Bring Benefits to the Table With Cranberry Sauce
By Brandi Swieter
Not always a favorite, cranberry sauce is a traditional Thanksgiving food item that often gets overlooked. Some enjoy the jelly-like substance with a fruity flavor, while others disagree with the texture. Either way, cranberry sauce, and cranberries in particular, bring many benefits to the table that people can enjoy. At least a little bit of it should be consumed by everyone this year to take advantage of the health benefits.
Fiber
It’s easy for the body to get backed up, especially after consuming such a wide array of foods on Thanksgiving. Fiber helps this problem, allowing the bowels to continue working as normal. Just a half-cup of cranberry sauce contains one full gram of fiber, making it a worthwhile choice among other typical Thanksgiving menu items. Those who do not enjoy the taste of cranberry alone can add the substance to their stuffing or another dish to help overpower the flavor.
Antioxidants
Needed to protect the body from toxic substances, antioxidants found in healthy foods should be consumed regularly. Cranberry sauce contains plenty of antioxidants that will help fight off free radicals that try to harm the body. Having regular servings of the stuff, not just on Thanksgiving, can help fight heart disease and worse.
The reason these antioxidants seem to work so well in the body is due to the polyphenols found in cranberries. They are a strong source that work to fight off cardiovascular and other diseases. Many fruits contain a Type B source, but cranberries offer a Type A source instead. They fight harder and stronger than others to keep the body as healthy as possible.
Vitamin C
It is often said that the body needs more Vitamin C when sickness sets in. This is particularly true for the common cold. While oranges are the primary source people think of when wanting more of the vitamin, cranberry sauce possesses plenty of it as well. Enjoy just a half-cup of the sauce and he body gets at least four percent of its daily need.
Thanksgiving is often thought to be an unhealthy holiday, with people overeating and consuming foods high in fat and calories. Add the plethora of pie offerings to the mix and the day seems like a good way to get off track with nutrition. Cranberry sauce can help, with many health benefits that people may be unaware of before ever trying the holiday condiment.
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.