
| adhering to the urinary tract. This is why cranberry | | | | #1 most popular and trusted holistic living |
| juice is often recommended to prevent urinary tract | | | | e-newsletter -- FREE to you right now at The old |
| infections (UTIs). Cranberries also contain hippuric | | | | way of thinking: "holistic living" pertains only to |
| acid, which is antibacterial and helpful for warding off | | | | personal health. The new way of thinking: "holistic |
| UTIs. But cranberries' anti-adhering properties are | | | | living" means prevention of the negative and |
| helpful for much more than your urinary tract. A | | | | adherence to the positive in all SIX practical areas of |
| study published in the October 2004 issue of the | | | | life: relationships, finances, career, home environment, |
| Journal of Science, Food and Agriculture found that | | | | safety and health. With the e-newsletter, you will get |
| an antiviral compound in cranberries called | | | | holistic wisdom from the world's top experts in all six |
| proanthocyanidin A-1 inhibits the herpes virus from | | | | of these areas -- completely FREE with a simple |
| attaching to and penetrating the genitals. Likewise, a | | | | sign-up (and a guaranteed no-spam policy! |