Run, don’t walk, to your nearest grocer.

For a limited time, you can buy an amazing keto zone fruit. It’s a nutrition powerhouse. And, it’s most likely on sale.

Fresh cranberries.

What’s so great about cranberries that you should run?

Amazing antioxidants, phytochemicals, and more.

Like other richly colored purplish-red fruits and vegetables, cranberries contain concentrated anti-inflammatories and antioxidants. The benefits of cranberries include heart health, urinary tract health and potentially anti-cancer action.

Best of all, they are not full of sugar.

In fact, Keto Zone Cranberry Chia Jam is a delicious and can used throughout the year. It’s a sweetener, topping, or stand-alone treat. With living chia seeds, it’s also filled with health-promoting healthy bacteria.

Don’t wait. Buy up all the cranberries you can find.

4-Ingredient Whole-Berry Keto Zone Cranberry Chia Jam

Ingredients:

• 1 lb cranberries
• 4 cups water
• 1 cup chia seeds
• 1.5 cups granular erythritol or xylitol (if using xylitol, take great care to keep it away from dogs as even small amounts can be fatal)

Instructions:

1. Bring water to boil on stove top.
2. Add cranberries.  Once boiling again, reduce to a simmer for about 10 minutes or until the cranberries pop open.
3. Cool slightly for 5 min. Add erythritol and chia seeds. Stir well.
4. Pour into jars, and allow to cool in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours to thicken.
5. Makes about 5 cups.  Store in refrigerator for 1-2 weeks or freeze for up to 6 months.

Nutrition info (1 Tbsp.): 17 calories, 2 grams carbs, 0.4 grams net carbs, 1.6 grams fiber, 0.4 grams protein 

Cranberries may taste a bit tart, but their nutrients are sweet for your health.

Like any berry or whole food that’s naturally vibrant in color, you can bet that beneficial antioxidants are responsible for its beautiful hue.

These anthocyanins perform a variety of healthful functions in our bodies to promote health and wellness.  Here’s are 4 distinct health benefits of cranberries.

Whole Body Health Benefits of Cranberries

Cardiovascular Health

Whole cranberries protect the cardiovascular system and the liver. In fact, the health benefits come from whole berries rather than cranberry juice or extracts.

Whole cranberries can help the body reduce cholesterol. In addition, they promote less arterial wall stiffness, and thereby support lower blood pressure (1).

Urinary Tract Health and Antibacterial Action

Cranberry’s specific antioxidants and flavonoids, the proanthocyanidins (PACs), support urinary tract health and may help prevent and decrease the severity of infections (UTIs).

How?

The unique structure of PACs acts as a barrier to infecting-causing bacteria that might otherwise latch on to the urinary tract lining (2).

What’s more, cranberries may offer anti-bacterial protection to other parts of the body as well.  For example, cranberries may also reduce the formation and potency of Helicobacter pylori, a bacteria linked to stomach ulcers (3).

Concentrated Antioxidants and Phytochemicals

The anthocyanin content of cranberries, which give cranberries their amazing red color, increases as sunlight strikes the berry during its growth.  Since cranberries float in water and are exposed to light during harvest, their anthocyanin continues to concentrate to levels higher than other berries (4).

This special nutrient is well-preserved when refrigerated and frozen, so it’s a great choice to buy cranberries and freeze them for use throughout the year.

Then, when you dig in and consume the berries, anthocyanin and other phytochemicals fights oxidative stress and discourages the production of inflammatory hormones in the body.

Anti-Cancer Nutrients

Cranberries are a potentially strong anti-cancer food.

Specifically, lab studies have shown they block expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs); inhibit ornithine decarboxylase enzymes (ODCs); stimulate quinone reductase enzymes (QRs); inhibit Phase I detoxification enzymes (CYP2C9s), and trigger programmed cell death in tumor cells.

Cranberry nutrients also include quercetin, another cranberry antioxidant. Quercetin has been linked to the reduced growth of human breast and colon adenocarcinoma, and human myelogenous leukemia cell lines.

Together, these cranberry compounds may help prevent cancer and cause cancer cell death specifically for cancers of the breast, colon, lung, and prostate. (5 )

Raw Cranberries Retain Even More Nutrients

Want even more nutrients? Try raw cranberries.

Raw cranberries maintain their high levels of nutrients, but admittedly, they are a bit tough to chew.

Try adding raw cranberries to a smoothie so they are broken down and blended.

Bottom Line

It’s not often that a truly amazing berry is also considered inexpensive. But, during the last 2 months of the year, prices drop and cranberries are abundant.

So run, don’t walk, to your nearest grocer.

The exercise and fruit will prove to be wonderfully healthful.