The surprising benefits of eating cherries
When you think of cherry season, you probably picture plump red cherries with their sweet smell and juicy texture.
But that’s not all cherries have to offer! In addition to being delicious and versatile, cherries have been proven to have multiple health benefits.
That’s right—there are actual medicinal qualities in these seasonal treats! So the next time you see a box of ripe cherries at the store.
Don’t just stick them in your shopping cart as an afterthought; eat them! We bet you won’t regret it. (Hint: they also pair nicely with chocolate.
Cherry prevents cancer
Cherries contain quercetin and anthocyanins, two types of antioxidants that are said to help prevent certain types of cancer. They also boost your heart health by improving blood circulation, which reduces inflammation and keeps blood vessels strong.
Cherries even have anti-inflammatory properties that could help you avoid muscle pain after exercise. All in all, they’re a pretty powerful little fruit! The best way to get cherry’s many benefits is by incorporating them into your diet.
Add frozen cherries or cherry juice to smoothies, try tart cherry tea for cough relief, or grab a handful when you need an energy boost during your morning walk to work.
A handful of fresh cherries can be eaten as a snack, but remember that their high sugar content means they should be consumed in moderation. Be sure to check out our recipe section for some tasty ideas on how to incorporate more cherries into your diet.
If you want to reap all of these benefits, it’s important to eat fresh cherries over canned ones (the syrup in canned fruits can actually block absorption of nutrients). Dried fruits also tend to lose much of their nutritional value due to being exposed to air and heat.
As with most foods, it's best not to rely too heavily on one food source for your nutrients; instead focus on eating a balanced diet.
So enjoy those cherries—but don't forget about other antioxidant-rich foods like blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, red grapes and strawberries! You'll find lots of great recipes on these pages that use cherries so you can try out new ways to add them to your meals.
And if you're looking for something sweet check out our easy Cherry Clafoutis recipe Enjoy! How to beneftis of apple.
How to beneftis of pineapple
How to beneftis of juice is a popular weight loss aid. It contains a powerful compound called naringenin, which has been shown to boost metabolism and help burn fat.
In one study, participants who consumed half a grapefruit before each meal lost an average of three pounds over 12 weeks. Grapefruits are also high in fiber and vitamins C and A, which can help with digestion and keep you feeling full longer.
Drinking grapefruit juice is also associated with lower body weight, according to research from Texas A&M University And if you’re looking for more ways to eat more fruit , check out our list of 10 Easy Ways to Eat More Fruit.
What is professional writing? Professional writing refers to any type of work that requires a high level of expertise and extensive research.
This includes, but is not limited to, academic essays, marketing materials, sales letters case studies and white papers. Professional writers may be asked to write about a wide range of topics or industries depending on their skillset.
Some are hired by large companies as in house writers while others freelance for multiple clients. Regardless of how they work or what they write about, all professional writers must have excellent communication skills and be able to meet deadlines under pressure.
How do I become a professional writer While there are no formal requirements for becoming a professional writer , it does require training and practice in order to succeed in your career.
Cherry protects the heart
Cherries are a rich source of anthocyanins which have been shown to lower bad LDL cholesterol and triglycerides while increasing good HDL cholesterol.
A study in Health magazine demonstrated that cherry intake reduced bad cholesterol by an average of 10 percent and total cholesterol by seven percent.
Cherries can also be beneficial in preventing heart disease, because they keep inflammation levels low while protecting arteries.
Cherries have even been known to stop plaque build-up in arteries; research has shown that after just one week of daily cherry consumption, plaque build-up slows down considerably.
The best way to eat cherries for optimum heart health is by making sure you consume them raw; otherwise, you will lose most of their beneficial properties when cooked or dried.
Keep a bag of frozen cherries on hand for easy snacking. Also, remember to purchase organic when possible as conventional crops may be treated with pesticides that could damage your cardiovascular system.
