The cranberry bush (Vaccinium macrocarpon) is a low-growing evergreen shrub with leathery leaves and bright red berries. This member of the heath family grows in mountains, forests and damp bogs from Alaska to Virginia. However, most of the commercial berries are produced in Massachusetts and Wisconsin.

Native Americans used cranberries for both food and medicine. The berries were enjoyed either raw or sweetened with maple sugar. In addition, they used them in sauces, breads and puddings, and used cranberries in poultices for treating wounds. Cranberry leaves were typically used for diarrhea and urinary disorders. The sailors during colonial days used cranberries to prevent scurvy.

Cranberries are among the top foods with proven health benefits, according to Amy Howell, a researcher at Rutgers University.

Cranberries are full of antioxidants, which protects cells from damage by unstable molecules called free radicals.

The National Institutes of Health is funding research on the cranberry’s effects on heart disease, yeast infections and other conditions, and other researchers are investigating its potential against cancer, stroke and viral infections.

I found a nice health benefit from The world’s Healthiest food:

• Protection against Urinary Tract Infection
• Alternative to Antibiotics
• Potent Anti-Viral Activity
• Combat Herpes Virus
• Pro-biotic Berry for Gastrointestinal and Oral Health
• Prevention of Kidney Stone Formation
• Beneficial Actions on Cholesterol
• Increases Cardio-Protective HDL Cholesterol
• Improved Blood Vessel Function, Protecting Even Individuals with Atherosclerosis against Heart Attacks
• Antioxidant Protection
• Cancer Prevention
• Phytonutrients Help Shut Down Human Breast Cancer Cells
• Protection against Macular Degeneration

Collection of Cranberry Recipes:

(1) Ocean Spray Cranberry Recipes
(2) Cranberries: An American Original
(3)Cranberry – Home Cooking
(4)Cranberry Recipes
(5) Cranberry – American Cooking

My Ways:
(1) Add sweetened cranberry as topping of oatmeal, cereal etc
(2) Make cranberry cookies: use any regular raisin oatmeal recipe, but replace raisin with cranberry
(3) Make my own Trial Mix with cereal, nuts, sweeten cranberry
PierMall.com offer wholesale, bulk buy, value buy of Sweeten Cranberry.