Skip to main content

The Benefits of Cherries!!!


CherriesThe nutritional benefits of cherries are pretty big, particularly when you consider their small size. Many of the health benefits of cherries are related to the natural chemical that gives them their color.

Anthocyanins give flowers, berries and other fruits the colors ranging from red to blue. Some of the best food sources of anthocyanins are red grapes, chokeberry, eggplant and, of course, cherries.

These pigments attract pollinators, act as a “sunscreen” and protect the plant from radicals formed by UV light, so they act as antioxidants. The antioxidant benefits are transferred to people when the fruits or vegetables are eaten. The health benefits of cherries and other plant foods containing anthocyanins are many. Anthocyanins are used by the body to produce essential amino acids. As antioxidants, they protect the cells of the body from the damaging, aging and disease producing affects of oxygen, nitrogen and UV radiation.

Anthocyanins are also natural pain relievers and anti-inflammatories. They inhibit the production of COX-2 enzymes, as do over the counter and prescription pain relievers. Natural anti-inflammatories are believed to reduce the risk of many types of cancer. But, there are more nutritional benefits of cherries.

Cherries contain melatonin, another natural pain reliever and COX-2 inhibitor. Melatonin also helps to regulate sleep cycles and has been sold as a natural sleep aid. Reduced levels of melatonin have been associated with heart disease and increased cancer rates in night workers. The human body naturally produces melatonin, but primarily in darkness.

Cherries, like most fruits, contain vitamin C. The proven and suspected health benefits of cherries and other vitamin C rich foods are too numerous to be covered in this short article. One of the most exciting and newest discoveries has to do with cancer treatment. In both clinical trials and test tubes, vitamin C has been shown to kill cancer cells and inhibit their replication.

Cherries also contain fiber, which is important for a healthy digestive system. Diets high in fiber are believed to reduce the risk of colon and rectal cancer and most other diseases involving the digestive tract.

Shop online at eSutras Organics today! 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Mother Earth, Mother Nature, We the Children & Easter

Did you know the first Greek God was actually a Goddess?. he is Gaia, or Mother Earth, who created herself out of primordial chaos. From her fertile womb all life sprang, and unto Mother Earth all living things must return after their allotted span of life is over.  Gaia, as Mother Nature, personifies the entire ecosystem of Planet Earth.  Mother Nature is always working to achieve and maintain harmony, wholeness and balance within the environment. Mother Nature heals, nurtures and supports all life on this planet, and ultimately all life and health depend on Her. In time, Nature heals all ills. The way of Mother Gaia is the passive, feminine, Yin way of healing. All we need to do to regain our health is to return to the bosom of Mother Nature and live in accordance with Her laws. The Gaia archetype underlies all notions of the Nature Cure. Mother Nature is a healing goddess for the ancients whose glory was celebrated each spring, long before organized religion came into...

Lentils, India style - Red Black or Yellow, an easy CURRY for even sliced bread!

Even though not as famous globally "Tandoori Chicken",  Dal and Roti are staple foods in every Indian household. And  the good news: it is healthy beyond measure!   Ease your soul with foods like dal that comes with all the goodness of protein rich lentils. Humble and comforting recipe to start your day or night! Dal and Rice or Dal and Roti even, Dal and Buns - eaten everyday to satisfy and satiate more than just hunger pangs, be it breakfast, lunch or dinner the humble lentil has become ubiquitous with Indian cuisine. Each family has their own recipe for the making of the 'dal -curry' and their own favorite main dish - either hot cooked soft white rice, or a fluffy 'chappati" ( a wheat based flat bread) or a hot baked bun! Growing up, mine was no different, and I've carried on the tradition with my own family. I love the ease of  making this simple, rustic dish and eating it  any time, by itself or making it an accompaniment to another dish an...

Nowruz - Spring Festival of Ancient Persia brings deliciousness....

Nowruz begins at the stroke of the vernal equinox, when the sun crosses the equator. This year it came early in the morning of March 21. When the equinox comes, millions of families of Iranian descent gather around a ceremonial table known as the haftseen. Tomorrow will be the last day - and each of the 7 foods, bearing names starting with S - would have been consumed in various dishes.... for Love, Luck, Health and Light -- How lovely is that? Sabzeh:  Some kind of sprout or grass that will continue to grow in the weeks leading up to the holiday, for rebirth and renewal Senjed:  Dried fruit, ideally a sweet fruit from an abundantly producing tree, for love Sib:  Apples, for beauty and health Seer:  Garlic, for medicine and taking care of oneself Samanu:  A sweet pudding, for wealth and fertility Serkeh:  Vinegar, for the patience and wisdom that comes with aging Sumac:  A Persian spice made from crushed sour red berries, for the sunris...