Cherries are about as all-American as apple pie. Minus the fat and laborious effort to prepare a good crust. And because I’m flat out sick of the exotic berry craze stealing attention from other great super-foods, I’m about to toot some cherry horn.
Like other berries, cherries contain plentiful antioxidants, but that’s just the tip of the iceburg. Researchers at the University of Michigan Cardiovascular center found that cherry-rich diets reduce both cholesterol and inflammation. Also in the study, animals fed cherry-enhanced diets had 14% lower body fat than the other animals.
But my favorite thing about cherries (besides the sweet deliciousness that they are in your mouth) is the sleep-aiding effect they offer. Cherries are one of just a few food sources of an antioxidant called melatonin. Melatonin is usually produced by the body to help regulate sleep patterns, but cherries contain more of it than the body normally produces. So if you need some help getting more shut-eye, eat up.
So fly an American flag, get you a bowl of cherries, and be merry. The view from the cherry tree is pretty good, kids.
July 15th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
YUM…I love cherries…love this time of year because there are good cherries available everywhere!