Cherry Nutrition Benefits

By Karen Ansel, M.S., R.D., "Choose Cherries," May/June 2012

Eating cherries may help you sleep better, lose weight and help prevent some diseases.

Combat cancer.
Sweet cherries are rich in beta carotene, vitamin C, anthocyanins and quercetin, which may work together synergistically to fight cancer. Plus, preliminary studies suggest the anthocyanin cyanidin may prevent genetic mutations that can lead to cancer and keep cancer cells from growing out of control. While tart cherries contain some anthocyanins, sweet cherries pack nearly three times as many (two-thirds are found in the skins). The riper the better: as cherries darken, they produce more antioxidants.

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