Do you remember your first taste of cranberry? Chances are it was on Thanksgiving or Christmas, when your mom put a spoonful of cranberry sauce on your plate next to the turkey. It looked like thick cherry Jell-O, remember? But it sure didn’t taste like that (I remember spitting mine out)!

Or maybe you discovered later in life, as I did, that cranberry juice could fend off UTIs (urinary tract infections). I was skeptical at first, but sure enough, it worked—and saved me many trips to the doctor.

Cranberry: Nature’s Wonder Drug?

As this year’s cranberry harvest winds down in the Northeast and fresh cranberries begin to appear in the market again, it’s an excellent time to check out the health benefits of this shiny red berry beyond its helpfulness in the urinary tract.

Here are some of the latest cranberry research findings, from an informative website called The World’s Healthiest Foods:

• Antioxidant Protection – Cranberries contain a powerful combination of antioxidants, including resveratrol, Vitamin C, and manganese, that work synergistically to maximize the body’s ability to fight free radicals that can damage cellular structure and DNA.
• Anti-Inflammatory Benefits – The amazing array of phytonutrients found in cranberry are known to play a role in reducing inflammation—in the digestive tract, in the mouth and gums, and in the cardiovascular system. As such, researchers believe dietary cranberry may help lower the risk of developing periodontal disease, stomach ulcers, and arterial sclerosis.
• Immune Support – Recent studies on small numbers of human participants showed intake of cranberry extracts improved many aspects of immune function and lowered the subjects’ frequency of cold and flu symptoms.
• Anti-Cancer Benefits – Since chronic excessive oxidative stress and chronic excessive inflammation are two key risk factors for the development of cancer, it’s only logical that cranberry may reduce the risk of cancer. Indeed, research over the past 10 years suggests that cranberry may be effective in preventing breast, colon, lung, and prostate cancer. 

Tart But Tasty Cranberry

The challenging part about incorporating cranberry into your diet is the fruit’s tart, almost sour, taste. Commercially produced cranberry juice contains a lot of sugar to make it palatable to mainstream consumers. A healthier alternative is to buy unsweetened cranberry juice and balance the tartness yourself with honey or stevia. Or, if you just don’t like the taste, look for a cranberry supplement you can take with liquid and avoid that tartness altogether.

By Paula Detwiller, All Vitamins Plus Contributor