Cherries are everyone’s favourite fruit. They are bright red, maroon or pink and are one of the best fruits to pop in when you are craving a snack. However, apart from being very tasty and extremely convenient to eat, they are also one of the healthiest and most beneficial fruits you can find in the market. Cherries have high amounts of antioxidants, low sugar content, high fibre and many vitamins and minerals. Here is a list of 10 health benefits of cherries.
Health Benefits of Cherries
1. Protects against diabetes
Everyone loves a snack once in a while and why should diabetics have to refrain from this pleasure? For such sweet cravings, cherries are ideal, even for people living with Diabetes. Cherries have a very low glycemic index which is a major health benefit of cherries and means that they do not cause much fluctuation in sugar levels even if eaten in large quantities. Cherries are also a healthy option and much better than having chips or ice creams. Also, please read about natural antibiotics.
2. Promotes better sleep
If you are someone who cannot sleep well at night and spend a long time tossing and turning, cherry juice might just be the solution for you. Having a glass of cherry juice before going to bed has shown to increase melatonin levels in the body which is a chemical responsible for regulating sleep cycles. Cherry juice also helps with jet lag and having cherry juice for a few days before you plan to fly is a good idea if you want to avoid drowsy days.
3. Decreases belly fat
The research on the role of cherries in decreasing belly fat is relatively recent and no human trials have been done till now. However, research in rats has shown that those rats who were fed cherry powder as part of their diet gained less weight than other rats in the control group. As a snack, cherries are a healthy option you can go for instead of fried foods and this also helps in reducing fats in your body. We also want you to read about beauty benefits of Aloe Vera.
4. Helps reduce risk of Alzheimer’s
Cherries are magical fruits that have many health benefits and one of the most significant is the presence of high amounts of antioxidants. These antioxidants help in improving memory, regulate blood flow to the brain and keep the brain healthy. All this together contributes to a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s and can help you lead a healthy life.
5. Reduces risk of stroke
One of the major health benefits of cherries is derived from the pigment anthocyanin, which gives the fruit its red color. This pigment is known to provide many cardiovascular benefits including a reduced risk of stroke. These pigments activate PPAR, a compound which regulates genes involved in fat and glucose metabolism. This reduces the risk of high cholesterol, blood pressure, and diabetes, according to studies conducted by the University of Michigan Health System.
6. Slows Signs of Ageing
Since cherries are high in antioxidants, one of the health benefits of cherries is that they can slow the signs of aging. The antioxidants eliminate free radicals in the body and thus delay signs of aging. According to research conducted by the Michigan State University, a glass of tart cherry juice significantly helps in this regard. Drinking cherry juice is also recommended to treat some skin conditions along with medication. Also, read about health benefits of Grapefruits.
7. Reduces risk of Gout
Gout is a form of arthritis characterized by severe pain, redness, and tenderness in joints and is a symptom of age. In a study of gout patients conducted by the Boston University, those who drank one, two or three portions of cherry juice had decreased symptoms of gout. This research shows that cherry juice can reduce the risk of gout attacks by 35%.
8. Reduces muscle pain
The juice of tart cherries is known to reduce muscle pain in research conducted on athletes. Marathon runners who drank cherry juice before the race experienced less muscle pain after the race than those runners who drank the juice of other fruits. This health benefit of cherries has been recently discovered and has not been well researched yet. We also want you to read about health benefits of Strawberries.
9. Helps regulate blood flow
Cherries are very high in potassium, which helps regulate heart rate and blood pressure and reduces the risk of hypertension which is a very common lifestyle disease due to desk jobs and sedentary lifestyles of most people. The phytosterols in cherries help reduce bad cholesterol levels and prevent the risk of clogged arteries and heart diseases.
10. Helps with osteoarthritis relief
Arthritis is a symptom of aging where the fluid between the joints reduces in volume and the movements become painful and joints become swollen. On a study conducted on women between the ages of 40 to 70, those who consumed cherry juice showed fewer symptoms of arthritis like inflammation, painful movements, and discomfort.
