1. Cranberries Aren't Just For Thanksgiving
Cranberries may be delicious on your Thanksgiving turkey and are lovely strung on the Christmas tree, but the little red berries are actually an extremely healthy food and should be an important part of your year-round diet. Cranberries are not only packed with Vitamins C and A, but are also loaded to the brim with minerals that contribute to good health, including high levels of calcium, magnesium and potassium.
2. Berry Good for Your Heart
Most physicians and alternative medicine specialists agree that cranberries are loaded with substances that not only keep the body healthy, but are especially good for the heart. Cranberries can lower cholesterol and can also reduce the build up of plaque in the veins, making these little berries very effective in the war against heart attacks and coronary artery disease.
3. Squash Those Nasty Urinary Tract Infections
Cranberries are one of the best preventers of urinary tract infections. This is because the cranberries create a high acid pH in the urine, which stops the infection-causing bacteria from sticking to the walls of the bladder. Just drink a couple of glasses of 100 percent cranberry juice every day. If you can't tolerate the tart flavor of the juice, cranberry capsules will work just as well, just follow the directions on the bottle.
4. Healthier Teeth Is a Berry Away
Adding cranberries to your diet might just keep you out of the dentist's office, because they actually prevent harmful bacteria from sticking to the teeth. As a result, cranberries prevent the development of plaque, which can build up, causing not only cavities, but serious gum disease. Cranberry toothpaste is now available in health food stores and as more people catch on to its benefits, you might soon find it alongside peppermint and cinnamon toothpaste.
5. Pop a Few Cranberries Every Day
It's very easy to make cranberries part of your daily meal plan. The berries are too sour to be eaten alone, but you can drink a glass of 100 percent cranberry juice any time you like. It's best to avoid cranberry juice cocktail because the juice is too diluted, and loaded with sugar. Dried cranberries are full of nutrients and can easily be tossed on your cereal in the morning or stirred into low-fat yogurt. Add cranberries to muffins or pancakes, or sprinkle a few on your salad. No matter how you prefer your cranberries, you'll be sure to reap their nutritious benefits.
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