Cranberries are a member of the heather family and related to blueberries, bilberries, and lingonberries.
The most commonly grown species is the North American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon), but other types are found in nature. They now grow on around 58,000 acres of farmland across the northern United States, Chile, and Canada.
Many people consider cranberries to be a superfood due to their high nutrient and antioxidant content.
In fact, research has linked the nutrients in cranberries to a lower risk of urinary tract infection (UTI), the prevention of certain types of cancer, improved immune function, and decreased blood pressure.
They are rarely eaten raw but are popular as a juice and of course as a sauce on the Thanksgiving dinner table. It’s no coincidence that National Eat a Cranberry Day falls just before Thanksgiving.
