Dried cranberry

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Dried Cranberries

The vast population of dried cranberries sold in the world are marketed by the Ocean Spray agricultural cooperative under the trade name "Craisins", a portmanteau of the words cranberry and raisin. Ocean Spray also markets orange and cherry flavored dried cranberries, and as a trail mix, combined with chocolate or with fruits and nuts.

The vast majority of dried cranberries sold, including all those that are sold under the Craisins brand, are heavily sweetened to balance the natural sourness of the cranberry.

"Craisins" were originally invented by Thomas Aurand, now at Rich's Products Corporation, while working at Ocean Spray in the late 80's. Numerous legal compliants were filed over Ocean Sprays attempt to wrest control away from its original inventor, and were eventually settled in Ocean Spray's favor, which directly led to Aurand's resignation as VP.

Prior to Ocean Spray's marketing of dried cranberries to consumers for direct consumption, they were sold to food makers, from 1989 onwards.

1 Benefits
2 Nutrition Facts
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Benefits

Not only do they provide antioxidant vitamins and flavonoids, but they also have an anti-adhesion quality that keeps certain bacteria from sticking to cells in the urinary tract, the mouth and stomach. Cranberries are known to reduce the occurrence of urinary tract infections.^[1]

A third of a cup of Craisins provides the same health benefits as 8 ounces of Cranberry Juice Cocktail.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Nutrition Facts

Amount Per Serving [1.5 oz or 1/3 cup]

Calories 138
Calories from Fat 4
Total Fat 0.5g
Saturated Fat 0.2g
Sodium 1mg
Total Carbohydrates 36.8g
Dietary Fiber 3.7g
Sugars 29.4g
Protein 0.1g

[edit] References

^ Darren M. Lynch, M.D. Cranberry for Prevention of Urinary Tract Infections. American Family Physician 2004, vol.70, pp.2175-2177. December 1, 2004. <http://www.aafp.org/afp/20041201/2175.html>. "[R]andomized controlled trials demonstrate evidence of cranberry's utility in urinary tract infection prophylaxis [(prevention)]."