Dried cranberries are a healthy snack, as dried cranberries contain beneficial fiber, vitamins and even disease fighting antioxidants.
Although because raw cranberries are very tart, most commercial brands of dried cranberries are also heavily sweetened with added sugars and contain nearly 29 grams of sugar into a single quarter cup serving of dried cranberries.
Dried cranberries are rich in polyphenols and proanthocyanidins or (PACs), which protect cells from damage.
The proanthocyanidins or (PACs) also help stop certain bacteria from sticking to your urinary tract walls and can help prevent urinary tract infections and dried cranberries also provide around 2 grams of fiber per serving, which aids digestion and the plant compounds in the dried cranberries assist in lowering your inflammation in the body and supporting healthy cholesterol levels.
However the added sugars in many dried cranberries can also spike your blood sugar and contribute to extra calories if eaten in large amounts and dehydration and processing of the dried cranberries also reduce some of the vitamin levels when compared to fresh cranberries.
To keep the dried cranberries as a good healthy snack, stick to a small handful of around 1 to 2 tablespoons of dried cranberries at a time and you can even mix the dried cranberries into Greek Yogurt, oatmeal with nuts or green salads to slow down sugar absorption.
And you can also look for brands of dried cranberries that are sweetened with fruit juice, instead of refined sugar or even look for unsweetened varieties of dried cranberries if possible.
However while dried cranberries are a healthy snack, eating too many dried cranberries can cause diarrhea and stomach cramping as well as general digestive upset.
Cranberries, including dried cranberries and fresh cranberries when eaten in excess can cause diarrhea and stomach cramping and general digestive upset because the cranberries contain high amounts of fiber as well as organic acids and sugars, or even sugar alcohols in some sweetened cranberry products, which can irritate your stomach or even draw extra water into your bowels when consumed in large quantities.
Cranberries cause stomach issues and diarrhea due to high acid content, sugar and fiber overload.
Eating a large amount of whole or dried cranberries introduces your body with a sudden surge of fiber, which can result in cramping, gas and loose stools or diarrhea.
And the natural organic and citric acids in raw cranberries and even in cranberry juice can also irritate the lining of your digestive tract.
Also many dried cranberry snacks and cranberry juices contain added sugars and even sugar substitutes such as sorbitol, which have a natural laxative effect in high doses.
To prevent diarrhea and stomach cramping and general digestive upset from cranberries, cranberry snacks or even cranberry juice avoid excess consumption.
Stick to standard serving sizes of cranberries, which includes whole fresh cranberries and dried cranberries, like a modest handful of cranberries or a small 4 ounce glass of cranberry juice.
And drink plenty of water to help the body process the fiber from the cranberries and prevent dehydration, if you have diarrhea.
And look for low sugar or unsweetened cranberry options and snacks so that you avoid any sweetener induced digestive issues.
Fresh cranberries and dried cranberries are also healthier than other processed cranberry snacks with added sugars and sweeteners.