Tart cherries are loaded with important nutrients, including phytochemicals (disease-fighting plant compounds) and vitamin C. Tart cherries are packed with antioxidant nutrients and anti-inflammatory agents. This tiny red fruit is beneficial for cancer prevention, to lower cholesterol, for heart health, as an anti-inflammatory agent, and for other health benefits.
Antioxidant Powerhouse
Tart cherries are red fruits. Red fruits and vegetables are rich in the antioxidant phytochemical (disease-fighting agent found in plant foods) class known as anthocyanins. Phytochemicals give brightly colored fruits and vegetables their colorful hues. Anthocyanins, in particular, appear to encourage healthy circulation, ensure proper nerve function and offer anti-cancer properties. Tart cherries offer a healthy dose of the antioxidant vitamin C. Vitamin C is essential for a strong immune system and plays a role in collagen synthesis, as well as wound healing.
Cancer Prevention
In addition to vitamin C and anthocyanins, tart cherries are loaded with three disease-fighting chemicals that have been shown to stop cell transformation (leading to cancer) in numerous research studies. These powerful chemicals include perillyl alcohol, limonene and ellagic acid. Other fruits offer these chemicals. For instance, citrus peel is rich in limonene, while raspberries offer up a healthy dose of ellagic acid, but only cherries offer all three chemicals. They are particularly protective against breast, lung, liver and skin cancers.
Cholesterol & Inflammation
Tart cherries contain quercetin, one of the most powerful antioxidants in existence. Among other functions, quercetin prevents oxidative damage, via free radicals, from damaging low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad" cholesterol). When LDL cholesterol is oxidized, it is more likely to adhere to artery walls, forming plaque, which contributes to heart attack and stroke.
Quercetin is also an anti-inflammatory agent, which is beneficial for alleviating asthma symptoms and other respiratory conditions. Speaking of inflammation, tart cherries offer relief for gout sufferers (gout is a painful form of arthritis). It may alleviate pain because of its powerful anti-inflammatory properties.
References
- Cancer Letters; Tart cherry anthocyanins inhibit tumor development in Apc(Min) mice and reduce proliferation of human colon cancer cells; SY Kang, NP Seeram, MG Nair and LD Bourquin; May 2003
- Annali dell'Instituto Superiore di Sanita; Anthocyanins and heart health; GJ Mazza; 2007
- Journal of Medicinal Food; Altered hyperlipidemia, hepatic steatosis, and hepatic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors in rats with intake of tart cherry; EM Seymour, AA Singer, A Kirakosyan, et al.; June 2008
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