Cherry

Cherry is a fleshy fruit round or heart-shaped, with long pedicel attached. They contains a single stony seed. The skin color varies from generally deep red or purple (often referred to as “black”), yellow, or rarely white. Yellow fruit often have a red cheek. The flesh color of cherry varies from white to dark red. They grow on trees in small clusters and can be both sweet and sour.

Cherries contain powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins, which provide the distinctive red color and may hold the key to the benefits locked inside. These rich red pigments are a type of phytonutrient known as flavonoids, which have been linked to a variety of health benefits, from potential protection against heart disease and cancer to keeping the brain sharp. In fact, they contain similar amounts of disease-fighting antioxidants as blueberries.

Cherries are excellent sources of beta carotene (vitamin A). In fact, they contain 19 times the beta carotene of blueberries and strawberries. Cherries also are rich in vitamins C and E, and provide potassium, magnesium, iron, folate and fiber. Cherries are one of the few known food sources of melatonin – a potent antioxidant that helps regulate our circadian rhythms and natural sleep patterns.

As cherries are rich in antioxidants and contain potent phytonutrients including anthocyanins, plant pigments that have been linked to a variety of health benefits, they may also reduce inflammation and ease the pain of arthritis and gout.