Cranberry sauce is a must-have Thanksgiving side dish that we all know and love. Besides it being incredibly delicious, it is actually pretty healthy, too. As a matter of fact, there are many amazing health benefits of cranberries we should keep in mind this holiday season. This festive fruit is quite low on sugar, to begin with. Also, it is a very rich source of Vitamin C and is if it were not enough, cranberries are packed with antioxidants, too. Therefore, we should consider adding this tasty fruit to our daily diet not only for the holiday season but anytime we can.
Cranberries are Low on Sugar and Calories
One of the most important health benefits of cranberries is that they are quite low on sugar. A cup of this fruit contains only 4 grams of natural sugar. This is because of their red-purple pigment, which contains polyphenols, a type of antioxidant. Not only that, but cranberries also contain only 50 calories per cup, which makes them especially low on both sugar and calories, even when compared to other fruits. Therefore, we can say that enjoying a cup of cranberries is not only quite a delicious trait, but it is also a really healthy one.
They Are Rich Sources of Vitamin C
Besides being low on sugar and calories, cranberries come with other health benefits. They are very rich sources of Vitamin C, having almost 20% of your daily value alone. In addition to this vitamin, cranberries also contain a wide variety of antioxidants that form new bioactive compounds once they are metabolized. These compounds help us improve our gastrointestinal health and overall immunity. Cranberries also provide our bodies with prebiotic fiber, which fuels beneficial bacteria in our GI tract that works as a defense line for our immune system.
Cranberries are Packed with Antioxidants, Too
As we mentioned above, one of the best health benefits of cranberries is that they are packed with antioxidants. This means that having cranberries as part of our diet can actually help us reduce the risk of chronic disease, as they help reduce oxidative stress that comes from chronic inflammation. Besides, cranberries are also high on vitamin K, which is a nutrient that helps regulate blood clotting. However, large amounts of vitamin K can interfere with some medications, so we should consult with our doctor before consuming large amounts of cranberries.
