Cherry season is back! Cherry season is back! Yes, 100 times yes! Cherries are one of the best fruits for health. They also rank among the healthiest foods.
A cup of cherries (roughly 21) contains about 100 calories and approximately 15% of your daily vitamin D needs. Here are seven reasons this stone fruit is a nutritional star and easy ways to enjoy more cherries all year.
Nutritious benefits
A serving of 80g cherries contains:
A serving of 80g counts as one of your five a day – approximately 14 cherries. Could you find out more about our infographic?
Top 5 Health Benefits of cherry
May provide anti-inflammatory benefits
Cherries are well-known for their antioxidant properties. They also contain plant compounds called anthocyanins or cyanidin. So Tha could have anti-inflammatory properties.
Although initial research suggests that these antioxidants may benefit arthritis and other inflammatory conditions, further research is necessary to confirm these findings in humans.
Cherries Fight Diabetes and Protect You from It
Cherries are not only anti-inflammatory but also have lower glycemic indexes than other fruits. Cherry can prevent spikes and crashes in people with diabetes and those at high risk.
Anthocyanins also have been shown to reduce diabetes risk. Numerous studies have shown a strong connection between this powerful antioxidant’s ability to inhibit key enzymes related to type 2 diabetes. This allows the body to control glucose absorption and reduce hypertension.
Gout benefits
The anti-inflammatory properties of cherries may help gout. Gout can cause severe and sudden joint pain.
High levels of uric acids in the blood can trigger this condition. So Trusted Source published a 2018 review that stated that cherries could help maintain moderate levels in the body’s uric acid.
A 2012 study trusted Source found that cherry concentrate and eating cherries resulted in a 35% decrease in gout episodes after two days. Regardless of gender, body weight, alcohol consumption, diuretic medication, and sex, the effect was consistent.
They are anti-diabetes
Cherries’ anti-inflammatory properties help keep your body in good health. However, cherries rank lower on the glycemic index than other fruits.
They don’t cause insulin spikes or crashes, so they won’t cause blood sugar and insulin drops to go up and down. They are both helpful in managing diabetes if you have it, as well as protecting against it.
Cherries are a great aid in exercise recovery
Cherry juice is known to aid muscle recovery following workouts. Many athletes use them to recover from strenuous activities.
A study by North Umbria University’s Department of Sport, Exercise, and Rehabilitation found that tart cherries were a good source of muscle recovery and prevent exercise-induced inflammation.
A second study by the Sports and Exercise Science Research Center (London) found that cherries’ antioxidant properties can reduce oxidative stress during intense workouts.
In 2017, a 2017 study on the health benefits of tart cherry juice for athletes concluded that 8-12 oz of the liquid should be consumed twice daily, once in the days leading up and again two to three days following the event.
This will promote recovery. Vitamin C is also high in cherries, with one serving providing 25% of your daily vitamin needs. This helps to keep your immune system in top shape.