That's Fit

Cranberries are associated mostly with the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays and are somewhat forgotten or overlooked the rest of the year. They have so many health benefits though that it might be worth working them into your diet more often year round. Just a short list of some of the many benefits of cranberries are:

• Cranberry juice has been shown to block urinary tract infections (no evidence at this time that it can be used to treat an already active infection).
• Cranberries contain a compound called proanthocyanidine that prevents plaque build-up on teeth. Researchers are looking into developing products to use it to prevent periodontal disease.
• In some cases, regular cranberry juice in the diet has killed the bacteria H. pylori that causes stomach cancer and ulcers.

In addition, ongoing research is supporting that cranberries and cranberry juice may have a positive affect on cholesterol, stunt tumor formation and growth, and prevent the growth of breast cancer cells in test tubes.

Not sure how processing the cranberries into that can-shaped "jelly log" affects these findings, but for all the high-fat, empty calorie splurge foods you'll have sitting on your holiday table this year (and it just wouldn't be the same without them!), you can feel a little better about the cranberries and cranberry sauce with your turkey and stuffing!