It's cherry season once more! Cherries are fresh, plentiful, attractive, and sweet, but are they really that beneficial for you? Yes, Cherries are not only one of the healthiest fruits, but also one of the healthiest foods on the planet. One cup of cherries, or around 21 cherries, has less than 100 calories and provides 15% of your daily vitamin C requirements. Here are seven more reasons why cherries are a nutrient powerhouse, as well as easy ways to eat more cherries throughout the year.
Antioxidants abound in cherries.
Cherries are high in antioxidants as well as anti-inflammatory chemicals. Heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's, diabetes, and obesity are all chronic disorders that these cellular body guardians help to prevent.
They help to prevent diabetes.
Cherry's anti-inflammatory properties help keep your body healthy, and cherry has a lower glycemic index than many other fruits. This means they don't cause blood sugar and insulin levels to surge and plummet. This makes them both anti-diabetic and essential for controlling the disease if you already have it.
They encourage restful sleep.
Tart cherries are one of the few foods that contain melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate your sleep-wake cycles. When compared to a placebo, eight ounces of tart cherry juice in the morning and again one to two hours before bed increased sleep time by an hour and 24 minutes in one study of men and women with insomnia.
They can help with arthritis pain.
Several studies have suggested that eating cherries can help people with osteoarthritis. Incorporating cherries or cherry juice into your meal or snack routine on a regular basis may assist to alleviate joint pain.
They reduce the likelihood of gout attacks.
Gout affects around eight million persons in the United States. When a waste product called uric acid crystallizes within the joints, it causes agonizing pain and swelling, producing inflammatory arthritis. Gout patients who ate cherries for just two days (both the fresh fruit and cherry extract and juice) had a 35% decreased risk of gout attacks than those who did not.
They lower cholesterol levels.
Drinking sour cherry juice has been found in studies to help lower total cholesterol, as well as the "bad" variety, known as LDL. This is important since every 1% reduction in cholesterol reduces the risk of heart disease by 2%.
They help to alleviate post-workout discomfort.
To put it another way, cherries may aid in the reduction of post-HIIT workout soreness. They also help with muscle rehabilitation and protect against cellular wear and tear caused by exercise. Tart cherry juice is hence popular among professional and competitive athletes. It can, however, assist anyone who engages in regular physical activity.
Read more Here's why eating oranges can help you lose weight.
How to get the most out of cherries' health advantages
When fresh cherries are in season, nothing beats a bowl of them. However, that isn't the only way to take advantage of their nutritional benefits. Frozen cherries, freeze-dried powders, 100% tart cherry juice, and preservative-free dried cherries are all good options.
Frozen cherries or powder can be used for smoothies or overnight oats. Sprinkle chopped dried cherries on salads and cooked vegetables, or mix them into nut butter or melted dark chocolate. Toss a few drops of tart cherry juice into a glass of sparkling water. If you're having trouble sleeping or need to recover from a workout, drink it straight up. Making cherries and cherry products a regular part of your diet is a modest change that could have a major impact on your health.
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