Let’s Talk About Cranberries
Image courtesy of Pexel
The month of November is home to one of the biggest holidays of the year: Thanksgiving. This holiday alone sells over 45 million turkeys in the U.S. each year. In many households, a common side dish or topping to go along with the popular poultry would be cranberries and cranberry sauce. This fruit has a strong historical presence and equally strong health benefits that consumers should know about.
The cranberry is one of the only fruits that naturally grew in North America several thousands of years ago. Cranberries started growing in bogs once glaciers began melting which resultantly created crevices for horticulture to flourish. The fruit’s harvest time is in the autumn months, another reason why cranberries are so well associated with Thanksgiving. Over time cranberries spread and found uses in medicinal practices. For instance, Native Americans would used brewed cranberries to treat wounds from poisoned arrow tips. Sea navigators and whalers, meanwhile, would eat and drink cranberries to prevent scurvy, a gum disease that over time decayed the teeth.
Outside of culinary creations such as cranberry sauce, cranberry juice and dried cranberries, the fruit can also be used to make do-it-yourself beauty products.
Cranberry Body Scrub: A cranberry body scrub can be made by mixing 1 cup of whole cranberries, 2 cups of granulated sugar and ½ cup of coconut oil with a few drops of fragrance being optional.
Cranberry Yogurt Mask: Cranberries can also be made into a facial mask by combining ½ cup of pureed cranberries to ½ cup of plain Greek yogurt and then using the mask for 10-15 minutes.
Cranberry Rouge/Cheek Stain: Even a fruity rouge and cheek stain can be made with some patience. Cranberries can be cut into thin slices the place into a low heat oven overnight. The dehydrated berries can then be frozen for several hours and later ground into a powder. 1 teaspoon of this homemade cranberry powder can then be mixed with 1 teaspoon of shea butter and 2 tablespoons of coconut oil to create a rosy colored hue.
Furthermore, modern day science has consistently show cranberries to be a high source of C31H28O12 (proanthocyanidins). This chemical specifically slows down the grow and spread of bad bacteria such as E. coli. The cranberry also contains phytochemicals that affect the taste, color, pH content, and so on. Some of the phytochemicals include:
- Anthocyanins
- Catechins
- Hippuric acid
- Quinic acid
- Triterpenoids
Cranberries are also a strong source of daily nutrition and contain adequate amounts of:
- Manganese
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
- Copper
- Dietary Fiber
This Thanksgiving, if cranberries are on the menu, feel free to appreciate their many cosmetic uses and health benefits.
Independent Chemical is a proud chemical supplier in New York. Learn more about the diverse range of cosmetic and food ingredients that are offered here.