And never eat canned cherries: they contain additives such as high fructose corn syrup and artificial coloring agents, both of which are unhealthy options if you’re trying to protect your heart. Instead, buy whole fresh cherries in season and freeze them yourself.
Just make sure you leave a little space between each cherry so they don't stick together. That way, they'll thaw faster once ready to eat! When buying fresh cherries look for plump fruit without any dark spots or bruises on it.
And make sure there's no sign of mold moldy fruit won't ripen properly and can actually pose serious health risks! Cherries are delicious right off the tree but are also great additions to salads or desserts like pies or cobblers.
They taste great baked into cookies too! If you're not a fan of tartness, consider drying some cherries out before eating them; they'll still retain many of their nutrients, including antioxidants.
You can use them in trail mixes or add them to homemade granola bars. If you're feeling adventurous, try making your own dried cherries at home: simply wash and dry the fruit thoroughly then lay it out on paper towels overnight until completely dry.
Store dried cherries in airtight containers at room temperature for up to two months or longer if refrigerated. To get more bang for your buck, try freezing dried cherries instead of storing them in a cool, dry place.
Frozen cherries will last almost indefinitely when stored correctly. Just make sure you avoid using plastic bags since plastic tends to leach chemicals into food over time. Use freezer bags instead and store your dried cherries in large quantities (about 2 cups per bag) so they'll stay fresh longer.
Cherry lowers inflammation
Inflammation is at least partially responsible for a range of common diseases and conditions, including heart disease, asthma cancer, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Cherry consumption has been shown to reduce markers of inflammation such as C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammatory protein in blood plasma. Cherries also contain high levels of anthocyanins, antioxidants that prevent oxidation damage to cells.
Other research has indicated cherry lowers stress hormones like cortisol that could exacerbate chronic inflammation. Add some cherry juice or extract to your smoothie or water bottle every day.
It won’t hurt! You can even make delicious cherry compote by simmering dried cherries with sweetener and then reducing it until it thickens into a syrup.
Try stirring a spoonful into yogurt or oatmeal or serving over ice cream for dessert. Your body will thank you.
Because inflammation contributes to so many health issues, many people want to avoid chronic low-grade inflammation Fortunately, it doesn’t take much effort to eat foods high in anti-inflammatory properties.
Eating cherries often can be an easy way to add antioxidant phytonutrients from cherry leaves, stems and pits which have all demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects in studies on rats and humans.
While additional human trials are needed before we recommend regularly consuming any food for their health benefits alone there are other nutritional reasons why we should eat more cherries if possible too.
Cherries are rich sources of fiber that aid digestion and protect against heartburn by slowing down stomach emptying while providing beneficial phytonutrients without added sugar or fat.
Cherry fights disease
There are many kinds of cherries, but most varieties share similar health-boosting abilities. Of all cherries, tart Montmorency cherries have been shown to fight disease in humans.
M
ontmorency is a variety that’s grown in Michigan; it’s also sometimes called pie cherry because it can be used to make pies and juice. Tart Montmorency cherry trees have been found to fight inflammation which means they could help with everything from rheumatoid arthritis to psoriasis and even cancer.
Montmorencysearch suggests that eating them two or three times a week can lower your risk for heart attack by as much as 25 percent! You might not think of cherries as superfoods, but these little fruits pack a big punch when it comes to nutrition.
Just one cup has about 160 calories and provides more than 4 grams of fiber—that’s nearly half your daily recommended intake They also provide plenty of vitamin C (about 13 percent of your daily needs) and potassium (6 percent).
Plus, studies show that consuming just 2 cups per day can reduce LDL cholesterol levels by up to 10 percent. This type of fat is known as bad cholesterol because it contributes to plaque buildup in arteries increasing your risk for heart disease.
Eating cherries regularly may help you maintain healthy blood pressure and protect against stroke. And unlike some other fruits they don't contain any sugar.
Montmorency cherries are naturally sweet thanks to their high concentration of anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants that give them their bright red color.
