Spirit-free doesn’t mean spiritless during the holidays. In fact, a healthy mocktail will leave you feeling more spirited than most after a night of drinking and you’ll definitely feel better the next morning. Cranberry juice is common in winter drinks because cranberries are harvested in the fall and their sweet-tart flavor and deep red color are naturally festive. Considered a superfood, cranberries have been shown to reduce the inflammation that leads to rheumatoid arthritis and lower several heart disease risk factors. They may also supress H. pylori, the bacteria associated with stomach ulcers. One serving of cranberry juice (8 ounces) contains 26 percent of the RDA of Vitamin C, 20 percent of Vitamin E and 10 percent of Vitamin K. And of course cranberry juice has long been associated with preventing urinary tract infections due to antioxidants called proanthocyanidins that ward off infection-causing bacteria in the bladder. Given all those health benefits, let’s raise a toast to cranberries with my Skinny Sparkling Winter Mocktail!