Cranberries, bearing the scientific name Vaccinium oxycoccos, are low, creeping shrubs that grow up to 2 meters in height. They bear thin, slender stems with tiny green leaves. The flowers are dark pink, and upon developing, bear the fruits. The fruit, belonging to the berry group, is green when raw and turns vivid red once ripened, with a distinct tart taste and a hint of sweetness.

Dried Cranberries Nutrition Facts:

Dried cranberries are super rich in Vitamin C. It is also low in calories to help maintain body weight and supplies adequate essential dietary fibers and proteins. Furthermore, dried cranberries also offer the key spectrum of B vitamins to regulate metabolism and cellular energy requirements.

The following are the nutritional value of dried cranberries, per 100 g, in most organic, unsweetened packs of dried cranberries is as follows:

Energy 38 kcal

Macronutrients:

Carbohydrates 9.62 g

Dietary fiber 1 g

Fat 0.04 g

Protein 0.76 g

Micronutrients:

Vitamins:

Thiamine (B1)3%

Riboflavin (B2)2%

Niacin (B3)1%

Vitamin B6 3% 

Vitamin C  73%

The dry fruits also comprise ample potassium, which is sufficient for the daily requirement of adults, besides beneficial anthocyanins and flavonoid antioxidants. Other vital trace minerals in citrus fruits include phosphorus, copper, iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc.

Dried Cranberries Health Benefits:

Boosts Immune System:

Consuming a few dried cranberries will provide ample vitamin C for the daily diet. Vitamin C not only functions in enhancing iron absorption for enhanced blood circulation but also works to improve immunity by white blood cells in the system. In addition, vitamin C is obligatory for the growth and development of all body tissues and is a key antioxidant for removing toxins from the system.

Maintains heart health:

Being intrinsically high in potassium levels, this dry fruit assists in the maintenance of normal blood pressure. It also functions in promoting cardiac muscle activity, lowers the amounts of bad LDL cholesterol, and raises levels of good HDL cholesterol. Dried cranberry is very advantageous in preventing instances of heart attacks and strokes and thereby contributes to a longer and healthier lifespan.

Relaxes muscle cramps:

Dried cranberry is bestowed with the key mineral for optimal muscle function—magnesium. The significantly high magnesium content in these dry fruits makes them an ideal option to provide relief from muscle sores and cramps. Moreover, after post-a high-intensity workout, when muscles in the arms and legs are strained, eating a fistful of dried cranberries instantly alleviates symptoms of pain and discomfort.

Treats Constipation:

Dried cranberry comprises valuable dietary fibers that ensure proper bowel movement upon ingestion of heavy meals. This is crucial to regulate kidney function and filter out all the toxic waste products upon digestion of food and assimilation of required nutrients. It also efficiently relieves intestinal conditions like constipation and indigestion.

Fortifies Bones:

The calcium present in the dry cranberry fruit is absorbed by bones in the body, thereby helping to maintain optimal bone density for day-to-day functions and flexible, unobstructed movement. The very high potassium content in dried cranberries complements bone health by enhancing mineral uptake by cells and tissues in the body.

Combats Urinary Tract Infection (UTI):

Dried cranberries offer profuse amounts of vitamin C that confer anti-inflammatory properties to reduce swelling in the bladder, which is more common in women than men. Also, its antioxidant capabilities are useful in removing detrimental free radicals and harmful bacteria from the body. This in turn helps to avoid oxidation of the healthy cells in the excretory system organs, thus ensuring proper elimination of waste and unnecessary food residues from the body and preventing their accumulation in the system.

Helps Cure Anemia:

Vitamin C also performs one very vital function in the human body, which is enhancing the absorption of iron from ingested food. Deficiency in iron quantities leads to a condition known as anemia, wherein there is a lack of adequate red blood cells in the body to transport nutrients and oxygen to all cells and tissues. Eating these dry fruits will guarantee ample uptake of iron, from foods into the system and promote red blood cell synthesis and blood passage.

Cranberries for Skin and Hair

Reduces skin inflammation:

Dried cranberry contains several essential amino acids that help to build healthy skin cells and also suppress any redness and swelling that tends to develop on skin exposed to harsh environmental states. Its high flavonoid content provides antioxidant traits to assist in combating free radical damage, diminish acne, scars, and dark spots, and lessen skin irritation.

Offers anti-aging benefits:

Dried cranberries contain spermidine that aids in delaying skin cells from the process of aging. The carotene class of flavonoid plant antioxidants further plays an important role in reducing the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and sunken skin. Eating dry fruit or drinking juice will also help to boost the production of collagen, a protein essential for maintaining the elasticity and firmness of skin texture.

Dried Cranberry Juice Recipe

Ingredients:

½ cup dried cranberries

3 tsp of honey

Crushed ice

Method:

In a bowl, wash all the dried cranberries with clean water.

Thoroughly blend in a juicer to extract the liquid content.

Mix the honey and crushed ice, with a little bit of water to obtain a homogenous fusion.

Relish the mildly sweetened dried cranberry juice chilled.

How It Works:

Dried cranberry contains the rutin category of plant phenol antioxidants, which have anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory properties. This helps to get rid of acne, scars, and dark spots on the skin, giving the face a vibrant, youthful, and soft appearance. It also boosts collagen synthesis in healthy skin cells and helps slow down aging.

Supports Hair Growth:

Dried cranberry juice not only benefits the skin but also promotes hair growth and thickness. The vitamin C and antioxidant content inherent in this dry fruit and juice help to strengthen the roots of the hair, known as follicles, to stimulate the proliferation of long and robust locks of hair. It assures the complete removal of harmful free radicals that cause weak and brittle hair and incessant hair loss, thereby guaranteeing the renewal of healthy hair growth.

Eradicates Dandruff Woes:

Applying the juice extract of dried cranberries to an aggravated scalp assists in ridding the surface of dandruff and constant itching. The anti-fungal properties of this dry fruit offer the advantage of removing all irritants from the scalp and hence promote nourished hair growth. The key trace minerals zinc and iron, as well as vitamin B1 and vitamin C, also complement the optimal development of hair roots and bestow long, strong, and lustrous tresses.

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