Cranberries are shrubs of the Ericaceae family growing in the cold bogs of North America and Canada. The Amerindians consumed these wild and rare fruits which they called "atoka" to disinfect wounds and fight against bladder problems. Cranberries are rarely consumed fresh (5% of the production), they are mostly transformed into acidic juice or dried. Historically, cranberry juice was the first superfood qualified as such, due to scientific studies showing its effectiveness on urinary tract infections. Dried cranberries have health benefits: prevention of cystitis, stomach ulcers, better oral hygiene, etc. It is the capacity of cranberries to interfere with the adhesion of certain bacteria on the walls of our organs that seems to explain these benefits. In addition to their anti-infectious character, cranberries are little bombs of antioxidants. Latin name: Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton. Botanical family: Ericaceae. Part used: Fruit.
The dried Cranberry is a dry fruit. It contains more sugar than a fresh Cranberry, the recommendations of daily consumption are defined :
To make the most of their benefits, you can use them :
We advise you to use them during the following meal(s) to take full advantage of their benefits:
You can incorporate them into the following preparations to make them easier to take:
Cranberries can complement your healthy, varied diet.
Cranberries are particularly rich in polyphenols, including type A proanthocyanidins (PAC-A), which are specific to them. Numerous scientific studies show that Cranberries can be proposed in prevention of recurrent cystitis. Since PAC-As prevent the attachment of Escherichia coli to the bladder and ureter wall. This preventive ability shows better results in women (see our cystitis and diet guide).
Cranberries seem to be beneficial for oral hygiene: they prevent the microbes responsible for cavities and plaque from "clinging" to the teeth and gums.
Cranberries participate in the prevention of gastrointestinal pathologies. First of all, they are rich in fiber, which promotes the evacuation of stools: they accelerate transit (see our guide constipation and diet). The polyphenols present in Cranberries modulate the composition of the intestinal microbiota: they will promote the presence of certain microorganisms through their probiotic power and decrease the development of other microorganisms through their antimicrobial activities. Finally, scientific studies suggest that cranberries have a beneficial effect in case of infection by Helicobacter pylori. This bacterium is the leading cause of development of gastric ulcer and cancer in humans.
Cranberries are rich in polyphenols: anthocyanins, flavonoids and proanthocyanidin, which gives them a high antioxidant capacity. This power acts as a preventive measure against cardiovascular complications. Moreover, they are low in saturated fatty acids and rich in fiber, two factors that prevent cholesterol.
Dried Cranberries are naturally low in sodium, so they do not contribute to sodium intake. In excess, sodium promotes high blood pressure. On the other hand, it would contribute to decrease the blood pressure. The absence of sodium in dried Cranberries reinforces the benefits of a varied and balanced diet in the prevention of blood pressure disorders.
The Cranberry is a member of the Ericaceae family, just like the blueberries. This woody perennial plant does not exceed 30 cm. It is native to North America and Canada. The cranberry grows in very acidic, marshy soil, rich in organic matter: peat bogs. Its pink flowers are the origin of its name: the cranberry is a derivative of the contraction "crane berry", because the flower resembles the head and neck of cranes, birds that often feed on its berries. Cranberries are grown for their namesake berries. Two main types of harvesting are used to collect the berries: wet and dry.
If you want to take a good look at them, we advise you to look at some pictures of a cranberry harvest on the Internet, since it is quite particular: a so-called wet harvest. Cranberry plants love humidity, so they are grown on swampy grounds called bogs. At the beginning of autumn, at the time of the harvest, the plots are voluntarily flooded, then the shrubs are meticulously beaten. The berries then break off the plants and rise to the surface of the water. All that remains is for the growers to direct them to land with the help of large nets. It is also possible to harvest cranberries in dry bogs, without flooding the plots, but the pictures are less spectacular.
Organic Cranberries (in...62 notes
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