Cranberry Power Foods - Include Healthy Cranberries In Your Diet

This is the time of year when cranberries tend to show up in meals, beside meals, in baking goods and various drinks. It seems to be a great choice for the winter and compliments well with many of the seasonal, traditional foods. A deliciously sweet yet tart taste, this berry can be used in various cooking methods.

Proteins are enhanced when cranberry sauce is by their side and at the end of the meal it can be such a treat to find a berry or 2 in a cake or ice cream log. Of course it can be an acquired taste but beyond its wonderful taste properties, rich color and scent, cranberries represent a key staple to our diet and health.

The most common prevention and aid in treatment for urinary tract infections is cranberry juice. It clears the toxins in the urine which result in the urine infection. If you find it difficult to drink cranberry juice on its own then you can try a cranberry blend or add some soda to it for an easy drink. Women need to find a way to add this into the meal plan on a regular basis. Alternate them with other berries which too are healthful such as their cousin the blueberries, or some raspberries, acacia berries from Brazil or gogi berries. These berries are considered super foods.

Healthy treats can be made with cranberries from protein pancakes to oat squares. It is as simple as adding dried cranberries onto your oatmeal or onto your cereal in order to get some into the diet at minimal. One of my clients adds them to non fat cream cheese to add to rice cakes.

Being a very high anti oxidant cranberries are also rich in phytochemicals. The wonder nutrients which are said to fight cancer, new phytochemicals are still being discovered!

Cranberry is composed of various nutrients and phytochemicals. The nutrients, listed alphabetically, are: Calcium, folate, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sulfer, vitamin A, vitamin B-1, Vitamin B-2, vitamin B-3, vitamin B-5, vitamin C, vitamin E, and zinc.

The phytochemicals, listed alphabetically, are: Alpha-terpineol, anthocyanosides, benzaldehyde, benzoic acid, beta-carotene, chlorogenic acid, ellagic acid, eugenol, ferullic acid, lutein, malic acid, and quercetin.

You can find cranberries processed into powders and tablet form supplements. I am not sure how effective this would be compared to eating the fruit itself but I would assume is at a higher concentration of nutrients. Of course with these you need to watch out for added sugars. I would also suggest non sweetened cranberry sauce for those special occasions or make some yourself for an easy and fun project. It is always nice to know exactly what is in the foods you eat!

Juicing is another keen way to include cranberries into the diet and is commonly used in juicing recipes. I always suggest keeping the bulk left for muffins.

Whichever way you slice it, do include these wonder berries into a healthy diet for continued good health.

By Linda Cusmano