Cranberries are great for you.. and you’d be right to think so!
Instead of reaching for a bag of chips when you are hungry, try a handful of walnuts with some cranberries added to them, to add a nice tart, flavour.
photo credit : jbrons
With just one Serving, i.e. 1 cup of whole cranberries you get a mere:
Calories: 46
Protein: 0 g
Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 12 g
Fiber: 5 g
And cranberries are so darn rich in fibre, they fill you up nicely. Fiber is also important for digestion, controlling hunger, and aiding in reducing the risk of diabetes, heart disease and colon cancer. One serving of cranberries can contribute nearly 20% of a person’s daily recommended fiber intake, but is low in calorie intake – around 46 calories per serving.
If you suffer from UTI (urinary tract disease) adding cranberries to your diet is a bonus. For many years, researchers believed that the ability of cranberries and cranberry juice to help prevent UTI was partly related to the strong acidity of the cranberries. Recent research has shown that it’s not the acidity of the cranberries, but the unusual nature of their proanthocyanidins (PACs) that is related to prevention of UTIs.
Cranberries also contain vitamins C, E, and potassium. Vitamin C is great for the immune system, it strengthens bodily tissues and has a role to play in making hormones and cell structures. Vitamin C is an antioxidant and helps reducing the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease. Vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin that helps protect cellular function against aging and disease. Potassium helps maintain healthy nerve and muscle function.
No comments yet.