{"id":7560,"date":"2018-07-17T16:21:58","date_gmt":"2018-07-17T16:21:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/?p=7560"},"modified":"2018-07-18T16:52:57","modified_gmt":"2018-07-18T16:52:57","slug":"sweet-cherries-summers-superfruit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/spring-summer-2018\/sweet-cherries-summers-superfruit\/","title":{"rendered":"Sweet Cherries: Summer\u2019s Superfruit"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Dana Helm<\/p><\/p>\n

T<\/span>his summer, cherries should be much more than a cocktail garnish. You\u2019ll want to keep these sweet treats on hand to incorporate into all dishes breakfast, lunch, and dinner. According to the USDA, consuming sweet Bing cherries can help to prevent chronic inflammatory diseases.<\/p>\n

Keeping cherries in your diet may also provide the following health benefits to:<\/p>\n

Reduce Inflammation<\/h3>\n

Cherries are full of anthocyanins, antioxidants that help fight inflammation by shutting down the enzymes that cause tissue inflammation\u2013the exact same way ibuprofen and naproxen do.<\/p>\n

Help Gout Sufferers<\/h3>\n

Gout, a painful form of arthritis, is associated with elevated levels of uric acid. A study at the University of California at Davis showed that participants had reduced levels of uric acid after eating sweet cherries.<\/p>\n

Fight Diabetes<\/h3>\n

Research at Michigan State University showed that the anthocyanins found in cherries lowered blood sugar in animals. The researchers speculate that the same effect occurs in humans.<\/p>\n

Improve Sleep<\/h3>\n

Cherries are an excellent natural source of melatonin, the chemical that controls the body\u2019s internal clock to regulate sleep. Melatonin helps reduce jet lag and promotes overall healthy sleep patterns.<\/p>\n

Fight Cancer<\/h3>\n

The flavonoids isoqueritrin and queritrin, and the phenol, ellagic acid3, were verified in cherries. The\u202fflavonoids are known to be antioxidants, and ellagic acid appears to be a potent inhibitor to the growth of cancer cells.<\/p>\n

Boost Fiber Intake<\/h3>\n

Americans are at a fiber deficit, falling far short of the 25-35-gram daily recommendation. The latest Dietary Guidelines recommend 2 cups of fruit daily, and cherries help to meet that recommendation.<\/p>\n

Promote Weight Loss<\/h3>\n

With a glycemic index (GI) of only 22, cherries may help promote weight loss. While foods with GI above 70 cause blood glucose to soar, then quickly crash causing hunger, foods with a low GI release glucose into the body slowly and evenly leaving you feeling full.<\/p>\n

Looking to incorporate more cherries into your diet? The team at Northwest Cherry Growers were good enough to share some of their own delicious recipes.<\/p>\n

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Cherry Bruschetta. Photo: Northwest Cherry Growers<\/p><\/div>\n

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Fresh Cherry Picnic Salad<\/p><\/div>\n

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Cherry + Tarragon Limeade. Photo: Northwest Cherry Growers<\/p><\/div>\n

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Recipes and photos courtesy of\u00a0Northwest Cherry Growers<\/a><\/h5>\n
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