I love cherries! Dried, fresh, frozen, sharp or sweet … in smoothies, on salads, even in main courts. They are an excellent sweet healthy snack full of antioxidants and fat -burning ingredients.
Cherries contain some unique and pretty great bioactive components that can help prevent cancer, diabetes, heart conditions, Alzheimer’s and other inflammatory diseases – as well as muscle pain and helping you sleep. Not only that, cherries are an extremely effective treatment for arthritis pain, gout, hemorrhoids and allergies.
Cherries have boat loads antioxidants that fight in it that combat damage in free radicals and protect the DNA of our cells. Free radicals are linked to many diseases, including cancer, heart disease and dementia. Cherries also contain the super -legs quercetin, hydroxycinamaten, potassium, carotenoids and melatonin. Even sweet cherries have a healthy low glycemic index of 22, making them a healthy food for people who try to keep their blood sugar stable.
Inhibitory
Cherries are one of the best anti -inflammatory foods that you can eat. These small red powerhouses contain phytochemicals called “anthocyans” that give them their deep red color. Scientists from Johns Hopkins University discovered that the powerful antioxidants named Anthocyanins in sharp cherries were just as effective in reducing inflammation as the anti -inflammatory drugs ibuprofen, aspirin and tylenol. Another study published in the Journal of Natural Products showed that Anthocyanins and Cyanidine isolated from Tart Kersen worked better than aspirin. And many studies have shown that Tylenol and Ibuprofen can be extremely harmful to the liver and very toxic, so eating foods that are anti -inflammatory is much better for your health.
Cherries can even help your training. Van Kersen has been proven that they get rid of the pains of intense training. They can also reduce muscle pain. This study published in Journal of International Society of Sports Nutrition looked at the power of Cherries to reduce muscle damage and pain by exercising. 54 runners ran a 16 -mile race while they drank sharp cherry juice or a placebo. The group that drank the cherry juice reported a considerably smaller increase in pain compared to the placebo group, which was attributed to the anti -inflammatory effect of Cherries.
Arthritis and Gout
More than 33 million Americans have osteoarthritis. Arthritis can physically influence the joint, causing friction and a lot of pain when the cartilage wears out. In one study done in the Osteoarthritis Research Center with 58 arthritic patients who drank two 8-back bottles for six weeks, the scores of Western Ontario McMaster OsteoArtritis index (WOMAC) fell considerably after the tart competition. The WOMAC index is standardized questionnaire used by health workers to evaluate patients with osteoarthritis of the knee and hip, including pain, stiffness and physical functioning of the joints.
Gout is another type of arthritis that is extremely painful and usually influences the big toe. Uric acid crystals build up in the toe joint and cause great inflammation, swelling, redness and severe pain. High uric acid levels in the body can also be associated with diabetes, heart disease and kidney diseases. A large study of 633 people with gout was treated with cherry extract for a two -day period with a 35% lower risk of gout attacks. When the intake of the cherries was combined with Allopurinol, a prescribed medication for gout and kidney stones, the risk of gout attacks was 75% lower.
Anti-cancer
Anthocyans of cherries, especially sour cherries, have such a strong antioxidant and anti -inflammatory activity, they inhibit tumor development in mice and the growth of human cancer cells. In a study with mice with a genetic risk of colon cancer, a diet of sharp cherries and anthocyanins helped in preventing colon cancer and tumor growth. This study also showed that these two cherries connections also reduced the growth of human colon cancer cells.
Another study done in people with cherry extract also showed a reduction in the growth of colon cancer cells and human breast cancer cells.
Sleep well with cherry
Cherries also help you to sleep more solidly because they are one of the few foods that contain a natural substance called ‘Melatonin’. Melatonin is a hormone in the body that regulates sleep cycles and helps you sleep deeply. Tartkers contain the highest levels of melatonin. Only two tablespoons of concentrated cake juice are needed to promote good quality, deep sleep needed for healing and repair of the body.
Melatonin contains powerful antioxidants that also help to turn aging. What is more, a good night’s sleep helps to reduce cortisol, so that you are better burned than fat! In a study published in the European Journal of Nutrition, 20 volunteers consumed a placebo or sharp cherry juice concentrate for seven days. As a result of this treatment, the total melatonin content was considerably increased in the cherry juice group.
Healthy hearts
Tart cherries can also protect the heart and reduce the risk of strokes. Research done at the University of Michigan shows that sharp cherries activate something that PPAR (peroxisome proliferator activating receptors) activates in the body. These receptors are connected to glucose and fat metabolism and can help to reduce heart attacks and cardiovascular diseases. There are prescribed medicines that do the same, but they come with serious side effects, such as increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes!
Although sweet cherries are effective, sharp cherries contain even more of the powerful antioxidants that burn fat, help with muscle pain and pain and help you sleep more solidly. Enjoy cherries in your next smoothie, on top of your breakfast oatmeal, throw in a salad or just for a sweet, satisfying snack! One of my favorite snacks is frozen organic cherries mixed with raw almonds and sprinkled with a little bit of cinnamon. Give it a try.