Everyone enjoys indulging in juicy cherries during the summer season as this juicy fruit is an excellent blend of sweet flavors with a tinge of sourness. It adds perfect color to your desserts. Cherries can be eaten raw or used in varying recipes like tarts, cakes, cheesecakes, and pies. They can be a brilliant topping for breakfast cereal and a bowl of yogurt. But, not everyone is aware of this delicious fruit’s good health qualities. Cherries are considered to be one of the healthy foods and possess high medicinal value. It is rich in antioxidants and highly helpful in the treatment of gout. Below are some other healthy advantages that you might not be aware of.
Relieves insomnia
Cherries include a hormone known as melatonin. It is a hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain that facilitates sound and peaceful sleep. It can regulate your wake and sleep cycles and maintain the internal body clock.
Facilitates weight loss
If you want to reduce weight, do not forget to add cherries to your diet. Cherries have low calories, meaning around a cup of cherries will be less than 100 calories. Moreover, cherries are rich in vitamins that help to strengthen your metabolism and include moderate water content that seeps out toxins from your body.
Reduces hypertension
Cherries possess an outstanding amount of potassium and help in excess removal of sodium content from your body. Cherries maintain the amount of sodium and potassium that automatically helps maintain blood pressure levels.
Avoid cardiovascular diseases
The antioxidants are available in cherries known as anthocyanins, which help in the reduction of bad cholesterol levels. Cherries also regulate blood pressure and help fight against free radicals that might result in inflammation. It also lowers the risk of stroke and heart disease.
Possess anti-aging properties
Cherries are stuffed with antioxidants to fight free radicals, making the skin appear dull. With the help of cherries, your skin might feel healthier and younger. Cherries also help in the removal of dark spots from the skin. You have to take some cherries, mix them with a pinch of turmeric and honey, apply this paste for around 10-15 minutes and then wash it off. The paste will reduce dark spots and also enhance your skin tone.
Promotes health
Are you struggling with your dull locks? Cherry is enriched with vitamins, vitamin B, and vitamin C, and prevents hair damage and breaking. It also helps the scalp’s hydration, and vitamin C provides a natural glow to the skin.
Ph maintenance
Cherries are alkaline. Thus, when there is an enhancement in the acidic content of the body, cherries can be an excellent option for balancing the pH level. Cherries neutralize the ph level and prevent stomach problems like indigestion or acidity.
Provides energy
Cherries are the most energy-boosting fruit. They build the blood cells that ultimately ease circulation and boost your body’s energy level.
Stuffed with anti-inflammatory compounds and antioxidants
Though the type and amount can vary as per the variety, every cherry is full of anti-inflammatory compounds and antioxidants. The high antioxidant contents might help in combating oxidative stress. Cherry also helps in the reduction of inflammation and promotes overall health.
Protects against diabetes
Cherries rank lower on the glycemic index and help to fight your body against diabetes by regulating insulin and blood sugar levels in your body. Anthocyanins in cherries lower the risk of diabetes and inhibit various primary enzymes. Hence, cherries control glucose absorption and reduce associated hypertension and inflammation in your body.
Enhance brain power and mood
Cherries are loaded with brain-boosting capabilities as the anthocyanin of cherries improves cognitive functions. It prevents memory loss and protects against various brain-related diseases. It also helps in anxiety regulation and mood and enhances communication between the brain and the rest of the body.
Selection and storage of cherries
If you buy fresh cherries, you should look for those that feel firm, plump, and appear glossy and bright. Ignore those cherries, which are mushy, soft, or shriveled, as these cherries are likely past peak ripeness. Ensure keeping cherries fresh by refrigerating them, usually in a shallow container to avoid crushing the topmost ones. Ensure to rinse the cherries with cool water before eating.
How to include more cherries into the diet?
There are various ways to include cherries into your diet as it is available in varying forms. They are as follows.
- Dried fruit.
- Raw fruit.
- Fruit juice.
- Fruit puree.
- Concentrate,
- Powder.
Bottom Line
So, you should enjoy cherries and grab all the benefits from the fruit to maintain your health. If you do not have any medical condition, you can add half a cup of cherry to your everyday meal to get rid of diseases. The concentration of various plant compounds in the cherry might be responsible for this juicy fruit’s different health benefits.