[[File:Cranberry.jpg|thumb|350px|left|Vaccinium macrocarpon]]
Other Names : Bearberry, Vaccinium erythrocarpum, Vaccinium macrocarpon, arando, Vaccinium erythrocarpum, bearberry, Vaccinium macrocarpon, dingleberry, fenberry, Vaccinium oxycoccos, moorberry, mossberry, Veenbes<br>
Cranberries, often thought of only around Thanksgiving and Christmas, offer more than just a light, flavorful holiday dish. They also offer many health benefits if implemented as an everyday supplemental regimen. Cranberry is a small evergreen bush with red berries and pale pink flowers, native to Northern Europe, Eastern Canada and Eastern United States. Cranberry can be found in the form of the fruit, juice, extract, pill and capsule. Cranberry pills are easily accessible and are found in most health food stores and online. In addition to being a less expensive alternative to prescription drugs, cranberry pills boost overall health and wellness.<br>See also : [[D-mannose]]
==Special Precautions of Cranberries==
* Stomach upset : While eating raw cranberries is safe, too much of the fruit may cause stomach upset. If you’re pressing raw cranberries into a juice, drink it in moderate amounts. One serving is typically considered 4 ounces (120 mL). Too much cranberry juice may cause stomach cramps or diarrhea, especially in children. This is because fructose, the type of sugar found in fruit, may have a laxative effect in large doses — though specific research on cranberry juice is lacking.
* People taking blood thinners like warfarin should speak with their doctor before eating a lot of cranberries, as this fruit may affect how your liver breaks down medications. As a result, you may bruise or bleed more easily. However, some findings suggest that this drug interaction occurs only with excessive doses of 4–8 cups (1–2 liters) of cranberry juice, or 3-gram doses of cranberry extract, per day.
* Cranberries are also high in oxalates, a naturally occurring compound that may cause kidney stones when combined with calcium. Although research is mixed, it’s safest to avoid large amounts of cranberries if you have a history of kidney stones.
==The benefits of Cranberries are==
* Promote General Health and Wellness : Because cranberries contain an abundance of natural antioxidant compounds such as polyphenols (phenols and flavonoids), they are beneficial in reducing the risks for many diseases and cancers, thereby promoting overall good health. The use of cranberry pills reduces low density lipoprotein oxidation which lowers the risk for heart disease. Cranberry pills are beneficial for flushing out the kidneys, reducing the risk for kidney stones. In addition, cranberry pills contain properties that inhibit bacteria from adhering to the teeth and gums, reducing the risk for plaque build-up and periodontal disease, according to the Nutritional Supplement Educational Centre.