Cherries are a fruit that provides us with excellent nutritional properties, as well as numerous health benefits.
Cherries can be used to prepare many types of desserts and sweet accompaniments such as cakes, jams, smoothies, tarts and even liqueurs or gazpacho.
But above all, they can (and one might almost say "should") be eaten raw. Their flavor is delicious, and it's by consuming them directly that the cherry's properties are fully realized in our diet.
The cherry, whose scientific name is Prunus cerasus, has been used since time immemorial as an intestinal cleanser, to rid the body of toxins.
This is because the pigments that give them their purple color, anthocyanins, are a type of flavonoid with great purifying properties.
These anthocyanins in cherries are also very powerful antioxidants, and according to studies conducted at the University of Arizona , cherries are the fruit with the highest concentration of flavonoids that exists.
This makes it important in the treatment and prevention of some of the most widespread diseases today, related to deterioration, cancer or Alzheimer's.
Main properties of cherries and the benefits of consuming them
Among the properties of cherries, we cannot fail to consider the main ones:
Antioxidant properties. Cherries are included in the superfruit category because they are loaded with antioxidants called anthocyanins, which help reduce heart disease and counteract processes that lead to cancer.
In addition, cherries are one of the few food sources that contain melatonin , an antioxidant that helps regulate the body's heart rate and sleep cycles.
Read more... Ginger: properties, benefits, how to prepare tea or infusion, cultivation, and how to use it for weight loss
Vitamin A. Cherries are an excellent source of beta-carotene (vitamin A). In fact, they contain 19 times more beta-carotene than blueberries and strawberries .
Vitamin A is used for the formation and maintenance of teeth and plays a role in eye health, both in vision and in the overall health of the eye.
A source of additional vitamins and minerals. In addition to vitamin A, cherries are rich in vitamins C and E, potassium, magnesium, iron, calcium, folic acid (B9), and fiber .
A healthy mind. Cherries are known as " brain food " because they help maintain good brain health and prevent memory loss. Don't forget, eating this fruit when it's in season will benefit your mental health.
6. Because cherries contain anthocyanins , a component that attracts animals to eat the fruit, thus helping to spread the seeds later.
The therapeutic and pharmacological use of this pigment is recent, but its ability to reduce coronary heart disease, inflammation, and the symptoms of arthritis and gout has been proven. It also has antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic effects, which can benefit many people. It has also shown promise in treating obesity.
One thing to note is that anthocyanins are easily absorbed by the human intestine.
Fiber. As it is a good source of fiber , it is important and helps digestive health.
Muscle aches. Due to their powerful anti-inflammatory benefits, cherries can help reduce pain; they are highly recommended for tendon and muscle pain suffered from overuse by runners and athletes after training.
Therefore, if you practice any aerobic sport, if you run or cycle, cherries can help you recover after an intense workout.
Do cherries make you fat? How many calories do they have?
The question of whether cherries are fattening is often heard. This confusion stems mainly from the fruit's use in baking, and also from the amount of sugar added to it for various processes (jams, coulis) or for preparing cherry clafoutis.
But cherries themselves are not fattening. A cup of cherries has only 87 calories, 22 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of protein, and 3 grams of fiber.
Cherries are a good snack or dessert choice, especially important for weight maintenance, due to their low calorie content.
The cherry pit contains its seed, and these seeds are toxic because they possess cyanogenic glycoside compounds.
When ingested, these kernels transform into cyanide, but thanks to its natural design, the pit protects the seed and prevents this from happening under normal circumstances, even if the pit is swallowed by animals or people. The body will not be able to digest the pit and will expel it whole, leaving the seed intact inside.
So, when it's cherry season, don't overlook them and incorporate this small but rich source of health into your diet.
Cherry pit toxicity and contraindications