Fifty Fun Facts, Issue #2 Five Fun Facts About Cranberries
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Cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon L.) Courtesy of Bremner Foods
Yes, that great day of family and feasts has arrived, and what would the traditional dinner be without cranberries? Here are five fun facts about cranberries. 1. About 70% of the cranberries grown in North America are bought by Ocean Spray. See the educational and interesting website at http://www.oceanspray.com Discover why ripe cranberries "bounce" and how cranberries were related to pemmican consumed by native people more than 100 years ago (among other fun and obscure facts...). 2. Whatever you think about Ocean Spray cranberry juice products, this company - a co-op of some 650 cranberry farmers in the US and Canada (800 worldwide) - has done more for research to understand berry health benefits in people than any other body or berry. Emerging research results are presented by the Cranberry Institute -- click on the title 3. Cranberry juice and its phenolic antioxidants (tannic acids, proanthocyanidins) are proven in clinical trials for their "anti-adhesion" properties, i.e., the antibacterial benefits against urinary tract infections and recurrent cystitis common in women. 4. The same phenolics give cranberries their familiar tart taste (also called "astringence"), a property developed by the plant to repel pests and inhibit fungi, bacteria and plant viruses. When we eat an astringent berry like the cranberry, we gain some of those same protective properties from phenolics which are the major class of antioxidants in berries. Simple rule of thumb: if a berry is tart and edible, its antioxidant punch is strong. Some berries, however, are so astringent they cannot be eaten fresh -- like the well-named "chokeberry"! (Aronia melanocarpa). 5. Cranberries preserved first by drying then by infusion with a liquid sweetener become "craisins" found in your bulk food store. A great versatile format for getting berry health benefits from an easy snack, craisins have become a major subdivision for Ocean Spray's annual $2 billion business. Ocean Spray is installing two new factories presently to add another 30 million pounds of craisins to the market. Try some. Have a great Thanksgiving! Berry Best of the Season to you! Dr. Paul |
