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Nutrition and Benefits of Fruit Cherry (Cherry) for Health

Cherries (cherry) is a fruit drupa are still a family with apples, pears, plums, and strawberries. Red fruit that generally consists of various types, but there are two species most frequently consumed, ie, Prunus avium (sweet cherry) and Prunus cerasus (sour cherry).

Cherry tree originating from temperate climates and difficult cultivated in Indonesia. Cherries are usually used as a garnish cake, while fresh fruit is quite difficult to find in the market and the price is quite expensive. However, it could not hurt to occasionally consume cherries. In addition to having a compelling flavor, cherries also have a variety of benefits for your health.

Nutritional content of Cherries

content of cherries
Sweet and sour cherries have different nutritional content. Although both contain very low calorie, sour cherries contain more vitamin C and A per 100 g her. Sour cherries also rich in antioxidants beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin.

Both sweet and sour cherries also have a stable antioxidant and flavonoid anthocyanin glycosides melatonin that makes their color to red. Ceri including one foods that have antioxidant ORAC value (free radical absorption capacity), the largest.

ORAC value of sweet cherries strawberries even the same height. In addition, cherries are also enriched with minerals zinc, iron, potassium, manganese, and copper.

Benefits of Cherries for Health

With abundant phytochemical content include some vitamins and minerals, cherries have a variety of health benefits as listed below:

Antioxidant protection
Cherry anthocyanins in protecting the body from oxidative damage in several ways. Namely the fight against free radicals directly, tied to DNA to prevent oxidative damage, as well as activating systems of detoxification and antioxidant enzymes in the body.

Cherry anthocyanins showed protection against blood vessels and brain cells, and is expected to prevent atherosclerosis, degenerative diseases such as dementia, and cancer. One study showed that anthocyanins, especially sianidin, helps the differentiation of cells and prevent healthy cells transform into cancer. Other studies show that anthocyanins can slow the progression of human colon cancer cells.

Relieve gout
Cherries and cherry juice have been used since the 1950s to relieve symptoms of arthritis and gout or more popularly known as gout. Some own research shows that consumption of sour cherries can lower uric acid levels and inflammation in the body.

Healthy heart
The study, presented in the Experimental Biology 2011 shows that sour cherry juice consumption helps reduce levels of triglycerides, VLDL, and protein molecules involved in the formation of atherosclerosis plaque that can cause heart disease. Cherries also have potassium which helps regulate heart rate and blood pressure in the body.

Relieves pain
Cherry extract can block the action of the enzyme COX-1 and COX-2 is involved in the inflammation process and the sensation of pain. Inhibitory activity of the anthocyanin is even comparable to the consumption of some drugs. Research shows that patients with osteoarthritis who drank two glasses of tart cherry juice daily experienced a significant decrease in inflammation after 3 weeks. They also experienced a decrease in pain of 20%.

cherry fruit benefits
Cherry fruit has many benefits and benefits for health
Cherries also help relieve muscle soreness after exercise. Other studies reveal that long-distance runners who drank tart cherry juice two times a day for eight days experienced less pain than those who took placebo. At any load lifters, cherry consumption can reduce pain and maintain stamina for longer.

Makes you sleep better
Cherries contain melatonin, which helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle in the human brain. Melatonin can provide a calming effect on neurons of the brain and nervous system that helps relieve insomnia and headaches. Melatonin itself is actually produced by the pineal gland in the body.

The research revealed that consumption of sour cherry juice can increase the levels of melatonin and increases the duration and sleep efficiency.

Helps prevent strokes
University of Michigan Health System conducted research on animal models to determine the effects of sour cherry juice to fat and glucose regulation. As a result, sour cherries not only provide health benefits such as cardiovascular drugs commonly prescribed by doctors, but also reduces the risk of stroke. Mice increased significantly balance and coordination as well as a decrease in blood pressure.

Good for diabetes
Calories and carbohydrates cherries are low so it can be consumed by diabetics in a reasonable amount. Cherries also has the potential to increase insulin production by up to 50% based on the research of Michingan State University. Insulin is increased when stimulated with anthocyanins in the cherries. Insulin production even increased by almost 2-fold when exposed to the most active anthocyanin.

Nevertheless, it is still necessary anthocyanins tested on animals and humans before it is used in the treatment of diabetes.