7 Health Benefits of Cherries
Who doesn’t like the tangy, tart like taste of cherries? They adorn the tops of our cakes and our ice-creams to make that exquisite combination of sweet and tangy that is hard to resist. However, there is more than meets the eye with this little fruit. Turns out, cherries are a storehouse of health benefits. Read on to find out more about the amazing properties of this fruit.
1. Anti-oxidant properties
Been chasing the elusive anti-oxidant goodness through heaps of cosmetic concoctions? Well, it might just be time to visit the nearby grocery store and get your hands on a bag full of cherries. Anti-oxidants, as we all know, help in fighting oxidative stress, slowing down the process of aging. Cherries contain polyphenolic flavonoid compounds known as anthocyanin glycosides. These compounds are found in many colored fruits and vegetables and have powerful anti-oxidant properties.
2. Regulates body’s sleep cycles
Having trouble sleeping? The soothing effect of a stable anti-oxidant melatonin present in cherries, calms down the nervous system, reduces irritability and stress and goes a long way in curing insomnia and headache conditions.
3. Anti-inflammatory properties
In addition to being a source of anti-oxidants, anthocyanins also act like anti-inflammatory agents. Thus, cherries can potentially act as a shield against various chronically painful ailments such as some forms of arthritis and other muscle conditions. They can also come in handy for relief against sports injuries. A glass of cherry juice may just be the thing you need after a rigorous workout session!
4. Effective substitute for painkillers
Due to the above mentioned anti-inflammatory properties of cherries, they can be taken in place of various pain killers like aspirin, motrin or advil. Thus creating a natural way of fighting pain and completely avoiding any side effects which such drugs may have.