Cranberry Tea

During the holiday season, holiday teas are popular. One tea in particular that is quite tasty and found in many  homes is cranberry tea. Cranberries grow in bogs in the Northeast part of the United states and are harvested in the fall. They are famous for their tart taste, so tart in fact that some sort of sweetening is almost mandatory. Cranberries are used in pies, cakes, sauces, breads and beverages both hot and cold.

Cranberry tea is thought to be very healthful. Cranberry, according to folklore,  is particularly famous for preventing UTI's. Ongoing research is being conducted to discover the effects of cranberry tea on ulcers, cholesterol levels, breast cancer and stomach cancer. Additional research is also being conducted on the effects of cranberries on heart disease and yeast infections. Cranberry is thought to help combat dental diseases like gingivitis. The theory is that it prevents plaque from sticking to the teeth. Be sure to consult your holistic health practitioner before trying cranberry for medicinal purposes.

Cranberry tea is especially popular during the holiday season. It is a beautiful bright red which fits with holiday decor. All sorts of things can be combined with it like ginger, pomegranate, lemon, grape juice, apple juice or cider, hibiscus, cinnamon and the list goes on. Cranberries have loads of fiber, antioxidants; they are very high in vitamin C. There are also modest amounts of Vitamins E, K, and B6. Minerals include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium.

There are some side effects of cranberry tea that include diarrhea if too much is consumed.  Pregnant and nursing women are warned not to take cranberry supplements. Cranberry has salicylic acid, which is similar to aspirin. People with aspirin allergies should not take large amounts. Cranberry products are sour and often contain sugar, which diabetics should watch for. They also contain  the chemical oxalate which might create kidney stones in folks that are high risk.

One of my favorite ways to make tea over the holidays is to mix cranberry with hibiscus. Here is a suggestion.

Boil 2 cups of water
Use 1 tea bag of cranberry and 1 tea bag of hibiscus.
Put them in a cup and pour water over them.
Let steep 2-3 minutes and enjoy
Sweetener may be added as desired.

There are all kinds of holiday tea products available on the internet that contain cranberry. Try some of them and find out which one is your favorite. How do you like your cranberry tea? Share your comments below.

Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-958-cranberry.aspx?activeingredientid=958&activeingredientname=cranberry
http://www.livestrong.com/article/236729-what-are-the-health-benefits-of-cranberry-tea/

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/7678/2

Check out my website at www.valerielull.com  I have two boooks out which could make a teriffic holiday gift for a friend or relative.

Valerie Lull
Aithor
valerielull923@gmail.com

Cranberries

This is the season of the year when people turn to fall foods like pumpkins, squash, turkey, dressing, yams and of course the cranberry sauce. Cranberry sauce is an important part of most Thanksgiving meals. Cranberries are found in many holiday dishes like dressing and holiday breads and muffins.They are also rich in nutrients and very useful for medicinal purposes.

Perhaps the most common use of cranberries is for urinary tract infections. There is little evidence that cranberries can cure a UTI, but there is evidence that cranberry may be able to prevent them. The current thinking is that the unsweetened cranberry juice keeps the bacteria from sticking to the inside of the bladder wall and the urethra which keeps the infection from forming.

One must be careful with cranberry products as most of them contain sugar which causes them to be absolutely useless for prevention of UTI's. This is why many people take a supplement instead of drinking the juice. The juice of raw cranberries, without sugar is very very tart and hard for most folks to drink. Personally I take a cranberry supplement every day as a preventative measure. I have never had a UTI and I hope I never do.

Cranberries contain vitamin A, vitamin C, beta carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, folate, potassium, manganese. proanthocyanidins, flavonoids and antioxidants.  They are second highest among berries in antioxidant strength with blueberries coming up first.

Drinking cranberry juice in excess can cause an upset stomach or diarrhea.Cranberries have salicilic acid in them which is an ingredient in aspirin. If you are allergic to aspirin you should avoid cranberry in large amounts. If you are prone to kidney stones you may want to avoid large quantities of cranberry because cranberries have oxalates in them which contribute to the formation of kidney stones.

Cranberry beverages can be taken both hot and cold. There are several cranberry teas on the market. A good punch can be made by adding a little carbonated water to the cranberry juice.

I want to take this opportunity to wish all my readers a Happy Thanksgiving. As we continue in the holiday season you can find many good cranberry recipes on the internet. Check out my website at www.valerielull.com I welcome your questions and comments. My e-mail address is below.


Valerie Lull
Author
Ten Healthy Teas
Lullval@clearwire.net