ARS - May 2016 Podcast 
Cranberry Health
[Running time:  ~ 1:40]

Welcome to "Focus on Ag Research" from the Agricultural Research Service or ARS.  ARS is the U S Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research agency.

Cranberry sauce is a holiday tradition, probably because it goes well with turkey. But did you know that cranberries may also boost your heart health?  

An ARS scientist put 50 healthy adults on the same diet for 8 weeks, gave half of them a glass of cranberry juice twice a day, and the other half a placebo twice a day. She also took blood samples from them. 

After 8 weeks, those who drank the cranberry juice had lower levels of 5 compounds in their blood associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and stroke. 

The results are worth noting because when it comes to heart health, every little bit helps. And besides, they might give you something to talk about at your next holiday gathering.

ARS scientists have a history of keeping people informed about what they eat and drink so they can make better informed decisions about their diets.  

To learn more about ARS research, visit AgResearch magazine at www.agresearchmag.ars.usda.gov.  
That's our podcast for today.  Thanks for listening.