It's Cranberry Season: 3 Reasons to Indulge
By Genevieve Cunningham
With the change of the season comes another really exciting change. And this one is delicious, too! It's the change of our menu! Different foods are ready for consumption at different times of the year. And in the fall, one of the most delicious and festive foods to add to your menu is cranberries. If you haven't had cranberries, you should know that they're extremely tart. But they're also extremely healthy. If you would like to add this fun and seasonal food to your recipes, take a look at three reasons why you should do so completely guilt-free.
To Get Vitamin K
We don't talk about Vitamin K much in the diet world, but this is a vitamin that we simply must consume. This vitamin plays a vital role in breaking down certain proteins, helping blood to clot, and enabling our bodies to use calcium in the correct places. Without enough Vitamin K, our body has a hard time carrying out these functions. We often don't know when we have a deficiency, but keeping enough in our diet is a good idea for overall better health.
To Help the Kidneys
Cranberries have long been known as being good for preventing urinary tract infections. Why? For one, it's thought that cranberries help the kidney in their main function -- to remove toxins from the body. But there's an agent in cranberries that researchers also believe keeps bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract. This means that the rates of infection are significantly lowered. If this is an area where you struggle, adding a little cranberry may make a big difference.
For Fiber
We all need fiber. Fiber helps us feel full and helps move digestion. Eating fibrous foods can help eliminate overeating and even lead to eventual weight loss. Though there are plenty of foods out there that contain fiber, cranberries are a delicious seasonal option to add to the list. If you tend to be low on fiber, add these to your list and enjoy.
Cranberries can be cooked and prepared in so many different ways, and they're all delicious! And luckily, cranberries are incredibly good for us, too. Feel free to add these to your holiday menu, and enjoy these and many other benefits that come along with them.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Pittsburgh, Pa.