The Incredible Cranberry (March 2009)

Cranberries have a lot more to offer than holiday tradition, Diane McKay, Ph.D, a nutrition expert at Tuft University in Boston, says preliminary studies suggest phytonutrients, including antioxidants, in cranberry products may improve heart health by helping to:

• Increase HDL (good) cholesterol
• Lower LDL (bad) and total cholesterol
• Minimize plaque in your arteries
• Limit the formation of blood clots (a stroke risk)
• Improve the functioning of cells lining arteries, which helps control blood pressure and minimize atherosclerosis

McKay recently reviewed several cranberry studies, including some financed by Ocean Spray. She said most studies are conducted with low-calorie cranberry juice or powder, so the benefits of cranberry sauce, a holiday favorite, aren’t proven. It is recommended to make your own cranberry sauce so then you can control the sugar content and the calories.