Cherries are one of those fruits that have been touted as having all types of health benefits. They are full of vitamins, minerals and other healthy nutrients, without adding any fat or a lot of calories to your diet. While evidence that cherries actually burn fat does not appear to exist, the fruit may help you with weight loss and therefore may ultimately eliminate some fat from your body.
Type
The type of cherry you eat may help determine just how good they are for you. While sweet cherries are nutritious, a tart cherry, also referred to as a bing cherry, is the healthiest. If these cherries are not grown in your area -- Michigan is the largest producer -- you can buy them canned, frozen or dried. You can even purchase cherry juice, just be sure that it is 100 percent cherry juice as some of the drinks in the supermarket have very little actual cherry.
Nutritional Value
Tart cherries contain health antioxidants that may protect you against disease. They will provide you with 25 times the beta-carotene you would find in the same amount of blueberries. This fruit is rich in potassium, iron, magnesium and folate, and has more than 15 mg of vitamin C and 24 mg of calcium in a 1-cup serving. Cherries will also provide you with fiber to help you feel full, while the serving is only 77 calories.
Weight Loss
Research conducted at Penn State University by Professor of Nutrition Barbara Rolls showed that eating foods high in water content, as cherries are, can help you eat less during a meal and lower your overall caloric intake. If you follow a healthy diet and exercise program and replace a fattening dessert with cherries, you will eliminate fat from your daily intake and lower the percentage that goes into your body.
Other Benefits
In addition to possibly losing weight by consuming cherries in a healthy diet, the fruit can have some positive effects on your overall health. Researchers at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore found that anthocyanins in tart cherries can provide a reduction of painful inflammation, such as that which accompanies arthritis. The consumption of cherries was considered by some participants to be equal to the effect of taking an anti-inflammatory drug. Preliminary studies have also shown cherries may be useful in reducing colon cancer risk.
Considerations
The bottom line is that cherries have nutritional value, containing numerous vitamins and minerals. Unless you are allergic to them, cherries don't appear to cause any harm. Eating cherries may not give you six-pack abs, but it does have some benefits that make them worthwhile to add to your diet.
Member Comments