Cherries are a popular fruit thanks to their sweet, delicious flavour and versatility. They can be consumed in various different forms including fresh, dried, powder, juice, or as an extract. Cherries not only taste good, they are also highly nutritious and contain plant compounds that benefit our health.
As such, taking a daily cherry extract supplement supports overall better health and reduces the risk of diseases. In this article, we discuss some of the major health benefits of cherries.
1. High in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds
Oxidative stress is caused by an excess of free radicals in the body. These are highly reactive molecules that cause cell damage and contribute to ageing and the development of chronic diseases.
Oxidative stress also triggers the body’s inflammatory response. While low-grade inflammation is beneficial and necessary to protect the body against invading pathogens, chronic or persistent inflammation is unhealthy and contributes to the development of diseases like cancer, arthritis and diabetes.
Antioxidants work to counteract the harmful effect of free radicals by donating an electron to neutralize their impact. Thus limiting the amount of inflammation in the body as well.
Cherries are packed full of antioxidants like anthocyanins, vitamin C and beta-carotene and have been scientifically proven to reduce oxidative stress, fight cell damage and lower inflammation in the body.
2. Improve heart health
Cherries are rich in potassium, a mineral that regulates electrical impulses and is required for maintaining a regular heartbeat. Potassium also removes excess sodium from the body which helps regulate blood pressure. Both of these factors are important for good heart health and help protect against cardiovascular diseases.
Additionally, cherries help reduce cellular damage and inflammation to keep your heart healthy, thanks to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
3. Improve sleep
Another well-known health benefit of cherries is their ability to improve sleep quality. These benefits for sleep can be attributed to the fruit’s high levels of melatonin, a compound that is involved in regulating the sleep-wake cycle. According to one study, people who drank tart cherry juice for 7 days had significant improvements in sleep duration and quality, due to higher melatonin levels in the body.
4. Help post-workout recovery
Several studies have found that cherries may enhance recovery after exercise. Their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds are believed to help relieve exercise-induced muscle damage and pain and reduce inflammation, which helps promote faster recovery times. They are also very high in potassium which is important for restoring muscles.
5. Fights arthritis and gout
Inflammation is a major factor that contributes to the development of arthritis. Evidence suggests that cherries can help reduce inflammation and the painful symptoms associated with arthritis by lowering oxidative stress and suppressing inflammatory proteins.
Plus, cherries have been found to be particularly effective at treating gout, a type of arthritis caused by a build-up of uric acid which leads to inflammation, swelling and joint pain. Cherries help ease pain and symptoms of gout by lowering levels of uric acid in the body. One study found that cherries consumed alongside gout medication reduced gout attacks by 75%.
Summary
Cherries are packed full of important nutrients, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. Because of this, they help support the body’s natural defences to protect against diseases and provide numerous benefits to health.
Try New Leaf’s Montmorency Cherry 4000mg Extract to take advantage of the many health benefits of cherries including improvements to heart health and function, sleep, arthritis and gout symptoms, exercise recovery and better overall long-range health.