Cranberries are the good for you food of the week. With Thanksgiving only two weeks away, many of us head to the canned fruit aisle to grab that wiggly-jiggly cranberry sauce, bring it home and then wonder what to do with it. But cranberries are at their peak from October to December, so now’s the time to check your market’s produce section for a bag of fresh cranberries.

A half cup of cranberries has 23 calories, and provides vitamin C, dietary fiber, vitamin K and manganese. This may not seem like an overwhelming amount of health benefits. However, cranberries contain an antibacterial agent and other antioxidant compounds which reduce the ability of bacteria to adhere to your body’s cells, stopping infection in its tracks.

Long considered a weapon against infections of the urinary tract and bladder, cranberries have also been linked to protection against viruses, herpes, foodborne illnesses, tooth decay, kidney stones, and perhaps even cancer. It has also been suggested that cranberries can lowering LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, and raising HDL (“good”) cholesterol. That would make cranberries an effective part of a diet aiming to reduce heart attack and stroke.

When you buy fresh, whole cranberries, you’ll usually find them packed in a plastic bag. Look for bright, scarlet red berries that are firm and plump. You still get some antioxidant benefits from dried cranberries or cranberry juice, but watch the sugar content.

Cranberries are extremely tart, so try to pair them with something sweet to balance the taste. They are delicious in baked goods like breads and muffins. Sprinkle dried cranberries over your oatmeal or morning cereal. Mix them with granola and almonds for a snack, or put that over yogurt for a healthy treat. Cranberries can be a nice addition to winter salads. Try them with a roasted pork loin and butternut squash for a classic autumn feast. And of course, you’ll want some cranberries on your Thanksgiving table. Check out the easy recipe from Good Housekeeping in the video below.

Do you enjoy cranberries?

Will you have some on your Thanksgiving table?

Check out more cranberry recipes from AllRecipes

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