By Vanessa Wilkerson, Healing the Body
One look at a handful of ruby red cherries will offer a clue to their jewel-like essence—a treasure trove of health for the body. They can help improve your sleep, eliminate headaches, reduce premature aging, and dismantle troublesome ailments such as cancer, high blood pressure, arthritis, and gout. Check out these many healing benefits of cherries.
1. For Arthritis, Gout, Inflammation, and More
Research supports that eating just 10 cherries a day (1/2 cup) protects against ongoing attacks of arthritis and gout. As noted by researcher Hyon K. Choi, MD, and the Arthritis Foundation, “Cherry intake was associated with a 50 percent lower risk of gout flares over a 48-hour period.” They inferred that this significant improvement continues to work long-term.
A study at the Baylor Research Institute showed that a daily dose of tart cherry extract reduced osteoarthritis by over 20 percent.
The potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of anthocyanins and other flavonoids in cherries are responsible for this effect.
Cherries, particularly tart ones, possess some of the highest levels of anthocyanin of any fruit. There is evidence that cherries also reduce elevated uric acid and C-reactive protein commonly found in inflammatory diseases.
Anyone suffering from degenerative conditions such as cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, osteoporosis, bacterial or viral infections, or candida typically have inflammation in the body and can all therefore benefit from the anti-inflammatory effects of cherries.
Inflammation, like fever, is your body’s natural response to stress and its effort to heal itself. Yet, when chronic low-grade inflammation persists, it is believed to be a significant factor in premature aging and the perpetuation of illness.
