The cranberry might be a little fruit but it is very powerful when it comes to protecting your health. According to Christine Khoo, senior manager, research sciences at Ocean Spray, cranberries have been shown to be useful in urinary, stomach, dental and cardiovascular health.
Speaking to a group of Caribbean and Latin American journalists during a recent visit to Ocean Spray's headquarters in Lakeville, Massachusetts, Khoo said the fruit was first used by the Native Americans to treat wounds, blood disorders, stomach ailments, liver problems, scurvy and fever, urinary disorders, diarrhea and diabetes. "In the 21st Century, science caught up with this knowledge," she said.
As a company that uses the cranberry as the main ingredient for all of its products, Ocean Spray supports a lot of scientific research into the health benefits of the fruit. Khoo said the company is the leading supplier of clinical research products and provides support through money or in kind donations. Ocean Spray also has analytical and research scientists on site to test their products.
Khoo said research has proven that the cranberry contains more proanthocyanidins or PACS than any other fruit and is the only one to contain "A" PACS. Cranberry PACs are different from other types of antioxidants because they also have bacterial anti-adhesion properties.
Khoos said the PACs in cranberries have a unique "anti- adhesion" mechanism that helps protect the body from harmful bacteria. "Anti-adhesion is important because if the bacteria does not stick they will be flushed out of the body," she said. Quoting from clinical trials in children, Khoo said Cranberry juice may help in preventing recurrence of pediatric urinary tract infections and may help reduce the use of antibiotics.
She said it is also useful in combating oxidative stress, which is the imbalance in the body between production of oxidative compounds and our body's ability to reduce them. Oxidative stress is caused from external and internal factors such as cigarette smoke, air pollution and exercise and results in diseases such as cancer, strokes, cataracts, arthritis, diabetes and osteoporosis, among others.
Tasty cranberry recipes
From cakes to salads, cranberries can be incorporated into many tasty dishes. Here are some recipes that were shared by Jeannine Laboissiere, owner of On Cranberry Pond Bed and Breakfast, who has been making cranberry meals and juices for Ocean Spray for 19 years.
Berry Chocolate Smoothie
Ingredients
2 cups Ocean Spray® Cranberry Juice Cocktail, chilled
1 cup strawberry yogurt
2 1/2 cups frozen whole strawberries
2 tablespoons powdered sugar, if desired
1/4 cup mini-chocolate chips
Directions: Put all ingredients, except chocolate chips, in a blender. Blend on high speed until smooth. Add chocolate chips and pulse until chopped. Pour into glasses and serve immediately.
Makes 4 servings.
Spicy Cranberry Chicken Drummettes
Ingredients:
1/2 cup Ocean Spray® Jellied Cranberry Sauce
2 tablespoons hot pepper sauce
1 tablespoon chili sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
20 chicken drummettes, about 2 pounds
