Cranberries are high in vitamin C and fiber. Filled with lots of other great nutrients, and especially high in antioxidants, cranberries fight free radicals. These tart berries have been found to contain 25 to 36 percent anthocyanosides, so you'll find most supplements containing about 25 percent of these cyanide compounds as well as quercetin, tannins and health promoting alkaloids. Cranberries are useful in treating heart disease, lowering cholesterol, and in fighting bladder yeast infections. They are also useful for preventing plaque build up on teeth and gum disease. Cranberry has proven to be helpful for vision health, preventing retinopathy, in rheumatoid arthritis, emphysema, reducing inflammation, fighting breast cancer, prostate cancer and slowing the growth of some tumors.
A member of the same family as bilberry and blueberry. these small, round, red fruits are edible, but tart. They can be dried and eaten like raisins; they can be used to make cranberry juice, or cooked to make jelly.
Used for a very long time by North American Indians cranberries were made into a hardy dish called pemmican. Combining dried deer meat, cranberries and melted fat made one of the first convenience foods. The juice was for dye and cranberry poultices were used to draw poison away from wounds. Cranberry leaves can be made into a tea that helps prevent infection.
Today you can get a very tasty and nutritious cranberry-buffalo based food bar called Tanka Bar, made on the Pine Ridge Lakota Reservation at Kyle, SD.
You can make your own cranberry elixir by mixing 1 cup water with 1/8 cup unsweetened cranberry juice. Drink this elixir three times per day for one week every three months for the best results as a blood cleanser and health promoting liquid.
The juice used in this elixir may also help improve your ability to absorb the very important vitamin B12 that is at risk as you age and also if you are using any of the stomach acid reducing medications. This makes a good holiday season tip because of the tendency to too much at all the festivities.
Cranberries blend well with other foods like oranges, apples and pears to make tasty treats. They blend well with wild rice and are a great addition to salad greens. With a Glycemic Load at 2 and a very low inflammation rating they can be used with many food choices to enhance your health.
Holiday Cranberry Tea can be made as follows:
Enjoy this tea as is or use as a base for punch by adding plain club soda, cider or ???
