Health Benefits of Sweet Cherries

Want to tame inflammation, lower blood pressure, and get a better night’s sleep? Sweet cherries can help, according to a research review published in the March issue of the journal Nutrients. Scientists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the University of California, Davis, examined 29 published human trials and found that, among study subjects who consumed sweet cherries, the health benefits included decreased oxidative stress and inflammation; fewer attacks of gout; lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure; and improved sleep, anxiety, and mood.

Sweet cherries are low in calories, but deliver high concentrations of nutrients and bioactive components, including fiber, polyphenols, melatonin, carotenoids, vitamin C, and potassium, which may explain many of their health benefits. [See our recipe for Arugula, Cherry, & Maytag Salad with Peppered Pecans.]