Seems like it wouldn’t be thanksgiving without cranberry relish. A staple at holiday dinners, cranberries can easily be cooked and whipped into a delicious side dish. But did you know that cranberries contain a plethora of health benefits?

Often associated with preventing a urinary tract infection, cranberries contain proanthocyanidins which adhere to bacteria and prevent them from sticking to cell walls. But that’s not all. Cranberries, like many other berries, are full of antioxidants that help prevent cancer. Research also shows that they can help to reduce bad cholesterol, are important in anti-aging and in the prevention of heart disease.

The beauty of cranberries is that they freeze well so you can use them for Thanksgiving dinner and save a bag for later use. Since they tend to be tart, you usually need to add sugar to make them more inviting. But instead of using white sugar, I like to substitute agave nectar or pure maple syrup, natural sweeteners that are more gentle to your system.

Filed under: Cancer, Eating, Food, Fruit, Healing, Heart Health, Nutrition, Sugar and Sweeteners