It’s cherry season! And not only are they delicious, they are packed full of nutrition and health benefits. To name a few, cherries contain Vitamins B, C and K. Plus magnesium, manganese, copper and potassium.
Most people are familiar with the small red type that you get on sundaes, but there are many different types of cherries. Bing – (dark, sweet); Rainer – (yellowish-red, sweet); Chelan, also known as black cherries (mild, but still sweet); Montmorency – (dark red, sour); English Morello – popular type you might see in grocery stores in jars with light syrup (red); Maraschino – (bright red, sweet); Amarena – (dark, sour); Dried - (dehydrated, tart cherries, usually bagged sweetened or unsweetened.)
Five of the top health benefits of cherries:
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Recovery from post exercise soreness – Cherries protect against cellular wear and tear and help muscle tenderness. Tart cherries are best for this
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Boost Mood – Helps by decreasing cortisol levels and therefore reducing anxiety. Sweet cherries have the most benefit for this
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Gout – Tart cherries help reduce the buildup of uric acid that can lead to extreme swelling and pain mostly in feet that is known as gout
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Sleep – Contains melatonin which helps promote restful sleep. And in addition has tryptophan and serotonin. Consume sweet cherries for this benefit
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Arthritis – Can help with the symptoms of arthritis as cherries contain two powerful compounds, anthocyanins and bioflavonoids that hinder the spread of enzymes that contribute to arthritis. Tart cherries are best for this
There are many ways to add cherries to your diet and one of the most delicious ways in cherry pie, but most of us don’t want or need the calories and fat that come with it. So, try chocolate covered cherries (not the ones with the cream – just the cherries and chocolate), drink a small glass of tart cherry juice, eat a cup of fresh cherries, add some to your salad, make a low calorie smoothie or simply just add to your bottle of water.