Even as a young child, I loved whole cranberry sauce. Available mostly during the fall, especially at the holidays, I couldn't wait to have more than my fair share. Luckily for me, most of my family wasn't as enthusiastic about cranberries as I was.
I've always known that cranberries were a healthy alternative to many other snacks and for sometime now, doctors have preached the benefits of cranberry juice for maintaining a healthy urinary tract system, especially for women. Even the National Kidney Foundation suggests drinking 10 ounces of cranberry juice as a prevention. Back in the early 1970's while studying at UCLA I developed a rather painful kidney infection and one of the items prescribed by the doctor? Cranberry juice.
Chalk full of minerals, vitamins and other healthy nutrients, cranberries pack quite a punch for such a tiny fruit and are an excellent source of fiber. Mixed with other healthy fruits and nuts they make a tasty snack, especially now that we have more choices on how cranberries are prepared. I am particularly fond of the dried sweetened cranberries, adding them to cereal, oatmeal, deserts, salads, pasta dishes, and even baked fish and poultry. I've conjured up an especially delightful tuna salad with cranberries and walnuts.
While institutions such as the Mayo Clinic are more hesitant to say definitively that cranberry juice prevents urinary tract infections, it is stated at MayoClinic.com that cranberry juice may have infection-fighting properties. Sounds good to me!
At The Cranberry Institute's web site (www.cranberryinstitute.org) the news is more positive, even if some of the claims and results of studies are cautioned as very preliminary. However, with so many studies being conducted by reputable institutions such as the University of Illinois, the University of Western Ontario, and the National Institutes of Health, credible evidence continues to grow in favor of the health benefits of cranberries.
More recent health benefits attributed to cranberries include anti-cancer and anti-aging properties, dental and heart health support, and the prevention of ulcers. The main theme to all of these health benefits is a property in cranberries that acts as an effective blocker against bacteria such as E. Coli and H. Pylori.
Now like anything else there are some cautionary words with the ingestion of any food or medicinal product. For example, cranberry juice has been shown to have a potential interaction with blood-thinning medication so make sure you talk with your health care professional about your individual situation if you are being treated for any significant or chronic medical condition. It's also important to read labels when buying cranberry juice to ensure that you are receiving a product that actually contains cranberry juice in an appropriate concentration and not just a sugary flavored drink.
That kidney infection I had in college? Completely cleared up with proper medication, diet and the right amount of cranberry juice. More than thirty years later I have not experienced another kidney infection and I'm excited to say that cranberries are a regular part of my diet - especially the dried sweetened variety.