Discover the benefits of Cranberries

Cranberries are small, red, hard, round fruits, the flavor of which is described by many as being both bitter and sour. They grow on vines in freshwater bogs, primarily in the northern United States and southern Canada.

Also called cranberry in French, many people consider them a super food because of their high nutrient content.

It is not without reason that they are considered a superfood: there are so many benefits.

Studies have shown that they may have anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects. They can also:

• Protect against liver disease;
• Lower blood pressure;
• Improve eyesight;
• Improve cardiovascular health.

Apart from that, they contribute to the health of the urinary tract. Studies have shown that cranberry can help reduce the risk ofurinary tract infection in some people. These include children or women who often suffer from it. Your doctor may suggest that you take them as a food supplement or drink cranberry juice sometimes.

Otherwise, cranberries can contribute to gut health. Studies have shown that they can improve gut bacteria in people who eat a meat-based diet. In other words, if you eat a lot of meat, dairy, and sugar, cranberries can help put good bacteria back into your digestive system.

Plus, they keep your mouth healthy. Just like in your digestive system, cranberries help control harmful acids in your mouth. This helps prevent cavities, gum disease, tooth decay and even oral cancer.

Cranberries also contain compounds called proanthocyanidins, which may lower your risk of cancer.

Be careful though, consuming too much cranberries can cause possible side effects, including upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea.

In general, cranberries are safe to eat, but some people may suffer from certain side effects.

Talk to your doctor about eating it if:

• You are taking warfarin.

In fact, cranberries contain a good amount of vitamin K which can interfere with warfarin. Doctors say that you should only eat or drink small amounts of berries or their juice if you are taking this medicine.

• You have kidney stones.

If you consume too much cranberry juice for a long period of time, you might be susceptible to kidney stones.

Raw cranberries take about 16 months to mature and are harvested in early fall. Then you can keep them in the freezer for 6 to 12 months.

In fact, there are plenty of ways to incorporate this whole fruit into your diet, and you don't have to wait until the holidays to do so.

Other than that, many people take their dose of cranberries with juice. In reality, they can be consumed in different forms: dried cranberry either raw or frozen; it's up to you.