The facts that cherries or berries are rich of antioxidants are something you cannot doubt anymore. However, sometime people just don’t know how to choose which one is the best for them to consume so they could reach their healthy lifestyle goal. There are a lot of types of cherries and among the ones that recently becoming the topic among health practitioners are black cherries and the health benefits of black cherries have been studied closely and scientifically.
What Are Black Cherries?
From the name you will think that this type of cherries have black colour. Well, the fact is in a glance you will find it difficult to differ it from the common red cherries but if you look it closely, black cherries have darker skin but still in the shades of red colour. If you think that black cherries are coming from the same family as berries due to its similar appearance, you are wrong because black cherries which are also well known as prunes are coming from the same family as rose.
Nutritional Values of Black Cherries
As mentioned above, the main reason why people are adding cherries to their daily diet is due to their antioxidant properties. Moreover, cherries are also packed with vitamin and minerals that are essential for human metabolism. It was measured that a cup of black cherries could fulfil 15% daily intake of vitamin C benefits but super low in calories which is less than 100 calories. To learn more about the health benefits of black cherries, you could find it in the list below.
- Excellent Source of Antioxidants
It is a common knowledge that cherries are excellent source of antioxidants. If you are not familiar with types of antioxidants, all the vitamin c and vitamin A found in cherries are examples of antioxidants found in this tasty fruit.
- Contains Anti-Inflammatory Properties
According to some scientific researches, the dark red colour of black cherries is the strong indication that this type of fruit contains powerful or potent anti-inflammatory properties.
- Promotes Heart Health
Do you know that inflammation is the root of some heart conditions? As mentioned in previous point, this fruit is rich of anti-inflammatory properties. It is enough reason to tell you that consuming black cherry regularly could help promoting heart health.
- Prevents the Development of Cancerous Cells
Free radicals are the root of cancers which occur due to abnormal growth of cells. Consuming foods that are rich of antioxidants are excellent and natural of how to prevent cancers.
- Protects Against Diabetes
The sweet flavour of black cherries may worry you who have been diagnosed with certain types of diabetes but you don’t need to worry because this fruit contains low glycemic index that is safe for diabetic patients.
- Natural Solution to Obesity
There is no easy way to fight obesity but speaking of foods for diet, black cherries contains some compounds that could help those who are in specific diet to fight obesity to lose some weight.
- Manages Weight Gain
As rich of antioxidants, vitamin C, beta-carotene and low in calories, black cherries are excellent choice for those who are currently in diet program because it could help you managing the weight gain.
- Solution to Insomnia
There are a lot of factors that cause insomnia but black cherries are one of the highly recommended solution to deal with this condition. Black cherries contain melatonin; which is powerful antioxidants that could help regulating natural sleep pattern.
- Provides Arthritis Relief
Arthritis occurs when uric acid crystallized in the joints. The effect is you will feel the pain when you move your joints. The anthocyanin compounds found in black cherries could help breaking the crystallized uric acid and relieve the pain.
- Reduces the Risk of Gout
It is similar to the previous point, the same antioxidants found in black cherries, well known as anthocyanin is not only able to provide arthritis relief but also able to reduce the risk of gout.
- Manages the Cholesterol Level
Berries and cherries are example of foods that could lower cholesterol level due to its fiber content. You must have known the health benefits of fiber especially soluble fiber. This compound will bind all the excessive or ‘bad’ cholesterol to be washed off the body system.
- Prevents Tooth Decay
Plaque is the main reason of tooth decay or cavities. Studies found that consuming black cherries regularly could help preventing the accumulation of plaque.
- Reduces Oxidative Stress
Oxidative stress could affect your immunity system because it could attack the defence of your body. Black cherries contain antioxidants that could provide one layer of protection to your immunity system by reducing the oxidative stress.
- Super Low in Calories
Are you looking for a healthy and tasty snack? Well, a bowl of black cherries are tasty snack you could enjoy without worrying about calories because it is super low in calories but packed with other nutrients that are essential for human metabolism.
- Promotes Healthy Skin
There are a lot of benefits of cherries for health and beauty. One of them is due to its high content water of black cherries is the reason why this fruit is good for skin. The water will keep your skin hydrated, bright and radiant.
- Anti-Aging Benefits
There are some reasons why consuming black cherries could have anti-aging benefits. First, black cherries contain antioxidants which are natural anti-aging. Second, black cherries contain vitamin C to help optimizing the production of collagen that maintains the skin elasticity.
- Solutions to Hair Loss
Not only great for skin, black cherries are also great for hair. You could consume it or turn it into a pure to be used as natural hair mask to help fighting hair loss.
Cautions of Black Cherries
The lists of health benefits of black cherries above are already becoming the common knowledge right now but still there are some cautions of black cherries you should know.
- As mentioned above, black cherries are also excellent source of beta-carotene which is also well known as pro-vitamin A. Do you know that too much vitamin A in your body could be toxic? So consuming it in proper amount is highly recommended.
- You should aware of allergic reaction that may occur especially for those who have allergic history toward cherries, berries or rose because consuming black cherries may give the same effect.
- When you choose frozen or dried black cherries, you have to make sure to read all the additional ingredients carefully for optimal benefits of this fruits. One more thing you should aware of is its expired dates.
If you want to enjoy a cup of fresh black cherries you should wait for the seasons but you don’t need to worry because right now there are more options of enjoying all the health benefits of black cherries such as buying the dried or frozen ones. Though in some ways, there is the change of flavours or reduction of nutritional contents but still they are containing all the benefits that human need.