Are Cherries the New Super Fruit?
10/18/2012 Leave a comment
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| Photo Credit: USDA PD |
By now just about everyone has heard about the powerful nutritional and antioxidant benefits of fruits and vegetables. All fruits and vegetables are good for you, but some have more of the good stuff than others. Cherries are loaded with antioxidants that help to prevent cell damage due to free radicals. Tart cherries are among the fruits with the most antioxidants per serving.
Cherries are also a source of phytonutrients that boost the effectiveness of antioxidants. Other important antioxidants found in cherries include anthocyanins. Anthocyanins give cherries their red color, but more importantly they help to reduce inflammation. Cherries have more of these antioxidants than any other fruit. The anti-inflammatory properties of cherries make them a good food for people who suffer from arthritis and gout.
Cherries are also good for your heart health. In addition to their anti-inflammatory properties and high levels of antioxidants, cherries help to reduce cholesterol levels. Lower cholesterol reduces your risk of developing atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries and plaque buildup on the walls of your arteries. You can get all the healthy benefits of cherries by eating them raw, in juice or dried.
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