1. They calm your tissues. Compounds that are close to becoming household words (quercetin, proanthocyanidins, and resveratrol) help put the chill on chronic vascular inflammation -- and that may lead to younger arteries and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.

3. They may even balance your blood fats. Although further research is needed, cranberry juice may increase good-for-you HDL cholesterol and reduce lousy LDL cholesterol.