Cherries are a beloved stone fruit of many plants in thePrunusgenus.

Cherries are delicious and contain vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants.

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Overhead image of cherries in a bowl

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Boosts Exercise Recovery

Theanti-inflammatoryand antioxidant compounds in cherries may help you recover from intense exercise and resume exercising quicker.

Tart cherries and tart cherry juice have been extensively studied for this.

Improves Heart Health

Cherries contain manyheart-healthycompounds.

Cherries have been studied for their unique ability to normalize uric acid levels.

Melatonin levels decrease as morning nears to help you wake up for the day.

As we get older, melatonin levels naturally begin to decline.

Most studies on cherries and sleep use tart cherry juice or cherry extract.

Fresh cherries may not have the same effect.

Superfoods

“Superfoods” is a marketing term highlighting foods that prevent disease and support overall health.

The standard serving size of fresh fruit is one-half cup.

They also have a wide variety of vitamins and minerals.

Furthermore, cherries containpolyphenolsand antioxidants, which are plant compounds with anti-inflammatory and protective properties for cellular health.

When Are Cherries Not as Healthy?

Cherries are a nutrient-rich fruit that fit into almost any diet pattern.

Of course, people with a cherryallergyshould not eat them, but are there other potential downsides to cherries?

Products like canned and maraschino cherries contain significant added sugar, which canspike your blood sugar.

And they don’t offer the benefits of fiber and other plant compounds found in raw cherries.

Consuming fresh cherries vs. sugary cherry products is also better for people with diabetes.

How Many Types of Cherries Are There?

Varieties include:

Cherries are anutritious snackin themselves.

Summary

If you’re a fan of cherries, you’re not alone.

These juicy little fruits are very popular, especially in the summertime.

Including cherries in your diet may benefit your heart, joint health, sleep, and exercise recovery.

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