LAKEVILLE-MIDDLEBORO, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--If you want to smooch, not sniffle this Valentine’s Day, grab a glass of cranberry juice. According to a new study from the University of Florida, people who drink a glass of cranberry juice a day experience fewer cold and flu symptoms than those who don’t.1 Now that’s something to wrap your arms around!
“It’s important to remember that there are simple ways to fuel our diets with immune-boosting foods like the cranberry,” said Dr. Susan Percival, Chair of the Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition at the University of Florida. “For years, scientists have sought to discover how cranberries contribute to whole body health – from urinary tract to cardiometabolic health. Now we can add immunity support to the list.”
Stop! (Germs) In the Name of Love
The study, published in Nutrition Journal, found that individuals who drank a low calorie cranberry beverage with similar polyphenol content to cranberry juice cocktail every day for 10 weeks had nearly five times more growth of immune-boosting cells and significantly fewer cold and flu symptoms than non-cranberry consumers. Researchers observed that the fruit’s immunity benefits came from the presence of yδ-T cells, which are the body’s first line of defense against harmful bacteria. By improving their function, scientists believe we can reduce the number of symptoms associated with the common cold and flu.2
To date, most cranberry research has focused on the fruit’s ability to prevent bacteria from sticking inside the body, particularly in the urinary tract. This study is among the few that focuses on immune function, assessing the effect of cranberry juice consumption on immune cells, which are responsible for helping to prevent bacterial and viral infections from overwhelming the body.
“The research certainly makes a compelling case for adding more polyphenol-rich fruits like the cranberry to the diet, particularly as we continue to uncover links between regular fruit juice consumption and whole body health,” added Percival.
Based on this study, drinking two glasses of polyphenol-rich cranberry juice every day may help boost your immune system. To review the University of Florida study, or for more information on the health benefits of cranberries, visit www.cranberryhealth.com.
Power-up for your Valentine
So why not hedge your bets this Valentine’s Day by powering up with the cranberry? Make your heart swoon and your immunity boom with these delicious Valentine’s Day-inspired recipes from Ocean Spray.
Stir things up on your date night with an irresistible Love Potion. A splash of lime juice, grenadine and Ocean Spray® Cranberry Juice Cocktail makes this the perfect start to your romantic rendezvous. Uh-oh! Does your loved one look like he or she is catching a cold? Catch his or her attention instead with a Vitamin C-filled Cranberry Kiss.
After drinks, sit down to a light and delicious dinner of Cedar Planked Salmon, garnished with a cranberry relish that will spice up the night! Make sure you save room for dessert, because this decadent Cranberry Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake adds a flourish at the finish line. It’s the perfect blend of fruit, cheese and chocolate, so don’t be surprised if your heart skips a beat!
For more recipes, whatever your mood, visit www.oceanspray.com and visit Ocean Spray’s Pinterest page to pin your favorites! Don’t forget to share your date night delights with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
About Ocean Spray
Ocean Spray is a vibrant agricultural cooperative owned by more than 700 cranberry and grapefruit growers in the United States, Canada and Chile who have helped preserve the family farming way of life for generations. Formed in 1930, Ocean Spray is now the world’s leading producer of cranberry juices, juice drinks and dried cranberries and is the best-selling brand in the bottled juice category. The cooperative’s cranberries are currently featured in more than a thousand great-tasting, good-for-you products in over 50 countries worldwide. With more than 2,000 employees and nearly 20 cranberry receiving and processing facilities, Ocean Spray is committed to managing our business in a way that respects our communities, employees and the environment. In fiscal year 2013, Ocean Spray posted record-high gross sales of $2.2 billion and net proceeds of $380 million. For more information visit www.oceanspray.com or our corporate blog at www.insidethecranberry.com.
1 Nantz MP, Rowe C, Muller C, Creasy R, Colee J, Khoo C, Percival S. Consumption of cranberry polyphenols enhances human yδ-T cell proliferation and reduces the number of symptoms associated with colds and influenza: a randomized, placebo-controlled intervention study. Nutrition Journal 2013; 12(161): 1.
2 Nantz MP, Rowe C, Muller C, Creasy R, Colee J, Khoo C, Percival S. Consumption of cranberry polyphenols enhances human yδ-T cell proliferation and reduces the number of symptoms associated with colds and influenza: a randomized, placebo-controlled intervention study. Nutrition Journal 2013; 12(161): 6-7.
