The cranberry bush (Vaccinium macrocarpon) is a low-growing
evergreen shrub with leathery leaves and bright red berries.
This member of the heath family grows in mountains, forests and
damp bogs from Alaska to Virginia. However, most of the
commercial berries are produced in Massachusetts and Wisconsin.
Native Americans used cranberries for both food and medicine.
The berries were enjoyed either raw or sweetened with maple
sugar. In addition, they used them in sauces, breads and
puddings, and used cranberries in poultices for treating wounds.
Cranberry leaves were typically used for diarrhea and urinary
disorders. The sailors during colonial days used cranberries to
prevent scurvy. Cranberries are among the top foods with proven
health benefits, according to Amy Howell, a researcher at
Rutgers University. Cranberries are full of antioxidants, which
protects cells from damage by unstable molecules called free
radicals. The National Institutes of Health is funding research
on the cranberry’s effects on heart di