One of three commonly cultivated fruits native only to North America, the nutrient-dense berries, which date back 12,000 years<\/a>, offer major health benefits. <\/p>\n For one, they\u2019re low in calories. A cup of raw cranberries has just 50 calories, according to the American Heart Association<\/a>.<\/p>\n But they\u2019re also a good source of plant chemicals and other nutrients that protect from harmful inflammation and infection.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re a powerhouse of antioxidants,\u201d Cleveland Clinic registered dietitian Candace O\u2019Neill said<\/a>.<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Floating cranberries are harvested in Massachusetts. The tart red fruit is a great source of protective antioxidants that isn\u2019t necessarily utilized year-round (AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n Two glasses to reduce heart disease risk<\/p>\n Cranberries have immune-protecting vitamins C and E, as well as quercetin, which reduces inflammation.<\/p>\n They also have flavanols, and anthocyanins, which give them their dark color. They have proanthocyanidins, which are associated with urinary tract, oral health and gut benefits. <\/p>\n Proanthocyanidins may reduce the risk of stomach cancer caused by the bacterium Helicobater pylori.<\/p>\n \u201cA-type proanthocyanidins, which are only found in cranberries, can help with reducing the bad microbes that live in your colon,\u201d O\u2019Neill said.<\/p>\n Cranberries contain a large amount of natural pectin, a prebiotic fiber also found in apples<\/a> that works to improve inflammation and lower cholesterol.<\/p>\n And compounds in cranberries may also reduce bad cholesterol that can lead to blocked arteries and heart disease, Rutgers researchers say<\/a>.<\/p>\n Drinking two glasses of low-calorie cranberry juice a day can lower risk factors for cardiovascular disease and stroke, according to Northwell Health<\/a>.<\/p>\n While cranberries can increase the risk of kidney stones for people who are prone, the sour berries are generally good to eat.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re someone who struggles with UTIs, including cranberries as a part of a healthy diet is something that you can do that won\u2019t harm you,\u201d said O\u2019Neill. \u201cIt could be a proactive approach.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the best in the world<\/p>\n The U.S. is one of the world\u2019s leading cranberry producers, with Wisconsin providing more than half of the global supply<\/a>.<\/p>\n Last year, the U.S. exported $351 million of cranberries<\/a> and related products, including fresh cranberries and cranberry juice. <\/p>\n The Badger State produced nearly 8 million barrels<\/a> of 100 pounds of cranberries in 2021, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.<\/p>\n Found in bogs<\/a> across the northern U.S., the annual cranberry harvest takes place from mid-September through November, with farmers combing berries off vines to be graded on color and quality.<\/p>\n The best cranberries should be fresh and firm with a glossy red skin and \u201cbounce\u201d when they\u2019re dropped, according to Penn State University<\/a>. <\/p>\n They\u2019ll keep for up to a month in the fridge, because can also be frozen as soon as you bring them home.<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n The U.S. is one of the world\u2019s largest cranberry producers, exporting more than $350 million worth yearly (AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n A rich-tasting history<\/p>\n The history of cranberries goes back thousands of years, with Native Americans using them as medicine<\/a> and clothing dye long before the first European settlers arrived. <\/p>\n They mixed them with cornmeal and baked them into bread and Pilgrims learned how to use the berries \u2013 first calling them \u201ccrane-berries\u201d because the fruit appeared to be the favorite food of cranes and many thought the flower that produces the berries resembled the head of a Sandhill Crane.<\/p>\n Cranberry juice was first made by the settlers in 1683, according to U.S. Cranberries<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Floating](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-2176740513.jpeg\")
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