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Cranberries
built 199 days ago
Originally, the Cranberries were a band called the Cranberry Saw Us. Brothers Noel and Mike Hogan (guitar and bass, respectively) formed the band in Limerick, Ireland, with drummer Fergal Lawler in 1990. Following the departure of the group\'s original singer, Niall, the trio placed an advertisement for a female singer. Dolores O\'Riordan responded to the advertisement and auditioned by writing lyrics and melodies to some of the band\'s existing demos. When she returned with a rough version of "Linger," the group hired her on the spot. Shortly after she joined, the band recorded a demo tape which they sold in record stores throughout Ireland.
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Cranberries are a versatile fruit. They can be used as an appetizer, beverage, with a main dish or in breads and desserts. The tangy flavor may need a sweetener to make them acceptable to most. To avoid sugar, try mixing cranberries with other fruits that have natural sweetness, such as apples, oranges or apricots. Cooking cranberries in the syrup from canned fruit, such as pears or peaches, is another choice. Serve the sauce and berries with the fruit.
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Cranberries are known to have a few health benefits. They are used widely for treating urinary tract issues, cranberry concentrate pills are sold in the vitamin section of the supermarket. Cranberries are being studied for possible benefits fighting bacterial infections, cardiovascular benefits, immune system strengthening, and anti-cancer properties. Cranberries are even suspected of helping fight tooth decay!
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Cranberries have tannins, compounds that keep bacteria from binding to cells, preventing them from multiplying and causing infections. Tannins are ... antioxidants that bond with free radicals -- compounds that damage the body -- and reduce their energy level so they are less harmful. Antioxidants may help prevent certain cancers and contribute to cardiovascular health.
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Cranberries are grown throughout the northern part of the United States. This region offers the special conditions that cranberries require, including sandy soil, abundant fresh water and a growing season from May to October. Cranberries grow on low lying vines in impermeable beds layered with sand, peat, gravel and clay. These beds are commonly known as "bogs" or "marshes" and were originally created by glacial deposits. Commercial bogs use a system of wetlands, uplands, ditches, flumes, ponds and other water bodies that provide a natural habitat for a variety of plant and animal life.
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Cranberries may ... act as natural "probiotics" by enabling the good bacteria in the GI tract to thrive, while killing off the bad bacteria that promote infections and foodborne illnesses. A study by Leslie Plhak, Ph.D., at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that whole frozen cranberries contained compounds that inhibited the growth of common foodborne pathogens, including Listeria monocytogenes and E. coli 0157:H7, but enhanced the growth of a beneficial bacterium Lactobacillus fermentum by as much as 25 times. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 76 million Americans contract foodborne illnesses annually, causing major intestinal distress, and, in rare cases, serious life-threatening conditions. "Components in cranberries are specifically inhibiting the growth of certain food-borne pathogens and may enable, or even promote, the survival of "good" bacteria, notes Plhak.
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