Phytochemicals help our bodies defend us against disease. They reduce inflammation, and also act like ingestible body guards, preventing and repairing DNA damage in the body that can lead to cancer.
Research suggests some of the chemicals in cranberries may even fight off foodborne illnesses like norovirus. Just don't load them up with too much sugar (most canned varieties already have a lot added in).
Stick to fresh cranberries, not the dried kind, for the best nutritional benefits.
"One cup of chopped raw cranberries, for example, contains 14.6 mg of vitamin C per serving, while one cup of dried cranberries contains 0.3 mg," the American Heart Association notes.