Cranberries saved me from prescriptions!
It’s that time of year that cranberries are in season in the stores. I find myself compulsively buying fresh bags of them to throw in the freezer.
Come to find out that cranberries have a lot more going for them than just vitamin C.
Here’s the story on how they helped save me:
When I was not quite five years old, I became sick and went into convulsions in my sleep. I was rushed to the hospital where I had surgery for a constriction around my bladder. After two weeks in the hospital and an overdose of something that nearly put me under again, the doctors told Dad and Mom that I would need to be on medication probably for the rest of my life.
My parents declined the doctor’s advice and put me on cranberry juice and a wholesome diet.
I have had no problems with my bladder or kidneys and have been relatively healthy without the need for prescription drugs to this day!
I am thankful for the power of cranberries!
Some of their Benefits:
- Strengthening to the kidneys and bladder, (perfect for the wintertime when these organs tend to need extra support.)
- Can help prevent urinary tract infections.
- High in Vitamins C, A and K.
- Supportive to the Immune System.
So this time of year especially, I like to indulge on cranberries. If you don’t like cranberries because you were introduced to them by way of canned cranberry sauce, you may want to try them again, fresh. It’s a whole different food.
In Bandon, Oregon, where the majority of Pacific cranberries are grown, you can sometimes find Dark Chocolate covered cranberries at the farmer’s market, which are out of this world. My mouth is watering just thinking about them.
Morning Cranberry Smoothies coming right up!
I love to just throw a handful of cranberries into my morning smoothie. It gives it a little extra punch and it’s so easy.
Morning Smoothie (tweak and vary to your liking), per single serving
1 banana
1 sm. handful of frozen blueberries (or other fruit)
1 sm. Handful of whole cranberries (fresh or frozen)
1 Tbsp. plain yogurt
1 piece 3 inch celery
sprigs of cilantro, parsley, or kale
1 tsp.-Tbsp almond or peanut butter or tahini (sesame seeds)
1 small piece fresh ginger root
I also put in a tsp. maca root powder, or pea protein, tumeric, saw palmetto, spirulina, or other bulk powders/medicinals as I feel the need.
Fill to ½ of container with fresh apple juice or water and blend. Enjoy!
Here’s some other yummy, easy recipes using fresh or frozen whole cranberries:
Cranberry Salad:
Conners making cranberry salad for the hundredth time
2-3 cups whole fresh or frozen Cranberries
1 Orange, peeled
1 apple
2-3 Tbsp. raw honey
walnuts and/or chopped celery, optional
chop/blend the fruit together coarsely in a food processor, add honey to your liking as well as nuts if desired. Enjoy!
Cranberry Salsa
3 c cranberries
1 jalapeno pepper
3-4 green onions
½ c cilantro
1 Tbsp lime juice
3+ Tbsp honey
salt to taste
Blend all together coarsely in food processor. Serve with chips or over cream cheese with crackers, etc.
Conner wrote his first cranberry salad recipe when he was 7 or 8. He’s been in charge of the cranberry salad for Thanksgiving ever since.
Conners original cranberry salad recipe