Cherries, which are members of the same fruit
family as peaches, plums, apricots, and almonds, are often regarded
as a "dessert" fruit for use in pies, or perhaps as a garnish for
cocktails. But cherries
have a healthy side too, one that may actually offer therapeutic benefits to
your health, as cherries are rich in antioxidants and many other
health-promoting compounds.
Health Benefits of Cherry
- Help fight cancer
- Aid in prevention of heart disease
- Relieve Pain of Arthritis, Gout, Headaches
- Ease the symptoms associated with Fibromyalgia Syndrome
- Provide a healthy and safe way to produce melatonin
- Improve physiological and mental functions
- Aid in prevention of heart disease
- Relieve Pain of Arthritis, Gout, Headaches
- Ease the symptoms associated with Fibromyalgia Syndrome
- Provide a healthy and safe way to produce melatonin
- Improve physiological and mental functions
Helps You Sleep Better
Tossing and turning at night? Cherry
juice to the rescue! Drink cherry juice 30 minutes after waking and 30 minutes
before your evening meal. In a study, participants boosted their melatonin
intake by following this routine. Cherries are a good source of melatonin.
They have also been found to help with jet lag.
Note: there is a higher level of melatonin in
tart cherries compared to sweet cherries.
Arthritis Pain Relief
Cherries
contain many anti-inflammatory compounds, and research suggests they may help
to relieve pain from inflammatory osteoarthritis.According to
one study, women with osteoarthritis who drank tart cherry juice twice daily
for three weeks had significant reductions in markers of inflammation. They
also had a 20 percent reduction in pain. The researchers noted that tart
cherries have the "highest anti-inflammatory content of any food.
Slows the Aging of Skin
Cherries have the highest antioxidant level
of any fruit. Antioxidants help the body fight the free radicals that make us
look old. Drinking one glass of tart cherry juice daily slows down the aging
process, according to Scientists from the Michigan State University. Cherry
juice is also recommended as an alternative treatment for other skin conditions.
Lower Risk of Stroke
Consuming
tart cherries may activate PPAR (peroxisome proliferator activating receptors)
in your body's tissues, which help regulate genes involved in fat and glucose
metabolism. This activation may help to lower your risk of heart disease, and
research suggests eating cherries may provide similar heart benefits to
prescription drugs called PPAR agonists.
Reduces Muscle Pain
A cup and a half of tart cherries or one cup
of tart cherry juice can reduce muscle inflammation and soreness studies suggest.
A group of marathon runners drank tart cherry juice twice daily for seven days
before their race. The group who drank the cherry juice group experienced less
muscle pain after the race than those who drank another fruit drink.
Reduce Belly Fat
In an animal study, rats fed tart cherry
powder along with a high-fat diet gained less weight and built up less body fat
than rats not fed tart cherries. They also had lower levels of inflammation and
triglycerides, suggested a potential role in heart health.
Cherry pudding
This cherry pudding is so easy to make and great for a hot summer day as it is raw.
Ingredients:
1 large ripe bananas, peeled
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup cashew nuts (soaked for about 4 hours)
1 cup cherries, pitted and sliced in half
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup cashew nuts (soaked for about 4 hours)
1 cup cherries, pitted and sliced in half
Directions:
Blend the bananas in a blender.
- Add the nuts and vanilla, blend until creamy.
- Put in the refrigerator for 20 to 40 minutes to thicken.
- Now simply mix the cherries into the vanilla pudding.
OR
- You can make it pretty by assembling it in a glass bowl.
- Put a 1/3 of the vanilla pudding in the bottom of the bowl.
Then add 1/2 of the cherries, and then put another 1/3 of pudding on top.
Add the rest of the cherries and top it off with the rest of the vanilla
pudding.
- You can sprinkle some raw cashews.
Now eat and enjoy!