CRANBERRIES: THE WONDER BERRIES POWERFUL NUTRIENTS
We all know cranberries are good for us. They are fruit, after all. And we all know fruits and veggies are good for you. In fact, it’s been shown that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of some types of cancers and other chronic diseases. But cranberries aren’t your average fruit. They help cleanse and purify the body. But do you know how? They contain powerful nutrients called proanthocyanidins, thankfully referred to as PACs, which research suggests help keep certain bacteria from sticking inside the body. And thePACS in cranberries are different from other fruits, which gives them more “anti-stick” potential. They also have something called antioxidants, like flavonoids and vitamin C, which helps to strengthen the immune system. In fact, cranberries have more naturally-occurring antioxidants per gram than most other common fruit.
So now you’re probably thinking, great, but what the heck does all that mean? Well, PACS are all-natural components of cranberries that help keep certain bacteria from sticking to the body. Which is a very good thing. And antioxidants are compounds that reduce free-radical, or oxidative damage. The kind of damage that can lead to chronic diseases like heart disease. Antioxidants include some vitamins and other natural components of foods, called flavonoids. And, guess what? Cranberries are packed full of all of these!
So that’s the cranberry’s one-two punch: anti-stick and antioxidants.
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