Paleo Warm Cranberry Sauce

Nothing balances all the beautifully rich and savory foods of Thanksgiving like a naturally sweet and tangy cranberry sauce.   Not only are they rich in anthocyanadins (a type of anti-oxidant), vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese, and even vitamin E, but they are praised for their association with supporting cardiovascular health by reducing LDL cholesterol, and preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs) and maybe even kidney stones.  Recent research has shown that it's not the acidity of the cranberries, but the unusual nature of their proanthocyanidins (PACs) that is related to prevention of UTIs. The special structure of these PACs acts as a barrier to bacteria that might otherwise latch on to the urinary tract lining.   But enough of that aspect.

I am most interested in the anti-oxidant/vitamin C aspect.  We do a lot of talking about anti-oxidants because they fight inflammation, but isn't it curious that God packaged it with an inflammation promoter:  Vitamin C.  Now don't wave that carving knife at me just yet, hear me out!  We love to encourage anti-inflammatory foods because our modern diet has led us to so much chronic inflammation which translates to chronic joint pain, gut pain, auto-immune type diseases and so on.  But if you want to heal injuries, build muscle, repair damage internal tissues, etc. normal inflammation is part of that process and rather than getting it from high doses of processed food, I recommend vitamin C.  


Think of it like how both heat and ice on sore muscles pump blood, fluids, and lymph in and out of tissue, so both anti-oxidants and vitamin C are needed.  Please keep in mind that true vitamin C that is prized for its tissue repair is not the ascorbic acid you get from your typical vitamin tablet... the real stuff is what will actually heal you. 

So go enjoy your cranberries!

Warm Cranberry Sauce

15 oz fresh cranberries
Zest and juice of 2 large oranges 
1/2 c raw local honey

In a medium saucepan, add all ingredients, cook on medium heat until cranberries begin to pop continue to cook for 10 minutes or until the sauce thickens.  Refrigerating will thicken further, but we enjoy this warm at the table. 

Happy Thanksgiving!