Cherries Health Benefits
Scientific Research
Researchers at Michigan State University have now confirmed the extraordinary anti-inflammatory properties of Michigan tart cherries, which have also been shown to be a significant source of anti-oxidants and melatonin which can help fight cancer, heart disease and even the effects of aging.
According to Dr. Muraleedharan Nair at Michigan State, lab tests show that the anthocyanins in tart cherries actually give 10 times the anti-inflammatory relief of aspirin, without irritating the stomach. They are also potent antioxidants.
Tart cherries have also been found to aid
- Kidney stones
- Gallbladder ailments
- Ttooth decay
- Preventing varicose veins
- Rreducing cholesterol
- Rreducing the risk of heart attack
- Helping with sleep
- Rreducing the risk of cancer
- Rreducing inflammation
- Rreducing headaches
In addition to the antioxidants, cherries are rich in two important flavonoids —isoqueritrin and quercitrin. A growing body of research shows that quercitrin is one of the most potent anti-cancer agents ever discovered. Consuming it in foods, such as cherries has been shown to help neutralize cancer-causing agents.
Melatonin and Tart Cherries
The most exciting area of research into tart cherries over the last couple of years has been the work done by Dr. Russel Reiter, the dean of melatonin research.
Dr. Reiter has been painstakingly unlocking the secrets of melatonin for over 30 years. Investigations into the role melatonin plays in organisms and how it is produced has led to many startling discoveries. Apparently all organisms use melatonin and it influences wide variety of processes in the body.
It now appears that there is a strong link between diseases, particularly those associated with aging, and melatonin. This could prove to be one of the most revolutionary discoveries in the fields of nutrition, gerentology and a host of degenerative diseases.
Michigan tart cherries are truly a functional food.
There is also evidence that cherries are so powerful they may reduce the risk of cancer by fifty percent. "Preliminary research is showing they contain unique plant chemicals that can prevent and treat may of today's worst health problems," says University of Iowa biochemist Raymond Hohl, M.D., at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.
"It appears that cherries shut down the growth of cancer cells by depriving them of the proteins they need to grow," explains Dr. Hohl.
Antioxidants found in Tart Cherries
The same chemicals that give tart cherries their color may relieve pain better than aspirin and ibuprofen. Cherries may provide antioxidant protection comparable to commercially available supplements, such as vitamin E and vitamin C.
Articles
Eating about 20 tart cherries per day could reduce inflammatory pain and benefit the consumer with antioxidant protection. Twenty tart cherries contain 12 to 25 milligrams of active antioxidant compounds ..
