Cranberry

• First used by Native Americans who discovered the wild berry's versatility as a food, fabric dye and healing agent.
• Derived from the Pilgrim name "craneberry" due to its small, pink blossoms that resemble the head and bill of a crane.
• One of a small number of North America's native fruits that is commercially grown.
• Majority of cranberries are harvested between September and October.

Health Benefits

• Cranberries are a rich source of dietary flavonoids and other phenolic acids¹ that research has shown provide a variety of health benefits.
• Recognizedas packing a “one-two punch” of both antioxidant and antiadhesion properties, cranberries are one of the richest sources of antioxidants per calorie among popular fruits².
• A growing body of evidence links the phytonutrients found in cranberries to a number of conditions, including the promotion of urinary tract health and helping prevent cardiovasculardisease, stomach ulcers and even certain cancers^{3 4}.
• Studies have also shown that cranberry proathocyanidins (PACs) are the novel compounds responsible for cranberry’s unusual bacteria-blocking antiadhesion properties⁵.
• Clinical research has shown that consuming approximately 10 ounces of cranberry juice cocktail daily is effective in achieving cranberry’s urinary tract health benefits⁶.  Equivalent volumes of cranberry products delivering similar levels of PACs are noted below.
• Epidemiological studies have long shown the benefits of a diet rich in flavonoids⁷ – a diet that includes regular consumption of fruits such as cranberries.

Equivalancies

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Juice 10 oz. of 27% juice		Fresh 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen		Dried 1 oz. sweetened		Sauce 1/2 cup

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¹Vinson, J.A., Su, X., Subik, L., Bose, P. Phenol Antioxidant Quantity and Quality in Foods: Fruits. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2001;49:5315-5321. ²Men’s Health/June 2206. NutritionData.com. Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. ³Starr, M., Leahy, M., The Health Benefits of Cranberries and Related Fruits. In: Watson, R.R. Ed., Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs in Health Promotion. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2001. ⁴Leahy, M., Roderick, R., Billian, K. The Cranberry – Promising Health Benefits, Old and New. Nutrition Today. 2001;36(5):254-265 ⁵Howell, A.B., Vorsa, N., Der Mardarosian, A., Foo, L.Y. Inhibition of the adherence of P-finbriated Escherichia coli to uroepithelial-cell surfaces by proanthocyanidin extracts from cranberries. N. Eng. J. Med. 1998;339(15):1085-1086. ⁶Avorn, J., Monane, M., Gurwitz, J.H., Glynn, R.J., Choodnovsky, I., Lipsitz, L.A. Reduction of bacteriuria and pyuria after ingestion of cranberry juice. JAMA. 1994;271:751-754. ⁷Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences. Dietary reference intakes of vitamin C, vitamin, E, selenium, and carotenoids. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2000.