Cranberry: THE Super Food!

Cranberries are the Super Food for Cold and Flu!

Cranberries… we all know—somewhere in our distant recollection—that they are healthy somehow, right?

Well, I’m here to tell you today that they are not just “sort of healthy;” they are a SUPER FOOD!

They are excellent sources of Vitamin C, fiber, and minerals such as magnesium and copper!

They are also high in bioactive plant compounds and antioxidants, particularly flavonol polyphenols 2, 5, and 7. What on earth is that?

Remember in 2020 and 2021, when multiple studies showed that Hydroxychloroquine was exceedingly effective against SARS-Cov-2 if it was used early enough? The problem was, most of us could not get access to that medication.

While I’m not going to dig into why, I AM going to tell you that there is a NATURALLY occurring option that acts just like Hydroxychloroquine… and that is Quercetin!

It acts the exact same in fighting that virus as well as many others that attack the body!

Here’s the crazy thing… while we were all lamenting not being able to have access to a vital medication, it was sitting right out there in the produce section!

Cranberries are the NATURAL hydroxychloroquine that you can access any time WITHOUT a prescription!

I'm telling you, cranberries are something truly special!

You can also find naturally-occurring Quercetin in high amounts in onions, kale, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, blueberries, and the peel of apples! So, if you’re wanting to boost your immunity during flu season, up your game with ORGANIC onions, kale, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, blueberries, and whole apples… and, of course, cranberries!

Not only are cranberries an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, but they are great immune system enhancers!

They prevent complications from e.coli and even help your body to pass through microbes that would otherwise become stuck and invade your cell walls.

Those microbe invasions are what cause yeast infections, urinary tract disorders, and H. Pylori!

So, Wait! I can hear the gears spinning right now, “Wait, if cranberries are a super food, then why do we not hear much about them?”

Well, to be perfectly honest, there are several reasons our culture rarely turns to this super food for help!

#1. American culture has an unhealthy obsession with chemically-based pharmaceuticals as the end-all cure for everything. But that’s another story for another time.

#2. The tart, tangy, and sometimes slightly sour taste is pretty strong for the average American palate. For this reason, rarely are cranberries part of the usual American diet.

In fact, if I had to make a guess, I’d say the only time most of us actually consume cranberry, is out of a can at Thanksgiving!

And therein lies our problem! We have restricted this powerful super food to a side dish once per year! Cranberry no longer plays an active role in our diet.

So that’s Problem #2, It’s not an active part of our diet.

Now, because cranberries are not an active and frequent part of our diet, it leaves our bodies open to invasion by these microbes, depending on what we ARE consuming.

And that brings us to Problem #3, the only time we rush to consume cranberry is only AFTER we become ill. That means we’re having to claw our way back to health once our body has already been compromised! It’s an uphill battle.

Let me tell you, it is ALWAYS easier to maintain your health than to regain it!

So, problem #3 is, we only engage with this super food—if at all—once we’ve made its job much more difficult.

Problem #4 is how we choose to then ingest the cranberry. 9 times out 10, we run for cranberry juice off the store shelves.

Annnnd, that’s where we voodoo ourselves. Why?

Remember, that any fruit, vegetable, root, or plant begins losing nutrients the minute it is cut off the vine.

Purchasing fresh cranberries at the store already means they will have less nutritional value than if you purchased from a farmer’s market or plucked them from the garden. BUT…when it is rendered into juice form and enhanced with various flavors, you have no idea exactly HOW MUCH actual cranberry juice is in there or HOW OLD it is!

Plus, usually, cranberry juice you purchase from store shelves has added sugar which, surprise surprise, causes microbe GROWTH rather than diminishing the microbes and passing them through!

These four issues are why cranberry is often ignored by medical health specialists and patients alike.

1. Because the medical field is primarily trained in pharmaceuticals rather than natural remedies.

2. Because we do not consume enough of this super food for it to have measurable impact.

3. Because we use cranberry as a last resort after we are already sick.

4. Because we ingest cranberry using non-bioavailable or microbe-increasing ways that defeat the purpose!

So, basically, we question the efficacy of this incredible super food because we’ve put our immune system in jeopardy and we are not consuming it in a form that is most helpful for our body to digest.

So, what’s the answer?

The key to being able to take advantage of this super food… essentially, the key to diminishing issues with yeast infections, UTIs, and other digestive issues caused by microbial growth is, simply, to incorporate fresh cranberry into your regular diet.

Believe it or not, that's not too difficult. Here are some great recipes to incorporate into your meal plan!

Cranberry, Pork, Onion, and Spices!

Cranberry Pork Delish is a delightful, full-bodied meal, featuring pork, cranberries, and spices! Serve with marjoram fried potatoes or a side salad! Try it HERE!

Cranberry jelly glaze makes this recipe!

Tart Tilly’s Chicken is a sweet and savory staple with a cranberry barbecue glaze that is to die for! Pair it with white wine, thyme, salt, and butter sauteed cucumber for an elegant end to your evening! Try it HERE!

A delicate balance of salty & savory!

Cranberry Chicken Salad Croissants is an eclectic mix for a fresh, light lunch, pairing arugula, cranberry, crunchy dill pickles, and the buttery comfort of croissants! Add some homemade potato chips and you're in business! Try it HERE!

Touch o' Spice Cranberry Jelly

Touch o' Spice Cranberry Jelly is a great topper for cheesecake or even brie! This phenomenal dessert relish combines the super foods, cayenne and cranberry, for a truly savory and tangy touch to the evening! Try it HERE!

Simple Cranberry Sauce!

Check out this post/video for a brief tutorial in making Cranberry Sauce/Jelly from fresh cranberries! Try it HERE!

Enjoy exploring this incredible super food!