Because anthocyanins work so well at fighting free radicals and helping prevent cell damage, researchers believe they may even play a role in slowing down aging.
That makes cherries an ideal food choice if you want to look younger longer! Cherries also contain melatonin, which helps regulate sleep cycles and keep us feeling energized during waking hours.
Cherry improves digestion
If you have gastrointestinal issues, you’ll be happy to know that cherries are a healthy way to improve digestion. Cherries help reduce risk of developing stomach ulcers and acid reflux, lower heartburn symptoms and relieve pain from inflammatory bowel disease.
And even if you don’t suffer from any digestive problems, cherries will still aid in your quest for better health through regularity: A study published in Phytotherapy Research found that participants who took tart cherry extract daily had fewer constipation episodes than those who did not take cherry extract.
The researchers concluded that [cherry] consumption may benefit gastrointestinal function by reducing abdominal discomfort and improving stool consistency. For maximum results, consume two cups of fresh or frozen cherries each day (or one cup dried).
Since cherries are very sweet, you can also try mixing them with other fruits such as apples or pears to make them more palatable. Just be sure to keep an eye on portion size so you don’t end up consuming too many calories.
Also remember that it is recommended to eat these high fiber foods at breakfast time This is because when you wake up, your body is dehydrated and doesn’t have much energy yet; therefore it doesn’t digest food well until it has time to rehydrate itself.
You should aim for about 15 grams of fiber per day! I find drinking my water and taking a multivitamin pill first thing in the morning helps. I recommend trying to get at least 1/2 of your daily requirement before noon if possible.
Doing so will give you lasting energy throughout most of your day without making you feel bloated or tired.
It is important to eat whole fruit instead of drinking juice, though – juicing removes all of the fiber from fruit, leaving only fructose which can cause inflammation and obesity over time.
Cherry helps with insomnia
Sleep troubles are more common than you think, with 25% of Americans reporting difficulty falling asleep at least one night a week. While it’s not an immediate cure for sleeplessness, scientists have found that cherry juice can help your body relax and improve sleep quality by slowing down your heart rate and lowering blood pressure.
This means when you drink cherry juice before bed, you’ll fall asleep faster and get better sleep overall. Drink a glass or two right before hitting the sack to enjoy its restorative properties.
Cherries also contain melatonin, which is a hormone produced in our bodies to regulate our circadian rhythm. In other words, melatonin helps keep us awake during daylight hours and sends us into slumber mode at night.
If you suffer from insomnia because your body clock is out of whack (or if your melatonin levels aren’t what they should be cherries might just be able to fix that too! Eat up—your sweet dreams are on their way.
In addition to improving sleep quality cherries can treat a range of different ailments including inflammation and gout For example.
Drinking tart cherry juice as part of an eight week arthritis study reduced pain significantly and may prevent joint damage caused by conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.
What makes these fruits so special? Tart cherries, unlike regular varieties like Bing or Rainier, have unique anti-inflammatory compounds called anthocyanins. More research needs to be done before we know how effective tart cherries are for fighting inflammation;
however, it's possible that their anthocyanins play a role in keeping joint pain away. As if that wasn't enough, researchers found that tart cherries also contain melatonin—the hormone responsible for regulating our circadian rhythm.
Melatonin is known to help with insomnia and other sleep disorders but it might also reduce inflammation! If you want all of these health benefits without actually having to eat cherries (who has time for that?), look into taking cherry extract supplements.
A handful of studies show they're just as effective at reducing inflammation and insomnia symptoms as whole fruit—but obviously don't taste quite as good! Another benefit of tart cherries is improved heart health.
One randomized controlled trial showed that consuming two cups of Montmorency tart cherry juice daily decreased blood pressure and cholesterol levels over a period of six weeks compared to participants who consumed cranberry juice instead.
It’s important to note that more research needs to be done on whether or not cherries can improve heart health, especially when eaten regularly over long periods of time.
However, one thing's for sure: they're definitely better than red wine when it comes to your ticker!
