CHERRIES ROCK YOUR BODY!

Cherry has always been a favorite flavor. Dark, sweet, bright red, and tart, every kind of cherry has its charms. But beyond their gorgeous taste, these beautiful juicy jewels can help you look and feel more beautiful too.

Whether you head to northern Michigan, the cherry capital of the world, order some cherry treats from American Spoon or other specialty purveyor, or buy them locally, get some cherries onto your menu, stat. Your body and mind will thank you!

Cherries are filled with antioxidants, vitamins, phytochemicals, and fibers. They have been shown to offer some beautiful health benefits. There are more than 50 varieties to choose from. We love Montmorency and Balatons the best. They’re tart and sophisticated. Napoleon and Emperor Francis are beautiful sweet varieties.

Whatever they type, cherries offer beautiful health benefits:

1. Reduce the Risk of Cancer
2. Support Healthy Sleep
3. Relieve Arthritis Pain
4. Reduce Weight

5. Reduce Belly Fat
6. Reduce Post-Exercise Muscle Pain
7. Lower the Risk of Stroke
8. Improve Skin Texture
9. Lower the Risks of Diabetes
10. Help Digestion
11. Improve Memory

Cherries are rich in Vitamin C and flavonoids. They contain powerful antioxidants, including carotenoids and anthocyanin flavonoids that effectively neutralize free radicals and protect us from ailments associated with aging, including weakening of the heart and nervous system, loss of vision, macular degeneration, hair loss, wrinkling of skin, loss of libido, as well as cancer of the colon and prostate.

While I love the bright red sour cherries best of all for their flavor and texture, the darker the cherry is in color, the richer it is in antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. Get double power by adding chocolate!

Anthocyanins produce the purple and blue pigments that give the cherries their color. These compounds  also reduce pain related to inflammation, including arthritis and gout related pain, according to the NYU Langone Medical Center.

Cherries also boost immunity, protecting us from bacterial, viral and fungal infections, particularly those of the colon, urinary tract, intestines, and excretory system. They can protect against coughs, colds, and flu.

Cherries are also foils for insomnia -- they naturally contain melatonin -- and help regulate your sleep cycles, according to a study published in the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry” and another study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food. They make a beautiful midnight munchie.

Cherries have also been shown to be helpful in treating nervous disorders like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, depression, anxiety, and chronic stress.  

Eating cherries help lower blood pressure thanks to quercetin, a type of flavonoid antioxidant that helps to keep our blood vessels flexible.

Deep in flavor, at just less than 100 calories and half a gram of fat per serving, cherries are a beautiful snack. A cherry is made up of more than 75% water and are loaded almost 3 grams of fiber per serving, to further aid weight loss and reduce cholesterol levels.

Although they are most divine when eaten fresh, warmed by the sun, just plucked from the tree, they are pretty wonderful even when frozen. In fact, we like to eat them frozen -- unthawed on a hot summer day.

Check out some beautiful cherry recipes:

Read more about Beautiful Cherry Red in Take A Beautiful Cherry Trip.

And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Mind/Body, Soul/Impact, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Arts/Design, and Place/Time, Daily Fix posts.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: by Laurence Horton.
2. Image: by Julie Kertesz. “Cherries.”
3. Image: by Kate Fisher. “Bing cherries.”
4. Image: by Susanne Nilsson. “Cherry on top.”
5. Image: by Tim Haynes. “Juicy.”
6. Image: Cherries floating in bubbly water.
7. Image: by Andrea Johnson. “Classic cherry pie.” Courtesy of Oregon Department of Agriculture.
8. Image: by Chris and Jenni. “Cherries.”
9. Image: by Susy Morris. “Dipping Cherries.”
10. Image: by Cliff Hutson. “Cherry Cheesecake Day.”
11. Image: by Eric Lanning. “Cherry licking.”
12. Image: by sea turtle. “Juicy Cherries.”
13. Image: by Caro Wallis. “Life Isn't A Bowl Of Cherries.”
14. Image: by Aran Burton. “Cherries.”