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If Thanksgiving weren't synonymous with stuffing, gravy, butter, and other festively dressed saturated fats, it would be one of the healthiest holidays around. Not just because the bird itself is a great source of lean protein. Or because sweet potatoes are rich in vitamins (but not if you put that marshmallow stuff on top of them).

Thanksgiving is about giving thanks and being with family and friends -- two important ways to bust the stress that can age you. Data show that giving thanks can make us younger. For instance, studies of people who kept gratitude journals demonstrated that they were more likely to exercise, report fewer physical problems, and feel more optimistic about life. Other data have shown that friends can boost your chances of top-notch well-being by a factor of 5. All of these can turn back your body's clock.

So use the holiday to think of someone who has had an effect on your life -- big or small -- and write that person a note of gratitude (e-mail hasn't been studied, so do it with paper). Or, hopefully, they'll be around your holiday table, and you can thank them in person. Fifteen minutes of daily gratitude dramatically decreases stress hormones -- the ones that cause gastrointestinal problems, hormonal problems, and artery problems, not to mention headaches, anxiety, and more. So while you're fussing with the bird, the centerpiece, the kids' table, or the special acorn squash side dish, take a minute to put the thanks in Thanksgiving. Your body will be grateful, too.