Traditionally, cranberries have been used as a side dish at American Holidays like Thanksgiving. The Native Americans in Massachusetts introduced the first English Pilgrims to the tart red fruit they called sassamanash. Only recently have we discovered the multiple health benefits of cranberries. Cranberries have been used successfully to fight urinary tract infections (UTI). At this time numerous investigations are in progress to determine the efficacy of cranberries for fighting peptic ulcers and impeding the dental plaque that proceeds tooth decay. Additional studies are underway to determine the efficacy of cranberries to improve cardiovascular health, their ability to help our bodies ward off cancers, and to determine their anti-aging potential.

Preliminary research directed at discovering the way cranberries fight UTI indicates that components in the cranberries prevent the bacteria from adhering to the sites within the urinary tract such as the urethra and the bladder. The same apparently goes for the way cranberries block the bacteria that cause peptic ulcers by inhibiting the adhesion of the bacteria to the human gastric epithelial cells. Research on cranberries cancer fighting potential are still in the early stages, but the scientists are theorizing that cranberry extracts may inhibit the growth and spread of major cancers including breast, colon, lung and prostate cancer. Flavonoid-rich cranberries are currently being researched for their cardiovascular health potential to inhibit the formation of plaque in arteries.