Crazy for Cranberries
In The All-Natural Cardio Cure (Avery Books, 2004), Dr. Allan Magaziner puts in a plug for cranberries, unsung heroes of the berry gang. They’re loaded with disease-fighting polyphenols and can increase your body’s levels of HDL “good” cholesterol and your blood’s antioxidant capacity —which helps reduce risk of heart disease. The best way to take them is in pure (but oh-so-sour) juice, fresh or dried.
The June Jacobs Spa Collection (junejacobs.com) offers Cranberry Bath Salts, Cranberry Body Balm and skin-softening Cranberry Pomegranate Moisture Masque. They won’t help your cholesterol, but they smell divine.
Or whip up some Cranberry Lip Gloss:
Ingredients:
10 fresh cranberries
1 teaspoon honey
1 tablespoon sweet almond oil
1 drop vitamin E oil
Mix all ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for two minutes or until the mixture just begins to boil. (The bowl may also be heated in a pan of water on a stovetop.) Stir well and gently crush the berries. Let mixture cool for five minutes, then strain through a fine sieve to remove all the fruit pieces. Stir again and set aside to cool completely. When cool, transfer into a small portable plastic container or tin. Apply and enjoy!
