Crazy for Cranberries

Did you know that October is National Cranberry Month? How about…did you know cranberries may help prevent urinary tract infections?

Cranberries are one of those fruits that are filled with health benefits that many don’t know about. Luckily, I am here to help you learn more about this versatile fruit this month.

Benefits of the Berry

Cranberries contain antioxidants and other important nutrients that may aid in your overall nutrition. Check out my list below for more health benefit breakdown!

Packed with fiber, which helps keep you feeling fuller for longer and stabilizes your blood sugar. It also great for digestion!
Good source of vitamin C, which helps improve your overall immune function and has its own antioxidants.
Reduces your risk of atherosclerosisby neutralizing harmful free radicals in your body with its high phytochemical and antioxidant content.
Decreases inflammationassociated with chronic disease.

Choosing and Storing Your Cranberries

When buying cranberries, make sure they are firm, plump, and shiny. Their color should be anywhere from bright light red to dark red. Try to avoid ones that have wrinkles, are soft, or have spots on them.

Cranberries can be stored for up to 2 months, unwashed in a reusable plastic bag. But don’t forget to keep an eye on them to make sure none are going bad as they can spoil the other ones in the bag!

If you want to freeze your cranberries, rinse them and dry them on a paper towel-lined baking sheet and freeze it for 1 hour. Put frozen cranberries in a plastic bag and keep in freezer up to 1 year.

6 Cranberry Perfect Ideas

Now that you know more about cranberries… how should you go about including them in your meals? Here are just a few ways you can experiment with adding cranberries into your diet.

1. Add on top of salads for a sweet, crunchy taste.

2. Mix into chicken salad for a fun twist.

3. Include cranberries in your next fruit salad.

4. Sprinkle your oatmeal with a handful of cranberries.

5. Add sliced cranberries to a turkey sandwich for a Thanksgiving feel.

6. Blend cranberries with your other fruits of choice + Greek yogurt for a delicious morning smoothie.

Cranberries are an under-rated fruit with many health benefits. Pick up a bag on your next grocery trip and enjoy National Cranberry Month!

Your turn to take action: How will you try cranberries this month? Let me know in the comments below!