Cranberries

Cranberries are a quintessential holiday food. At Thanksgiving, I make my grandmother's cranberry sauce. Throughout the year, I love to snack on dried cranberries. The vibrant color and sweet and tart taste is what sells me every time.

The real question is what are the benefits? Historically, Native Americans used it to fight infection and pilgrims used it to fight scurvy. Here's some facts:

• High in vitamin C
• High in fiber
• High in antioxidants
• One cup of whole cranberries has 8,983 total antioxidant capacity
• Protects cells from free radicals

Also, Amy Howell has conducted research on the benefits of cranberries. So far she's found:

• Cranberry juice can block urinary infections
• The compounds block bacteria from sticking to our cells
• Cranberries can prevent plaque formation

So, feel good the next time you indulge in this sweet, tart treat!

Sources: WebMD, MSNBC and NPR