Cranberries have long been valued for their ability to help prevent urinary tract infections by preventing E. coli from adhering to the cells that line the urinary tract^1,2. This same effect may help prevent other types of infections involving host-tissue bacteria such as H. pylori, a major cause of gastric ulcers^3.

Cranberries are a potent source of antioxidants, specifically from a subclass of flavonoids called proanthocyanidins (PACs), which are unique and abundant in cranberries.  The antioxidant properties of PACs may have a range of other health benefits, including supporting cardiovascular health. However, there has been some discussion concerning cranberry-warfarin interation^6.  If you are on blood thinning drugs, please consult your doctor with regard to possible herb-drug interactions.

Cranberries are naturally fat-free and have very little sodium, so adding them to a balanced diet is a delicious, refreshing, and nutritious way to meet the recommended servings of fruit daily. Making your own cranberry sauce is not only easy, but also great way to enjoy this fruit year-round.

Here is an easy recipe that you can make yourself:
Cranberry Orange Sauce
Ingredients:
2 (8-ounce) packages fresh cranberries, 
2 oranges, 
1/2 cup sugar.

Directions
Grate the zest from two oranges and squeeze the juice. Put all the ingredients (zest, orance juice, sugar and cranberries) into a saucepan over medium heat and simmer until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens, about 15 to 20 minutes. Serve at room temperature or cool and refrigerate.

 1. Howell AB, Reed J, Krueger C, Winterbottom R, Leahy M. A-type cranberry
proanthocyanidins and uropathogenic bacterial anti-adhesion activity.
Phytochemistry 2005; 66 (18): 2281-2291.

2. Howell A. Cranberry Proanthocyanidins and the Maintenance of Urinary Tract
Health. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2002; 42(S): 273-278.

3. Burger O, Weiss E, Sharon N, Tabak M, Neeman I, and Ofek I.
Inhibition of Helicobacter pylori adhesion to human gastric mucus by a high-molecular-weight constituent of cranberry juice.
Critical Reviews in Food Science & Nutrition, 2002. 42(Suppl.).

4.Reed J. Cranberry flavonoids, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular health. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2002; 42(Supp): 301-316.

5. Ruel G, Pomerleau S, et al. Low-calorie cranberry juice supplementation reduces plasma oxidized LDL
and cell adhesion molecule concentrations in men. British Journal of Nutrition 2008; 99(2): 352-359

6.Suvarna R, Pirmohamed M and Henderson L. Possible interaction between warfarin and cranberry juice. BMJ 2003;327:1454.

Free Apps that are Great for Herbalists

I love these apps - especially since they are free!  I must confess I own an iphone, so I am not sure that these apps are available for android users.  For that reason, I have provided general links to the app's developer site.  If you are an apple user - just click on the app's photo and you will be directed to the specific iTunes page for the app.

Leaf Snap
Developed by researchers from Columbia University, the University of Maryland, and the Smithsonian Instition, this free mobile app helps identify tree species from photographs of their leaves. Take a walk in the park, snap a photo of a leaf and this app will identify and give you lots of information about the tree.
http://leafsnap.com/about/