Cranberries, the North American fruit harvested in the fall of the year, have traditionally been a food served during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season. But there are good reasons for incorporating them into your diet on a regular basis year around. Here we will point out four ways how they benefit the liver specifically, and then give three cautions when they could be an issue health-wise.

People have known for years that drinking cranberry juice can be a natural remedy for urinary tract infections. Here are four ways they can keep your liver healthy:

1. Toxic drug removal. One of the most important functions that the liver performs is the removal of toxic drugs and metals from the system. Cranberries are very high in proanthocyanidins, which are very powerful antioxidants that bind to these toxins, aiding in their removal by the liver. Red wine made from grapes is also an important source of these antioxidants.

2. Vitamin C. Being very high in this necessary vitamin, cranberries will have the ability to thin and decongest bile. This is very important for assisting the liver in metabolizing fats more efficiently, which is especially important for weigh reduction. Additionally, for those afflicted with fatty liver symptoms, this takes on even greater importance.

3. Detoxification. Glutathione is the most critical and integral part of your detoxification system. All the toxins stick onto glutathione, which then carries them into the bile and the stool -- and out of your body. Your body produces glutathione, and quite a while ago humans produced enough to handle the toxins that were thrown at the body; but not anymore. Poor diet, medications, toxins and pollutants, stress, trauma and aging all have an effect on depleting what your body can produce, making it necessary that our body has enough for proper detoxification. Vitamin C foods, of which cranberries are an important source, enhance the production of glutathione.

4. Protection from free radicals. Foods that are abundant with antioxidants help the liver neutralize cell-damaging compounds called free radicals. Cranberries are one of the foods that are loaded with antioxidants.

It is clear that cranberries offer extraordinary benefits for the liver, and the body generally. But as with any miracle food, there are a few things to be cautious of. Due to their naturally tart taste, many recipes add sugar to make them more palatable. Adding sugar can reverse the benefits that cranberries provide, especially for those fighting overweight or blood sugar issues. I drink unsweetened cranberry juice as part of my mix of healthy juices, and I can say it isn't pleasant to drink. But it is better to add water rather than sugar to make it more drinkable.

The other main issue that some people may have with cranberries is those that are prone to kidney stone issues. Cranberries are high in oxalates, which have been associated with calcium stones, the most common form of kidney stones. There are several foods that have high levels of oxalates, such as nuts and chocolate, so if you have issues with calcium kidney stones you should be aware of your intake of these types of foods. That said, there is still a compelling case for the health benefits to the liver that cranberries provide.