Dried cranberries are one amongst the best dried fruit. The text below figures out some dried cranberries benefits and also acquaints with dried cranberries nutritional value. Dried fruits! Well, amongst our most favorite and probably one of the best snack forms. Since quite a long, dried fruits have been a rich source of all the essential nutrients of food. When it comes to dried fruits, we often think of raisins, apricots, plums etc...! But, let me tell, there's something more beyond this and it also includes dried cranberries! Dried cranberries which are also known as, craisins are another great source of many important nutrients and also contribute to a lot of health benefits. Moreover, dried cranberries constitute a vital part in many salad recipes, cereals and breads. Needless to say, all of them are beneficial to our health.

Dried cranberries are found mainly in the northern hemisphere and especially in the cooler parts of some countries situated over there. These also listed amongst the major crops in the United States. Dried cranberries are one of the highest selling food products in the global market, probably due to their numerous health benefits. But what exactly are the dried cranberries benefits and what is the nutritional composition of dried cranberries? Well, let us move ahead to find out an answer.

Dried Cranberries Nutritional Value

As with other foods, most of the benefits of dried cranberries are derived from the nutritional content present in them. Cranberries are a good source of dietary fiber, proteins, carbohydrates, etc. The protein content in about 100 gram of dried cranberries is around 0.05-0.07 gram, while the carbohydrates content is around 82-83 grams. The content of dietary fibers is about 5-6 grams and sugar is about 65-67 gram. Calorie count in one cup of dried cranberries is around 120-125 and the fat content in 40 grams of dried cranberries is about 1-1.2 gram. Cranberries is a good source of other essential nutrients such as minerals and vitamins. In ⅓ cup of dried cranberries, phosphorus is around 3-3.1 mg, magnesium 2-2.1 mg, manganese is somewhere around 0.104-0.106 mg and potassium 16-16.1 mg. Other minerals such as, iron, zinc, calcium and copper are also present in small quantities. Moreover, vitamins such as, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin A are also found in them. The standard measurement of one serving of dried sweetened cranberries, as prescribed by the United States Department of Agriculture is about 40-42 gram, which fills around ⅓ portion of a cup.

Health Benefits of Dried Cranberries

There are several benefits of dried cranberries, most of which, you would find are similar to other cranberry types. Discussed below are some common benefits of dried cranberries.

• After extensive research, studies and observations, dried cranberries have been linked to benefits such as strengthening the immune system and battling against bacterial and viral infections.
• Dried cranberries also are beneficial to the cardiovascular system of our body.
• The most common benefit shared by dried cranberries along with other cranberries is that, consuming sufficient amount of dried cranberries, helps in the treatment of urinary tract problems.
• The calcium content of dried cranberries helps in fighting against tooth decay and thus contributes to an effective dental care.

Dried cranberries are a part of many recipes of most of the cuisines of the world. Therefore, apart from eating them in their original or dried form, you can also have them incorporated into any of your recipes and reap the several dried cranberries benefits. However, in the pursuit of gaining benefits, eating them in sufficient quantities is equally important! Hope I have been successful enough, to acquaint you with the dried cranberries benefits and nutritional value through the above discussion.
Ujwal Deshmukh
Published: 12/10/2009