Christmas Superfood – Cranberries

With an ever increasing demand for flu vaccines in the UK as the winter takes hold, it’s good to know one particular festive favourite may be helping to ward off infection.

We will consume around eight million jars of cranberry sauce and five million litres of cranberry juice at Christmas – and there is a substantial body of research which shows that the unique anti-adhesion properties of the cranberry’s proanthocyanidins, or PACs, can prevent harmful bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract, stomach, and mouth.

However, bacterial protection may not be the only health benefit jam-packed into the tiny cranberry. A preliminary laboratory study found that components in cranberries can prevent certain type A and type B flu viruses from attaching to host cells and causing subsequent infection, setting the stage for more research in that area.

Cranberries have a dual health benefit. In addition to fighting bacteria, cranberry PACs also function as antioxidants – and with far more PACs per gram than most other fruit, cranberries bolster the body’s defences against free radical damage that can contribute to many chronic diseases including heart disease.

During the winter months, most of us are concentrating on shopping for gifts, preparing holiday meals or travelling to visit friends and family. Since good health habits often take a back seat to the stress of the holidays, try the following tips to remain healthy and happy throughout the upcoming months:

Build up cold immunity – The vitamin C in Ocean Spray cranberry juices and juice drinks provide a nutritional immunity boost. Preliminary laboratory research also suggests that components found in cranberries may play a role in preventing certain flu viruses from attaching to host cells preventing subsequent flu infections.

Keep holiday weight gain at bay – Toast the holiday season with Cranberry Classic Light. It contains the antioxidant and anti-adhesion health benefits of cranberry, with half the calories of most juices and alcoholic drinks.

Stay heart healthy – A pilot clinical study found that the cranberry boosts good cholesterol and shields the heart with its unique antioxidant muscle. Packing a double punch, with both “anti-stick” and “antioxidant” power, Cranberry Classic Light can provide heart healthy benefits.

Keep up with 5-A-Day – Drinking Ocean Spray Juice Plus is a quick and delicious way to get one healthy serving of fruit each day. A growing body of research has shown that people who eat more fruits and vegetables as part of an overall healthy diet are likely to have a reduced risk of some chronic diseases.

Given the variety of ways to consume cranberries, it’s easy to receive the fruit’s health benefits. A 250ml glass of Cranberry Classic contains just as many bacteria-fighting PACs as 40g of sweetened dried cranberries and 90g of cranberry sauce.