Cherry reduces blood pressure
Cherries are rich in a substance called anthocyanins, which has been found to lower blood pressure. These antioxidants are also believed to boost heart health by improving circulation and reducing plaque buildup in arteries.
The potassium in cherries is also great for keeping your blood pressure at normal levels. One study showed that patients with chronic kidney disease who consumed bananas – a significant source of potassium had more than half their risk for having a stroke lowered after five years compared to those who did not consume it.
Bananas also contain magnesium, a mineral known as an anti-hypertensive because it reduces high blood pressure levels. You can get similar results from cherries, but they don’t have to be fresh; dried cherries or cherry juice concentrate both work just as well.
If you drink about one cup of cherry juice daily, you could reduce your systolic blood pressure (the top number) by 5 mmHg within six weeks. When it comes to diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number), you could see a 4 mmHg reduction within four weeks.
This would amount to about 3% for systolic and 2% for diastolic if these reductions were sustained over time. In addition, cherries contain plenty of vitamin C, another antioxidant that helps reduce hypertension by boosting immunity and lowering stress hormones like cortisol.
As little as 10 mg per day of vitamin C has been shown to reduce blood pressure, so two cups of cherries will give you almost 200 mg Add some almonds into your diet along with them and you’ll get even more bang for your buck.
Research shows that almonds increase urinary excretion of sodium, helping to lower blood pressure even further. Another major benefit of cherries is that they help fight inflammation.
Inflammation plays a major role in many diseases, including heart disease and cancer so reducing inflammation can help prevent these conditions from developing.
Cherries are full of compounds called anthocyanins, which have been shown to inhibit inflammation throughout the body when eaten regularly. To reap all these benefits, aim for one cup of fresh cherries each day or add dried ones to your oatmeal or cereal instead of raisins.
Cherry juice concentrate is another option if you prefer something sweeter; mix 1/2 teaspoon into 8 ounces water once a day for best results. Just make sure you dilute it enough; concentrated cherry juice can cause stomach irritation.
Finally, keep in mind that there are other foods besides cherries that pack anthocyanins, such as strawberries blueberries and raspberries.
But since cherries contain more of these powerful antioxidants than any other fruit or vegetable, it makes sense to eat them on a regular basis! While adding lots of fruits and vegetables to your diet is never a bad idea remember that variety really does matter here.
It's better to eat a handful of different fruits every day rather than several servings of one type - you'll reap greater nutritional benefits overall.
Cherries are a delicious way to stay healthy and you can enjoy them in a variety of ways For example, try cherries as a garnish for your breakfast yogurt or pour cherry juice concentrate over vanilla ice cream for dessert.
Make up a batch of cherry jam and spread it on toast or use it as the filling for your next batch of cookies. There are endless possibilities! And, although cherries aren't exactly low in calories, they're still considered safe to eat while you're trying to lose weight.
They contain only 80 calories per cup and their low glycemic index means that they won't spike your blood sugar quickly, which keeps cravings under control. So feel free to indulge yourself; just watch out for added sugars and saturated fats in the rest of your diet.
Cherry can reduce your risk of stroke
Cherries contain anthocyanins, a natural antioxidant. Antioxidants protect your body by fighting cell-damaging free radicals, which can lead to ailments such as heart disease and cancer.
A diet rich in antioxidants may be able to prevent various cancers, like prostate and breast cancer.
Researchers believe that eating more fruits and vegetables containing antioxidants can also help slow down signs of aging as well as lower your blood pressure.
Eating cherries is an easy way to get these beneficial nutrients into your diet. One study showed that women who ate at least six servings of fruit per day had a 40 percent reduced risk of stroke compared with those who ate less than one serving per day.
Cherries are one type of fruit you should definitely add to your daily routine. It’s important to note that studies have shown similar results for apples, grapes, oranges
And other dark red or blue colored fruits and vegetables when it comes to reducing stroke risk too. For example, blueberries have been shown to improve memory in people with age-related memory loss.