Are Cranberries Good For You?
The greatest investment you can give yourself is investing in good health. Many good things can help you achieve a healthy lifestyle-one of those are antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances that protect your cells from free radicals, which are waste substances. These are produced by your body as it breaks down food and when it reacts to various stimuli in the environment. When too many free radicals are present and your body is unable to process them, this puts you at risk of heart disease, cancer, arthritis, and other respiratory conditions.
Cranberries are one of the most widely-known antioxidants. It is considered by many as a superfood, because of its many uses such as juice, sauce or in a recipe. These are also known to have high nutrient and antioxidant content, making them one of the best options when it comes to protecting your body from various diseases. Cranberries are rich in nutrients and bring a lot of health benefits when you incorporate them into your everyday routine.
In this article, you will learn more about how cranberries are good for you, as well as how you can make the most out of them.
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How many cranberries should I eat a day?
As you incorporate cranberries into your lifestyle, you should be well-guided as to how much or how many cranberries you can eat a day. After all, too much of anything is bad for you, even if you have your best interest in mind. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), having 1/4 cup of dried cranberries daily is equivalent to having one serving of fruits and vegetables. Additionally, 7-10 servings of cranberry fruit daily are recommended by the Canadian food guide. For a clearer estimate of your cranberry consumption, you can refer to the guide below.
Each cup of raw cranberry contains the following:
12 grams of carbohydrates
4 grams of fiber
46 calories
0 grams of fat
1 gram of protein
4 grams of sugar
2 milligrams of sodium
A quarter-cup of dried cranberry fruit contains the following:
25 grams of carbohydrates
22 grams of sugar
2 grams of fiber
92 calories
0 grams of fat
0 grams of protein
2 milligrams of sodium
As you can see in the details above dried cranberries are higher in sugar than fresh whole cranberries. So dried cranberries are not good for you like fresh are but they are better than candy.
Are Cranberries Good for Weight Loss?
While cranberries alone cannot affect your weight loss journey significantly, it still plays an essential role in helping you do so. Studies show that cranberries are filled with various organic acids and a range of vitamins which are useful in dissolving fat deposits. This makes it an important part of weight loss because fat deposits are one of the hardest to get rid of.
Moreover, once you have started breaking down the fat deposits which have settled in your body, drinking cranberry juice or eating it as a fruit washes away the fat. This results in a safer, more natural way of losing weight. Studies show that the enzymes that cranberries contain aid metabolism, which boosts weight loss and prevents fat deposits from settling in the first place.
Health Benefits of Cranberries
Cranberries are consumed by many people for a lot of reasons, most especially because of their health benefits. It is composed of carbs and fiber, making it a rich source of vitamins and minerals. One of its well-known benefits is its anti-cancer and UTI prevention effects. Additionally, cranberries also:
- Lowers blood pressure
- Improves eyesight
- Lessens the risk of cardiovascular disease
- Helps improve gut health
- Reduces bile acids linked to colon and gastrointestinal cancers
- Improves cardiovascular health
- Helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease
- Lessens the risk of urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Reduces risk of oral cancer
- Aids in weight loss
- Strengthens immune system
- Slows cancer progression
- Supports post-menopausal health (for women)
- Reduces risk of prostate cancer (for men)
Did you know you can purchase cranberry supplements in powder, capsules, gummies and tablets? Learn more click here!
What happens if you eat cranberries every day?
Too much of anything is not great, but consuming a considerable amount of cranberry daily is proven to boost your overall health. While eating too much of it doesn’t have any alarming or severe side effects, it can still cause an upset stomach or diarrhea. So, to get the most of your cranberry, it is always best to consume it in moderation, and slowly introduce and incorporate it into your lifestyle.
You can find cranberries here in these recipes on my blog:
So, are cranberries good for you? By now, you probably know that it is in moderation. Here’s to a healthier lifestyle!
Hi there, this is a very informative and helpful post on cranberries and all the benefits they have. I knew they were a good anti-oxidant and could help to boost your immune system, but did not know that it could aid with metabolism and weight loss.
It is always interesting to see how much higher the sugar content is in dried fruit compared with fresh fruit, but I still think using dried cranberries, or the powder form, is better than nothing. And yes, everything in moderation. Thanks for sharing.