Five Reasons to Add the Cranberry to Your Pantry

A Better Berry: Five Reasons to Add the Cranberry to Your Pantry

June 26th, 2014

The next time you see cranberry juice on the shelf you may want to add it to your shopping cart. At least that’s what a growing body of health research suggests. Known for its bold, tart taste, the cranberry is gaining a worldwide reputation for a growing list of healthful properties.
From its exceptional taste to its rich heritage to its long list of health benefits, the cranberry is truly one of Mother Nature’s superfruits. Here are five big reasons to consider adding the unique fruit to your diet:
>>Support Urinary Tract Health – Cranberries taste good and are good for you. More than 50 years of scientific evidence suggests cranberry’s role in promoting urinary tract health. Cranberries contain powerful elements called proanthocyanidins (PACs) that help keep certain harmful bacteria from attaching to cells inside the body and flushing them away, naturally helping to cleanse and purify the body. Drinking two, 8-ounce servings of cranberry juice daily is a nutritional way to maintain urinary tract health.
>>Heart Health Friendly – Cranberries can be good for the heart. Emerging studies show cranberries may help support heart health due to their rich polyphenol antioxidant content. In fact, a recent study shows children and adults who regularly drink cranberry juice as part of a healthy, balanced lifestyle have improved heart health profiles.
>>Immunity Boosting – One study recently found that people who drink a glass of cranberry juice a day could experience fewer cold and flu symptoms than those who do not. So, grab a tall glass of cranberry juice. It may help boost your immune system!
>>Versatile Taste – The cranberry is known for its unique flavor, vibrant color, and ability to mix and mingle with many flavors, from sweet to savory. Cranberry juice can be sipped on its own or added to smoothies, cocktails, mocktails, breads, desserts, and more.
>>From the Bog to the Bottle – Cranberry farmers from the Ocean Spray cooperative, often third-, fourth-, and fifth-generation, grow and harvest the cranberry straight from the bog. Ocean Spray has been “grower-owned” since 1930. That means the same farmers who harvest the cranberries also own the company.

Adding the cranberry to your life every day, everywhere, in every way can be simple with these delicious recipes:
Breakfast – Jump into the day with an energizing (and filling!) Cranberry Banana Smoothie. Or, if you’re on the go in the morning and need something fast, pour yourself a serving of cranberry juice instead of coffee!
Mocktail – Refresh and refuel after a long day by adding a splash of sparkling water and a touch of lime to an iced, tall glass of cranberry juice.
Dessert – Take your cake mix from boring to extraordinary with a little cranberry juice. Make Cake Pops for your family and friends, and see if they can guess the amazing mystery ingredient!
Cranberries: By The Numbers
1550s: When the medicinal value of the cranberry was first discovered by Native Americans in North America
440: Amount of cranberries in a pound – they are very lightweight!
4: Number of air chambers inside the cranberry that allow it to float to the top of water after the bog has been flooded by cranberry growers
100+: Varieties of cranberries
Cranberry Banana Smoothie
Ingredients:
6 ounces of Ocean Spray cranberry juice, chilled
½ medium banana, cut into slices
½ cup fat-free or regular vanilla yogurt
Directions:
Put all ingredients in a blender. Blend for a few seconds on high speed or until ingredients are thoroughly combined. Pour into a glass.
Makes 1 serving.
Cranberry Lime Spritzer
Ingredients:
8 ounces Ocean Spray cranberry juice, chilled
2 ounces sparkling water
Lime wedge as garnish
Directions:
Fill a glass with ice. Add cranberry juice. Top with sparkling water. Garnish with lime wedge.
Makes 1 serving.
Cake Pops
Ingredients:
1 (15.25-ounce) box cake mix
3 eggs
1 cup Ocean Spray cranberry juice
½ cup vegetable oil
1 1/3 cups prepared frosting (about ¾ can)
Lollipop sticks
Candy coating chips, melted
Assorted decorations, as desired
Directions:
Heat oven to 350°F. Spray a 13 x 9-inch baking pan with baking spray; set aside.
Prepare cake mix as directed on box, using cranberry juice in place of water. Pour into cake pan and bake until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean (25 to 28 minutes).
Remove from oven; cool completely.
In a large bowl, crumble entire cake into fine pieces. Add frosting to crumbled cake and mix until cake is completely coated. Form into balls; chill at least 1 hour.
Dip tip of lollipop stick into melted coating, then push stick about halfway into shaped cake pop. Dip cake pop into melted coating, tapping to remove any excess. Place pops upright into box or block; let dry completely.
Repeat with remaining cake pops.
Using toothpicks, apply additional melted colored coating as desired; decorate with candies, sprinkles, or edible glitter into desired shapes or patterns.
Makes about 32 cake pops.

Source: Ocean Spray