How to Use Cranberry for a Healthy Heart

The cranberry is a perennial plant that produces bright red berries which are credited with many health benefits. The high levels of antioxidants and the phytochemicals are recommended for many conditions, including heart disease. The potential effect of lowering cholesterol and improving circulation is of particular interest in maintaining a healthy heart.

Instructions

Get Healthy With Cranberries

1

Eat cranberries to get the antioxidants needed to help prevent cardiovascular diseases. The antioxidant property of cranberries is thought to prevent oxidation of LDL and reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood stream.

2

Increase the level of polyphenols in your diet with the use of cranberries. Many researches agree that polyphenols found in cranberries are valuable in improving cardiac function, especially in patients with high levels of cholesterol.

3

Use cranberries to increase the antioxidant levels in your system. Antioxidants are nutrients known to neutralize the properties that cause cellular damage known as oxidative stress.

4

Add dried cranberries to your favorite cereal as a tasty way to get the benefits of cranberry supplements.

5

Drink an 8-oz. glass of cranberry juice up to 3 times a day for reported heart-healthy benefits. Recommended amounts vary.

6

Find other nutrients in cranberries such as vitamin C, dietary fiber, manganese, vitamin K and minimal calories. These nutrients work in conjunction with the polyphenols to support cardiovascular health.

7

Eat dried cranberries over drinking the juice when possible. The seeds and the skin of the fruit provide the most benefit of the antioxidants found in cranberries.

Spice up Life With Cranberries

8

Use the holiday seasons to introduce the joy of eating cranberries by creating your own healthy heart recipe of cranberry sauce.

9

Rinse one 12-oz. bag of fresh or frozen cranberries and put aside.

10

Bring to boil a cup of fresh orange juice, 1 tsp. minced fresh ginger, 1 tsp. minced orange zest and 1/4 tsp. cinnamon in a medium saucepan on high heat.

11

Add the cranberries to the boiling liquid.

12

Reduce the heat to medium and continue cooking for 10 minutes.

13

Add 1/2 cup crushed pineapple and 1/2 cup honey to the mixture.

14

Take the saucepan off the heat and allow to cool.