How to Make Cranberries Your Healthy Holiday Hero All Year?

Answer 1

If you ever wondered about how things get their names-the name cranberry was picked by European settlers in America who saw the beautiful small viney plans with a pink blossom balanced on the vine-and decided they looked like a crane. But cranberries were already a valuable and useful main food source by the Native Americans who called them Sassamanash. They used the cranberries in a mixture of meat and fat to make a kind of carry along food bar they called pemmican.

We now see that many of the foods chosen by early cultures were really the most nutrient choices around. And that is true of cranberries. These berries in their brilliant red proclaim their healthful benefits for the heart, for starters. Just picture the cranberry field and you can imagine the power of their rich nutrients.

Crowing About Cranberries

For their exceptional list of nutrients, they have Vitamin C, fiber and manganese. But here is the real deal on cranberries. Research has shown cranberries have what are called polyphenol antioxidants, and these have been shown to benefit the heart, the immune system and act as anti cancer agents. One of the ingredients of cranberries has been shown to stop and even reverse the plaque formation that makes tooth decay!

Many of us already know cranberry juice is a great home remedy for bladder problems, and research has shown that indeed this home remedy really works because it stops that bacterial attachment to the bladder. Cranberry and cranberry juice has also been shown in studies to be effective against the formation of kidney stones.

More recently, studies have been conducted specifically on cranberry in preventing cancers. Compared with 20 other fruits, cranberries had the largest amount of those special agents-phenols-that fight cancer.

And last, but not least, in a holistic sense, cranberries and juice has been noted to have a nice stress reducing and relaxing ability.

Cranberry Creatives

You may already drink pretty in pink strawberry smoothies, but try to use those crisp red cranberries instead. Because they do have their natural tartness, you may want to sweeten with extra banana, honey, or stevia. For a really nutritious smoothie blend, blend up1/2 cup of cranberries-fresh or frozen, 1 cup of kale or spinach leaves, add a healthy cup of yogurt (use fat free Greek yogurt for extra protein and surprising rich taste),1/2 cup of cranberry juice, add 1-2 teaspoons of flax seed for regularity and all important omega 3s, a tablespoon of toasted wheat germ, and ice to taste. Add water for desired thickness.

A Cranberry Take Along

Much like the Native American pemmican, this bar can keep you going through any kind of 'hunt'.

1/2 cup honey,1/2 cup dry milk powder, 1 tablespoon flaxseed,1/2 cup toasted wheat germ,1/2 cup flour-try to use whole wheat, 2 cups chopped nuts (mix and match almonds, cashews, pecans, walnuts)

11/2 cups dried fruits (use cranberries, and mix with your choice),1/2 cup water or juice, cinnamon to taste

Set oven to 375 degrees, spray or grease loaf pan; line with foil and grease for easy removal. Chop and mix ingredients and press into the pan. Bake 30 minutes. Cool, slice. Can be frozen.

A Turkey and Cranberry Delight Any time

If you don't have leftover turkey to use, anytime you want you can have the magic of holiday trimmings with ground turkey burgers. Mix in1/2 cup chopped dried cranberries, a spoon of ketchup, fresh or dried rosemary, add an ounce of Brie or goal cheese,1/2 chopped onion, a minced garlic clove and burgers away.

Here's another version that uses fresh or frozen berries.

1/2 cup cranberries,1/2 chopped apple,1/2 chopped onion,1/2 cup chopped celery, 1 egg, 1 ounce Brie or goat cheese (optional), 1 tsp. sage or rosemary or seasonings of choice, 1 pound ground turkey. Grill, broil or bake.