Sweet dreams or tart cherries—what would you prefer? Choose cherries, and your dreams will be sweet forever! Cherries are a natural source of melatonin, the sleep hormone that maintains the circadian rhythms in our body, regulating the sleep-wake cycle. For instance, eating tart cherries at night signals our body to wind up and take rest. Cherries are packed with essential minerals, vitamins, and fibres. Undoubtedly, the cherry is a miracle fruit. So, without further ado, let's delve deeper into the other benefits of a cherry.
What are the Health Benefits of Cherries?
Cherries are rich in antioxidants and reduce inflammation in the body. The other benefits of a cherry include improved heart health, reduced blood pressure, good cholesterol, relief from arthritis, and post-exercise muscle pain alleviation. Now, let’s understand these benefits in some detail.
- Healthy skin: Cherries are rich in vitamin C. Eating cherries can flush out the toxins from your skin and lead to healthy, glowing skin.
- Improved gastrointestinal health: The fibre content in cherries regulates bowel movement by promoting the development of beneficial gut bacteria in our bodies.
- Relaxes muscles: Vitamin B6 in cherries helps tired muscles relax. Specifically, tart cherries reduce muscle damage and soreness. The glycemic index (GI) gauges the ability of food to increase blood sugar levels. Low GI in cherries enhances performance during muscle training.
- Relief from arthritis: Cherries lower the concentration of uric acid in our blood, thereby preventing gout attacks.
- Enhanced brain capacity: Cherries are rich in anthocyanins, the water-soluble pigments that impart red, purple, and blue colours to fruits and vegetables. Research indicates that these particular compounds are beneficial for reducing cognitive decline. A study conducted on people with dementia over 70 years showed that consumption of cherry juice for 12 weeks improved verbal fluency and memory. Thus, cherries aid in building better memory, improved attention, and enhanced psychomotor speed.
- Healthy heart: Anthocyanins in cherries also regulate blood pressure and prevent it from soaring sporadically. Approximately 150 grams of sweet cherries meet 10% of the daily potassium needs required to maintain a steady heartbeat and eliminate extra sodium from the body, thereby controlling your blood pressure.
- Combats cancer: Sweet cherries are anti-carcinogenic. They reduce oxidative stress and chronic inflammation in the body. They also regulate cell death, metastisation, metabolic reprogramming, and the proliferation of cancerous cells.
Conclusion
You must have chosen tart cherries by now. Cherry is a one-size-fits-all cure for almost all ailments. Make sure cherries are a part of your daily fruit basket. In case you were late to get information about the health benefits of a cherry, ensure that you at least have health insurance to sail past the burden that rising disease brings to our lives.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your general physician or another certified medical professional for any questions regarding a medical condition. Relying on any information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk, and ICICI Lombard is not responsible for any effects or consequences resulting from the use of the information shared.