These tart berries are not as well known in Australia as they are in America as that is their native home with the world’s majority of cranberry farming taking place in the United States and Canada.  The American Indians not only used cranberries for food but also for medicine and in cultural ceremonies.  Now they are mostly associated with the American holiday Thanksgiving.

Cranberries are in fact not grown in water like many of us believe.  They are grown in sandy dykes with a shallow water table.  Water is used for harvest and irrigation but the cranberry beds are not flooded year round.

Cranberries have some minerals and Vitamins A and C, but not as high levels as some other berries.  They have some really good phytonutrients such as proanthocyanidins which is from the tannins mainly found in the skin.  This is one of the most powerful antioxidants there is, so this can help with would healing, strengthens arteries, veins and capillaries and can improve blood circulation.  The polyphenol content is quite high in cranberries and a comparison of 100% cranberry juice is 587mg compared to orange juice that only contains 53mg.

Cranberries, 100% pure juice in particular, are also beneficial for  mild urinary bladder/tract infections.
In Australia the most common forms of cranberries are juice, dried (which are usually sweetened with sugar to take away some of the tart flavour), or as a sauce/jam.

Add some dried cranberries to your trail mix, to healthy muffins/cakes, use cranberry sauce in marinades or on its own with meat dishes such as chicken, turkey or pork, or try some 100% cranberry juice. Be careful of juices that are not 100% as they often have sugar added to them or combined with other fruits making their sugar content higher.

Have a look at my Youtube Clip – https://youtu.be/v3Ye7rHXkzs