Sour cherry is a widely cultivated cherry. These are bright red in color and black soft-fleshed acid fruits. The fruit is plump and rounded. Its flesh contains a small central seed. The flavor is tart, intense and tannic when fresh. Sour cherries are generally available in summer or early fall. Sour cherries are generally sold as jam or dried. Sour cherries are a powerful source of beneficial nutrition. These cherries contain fiber, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin A.
Sour cherries are also known as Tart cherries. Sour cherries are bright red in color when harvested. But when dried and frozen, it retains that bold color. Sour cherries are generally consumed frozen, dried or juiced rather than fresh like other sweet cherries. According to many research, there are a lot of potential benefits in sour cherries. Here we will know about 5 health benefits of sour cherries. But at first, let’s know what sour cherry is.
# Prevent Heart DiseasesSour cherries are a powerful source of antioxidants such as quercetin. This antioxidant is highly beneficial in reducing blood pressure. It also prevents oxidative damage. It provides you with a daily amount of required antioxidants which helps in fighting heart diseases. These cherries can be consumed as fresh fruit or juice, but fresh fruit is more preferable than juice for heart patients.
# Beneficial for InsomniaSour cherry is a safe and effective way to treat insomnia. It helps you in increasing your sleep. These cherries contain a good amount of melatonin, which is a kind of hormone responsible for our sleep. According to recent researches, sour cherry juice is quite beneficial for increasing the level of melatonin which helps in improving sleep quality and duration. Such cherries are a good source of tryptophan and anthocyanin also. These two compounds are responsible for creating Melatonin and lengthening its effect.
# Reduce the Symptoms of Gout and Arthritis
Sour cherry reduces the symptoms of arthritis, such as inflammation and joint pain. The consumption of tart cherries is highly effective in gout also. Gout is a kind of arthritis which includes repeated swelling attacks and severe pain. Some recent studies suggest that sour cherry has the ability to reduce the blood markers of inflammation in osteoarthritis women patients. Sour cherry juice helps in reducing blood levels of uric acid, which is a chemical that can trigger gout by existing in high amounts in the blood.
# Strengthen your Immune SystemSour cherries are rich in vitamins and minerals. The highly beneficial sour cherry plant compounds offer a boost in your immune system. As mentioned above, tart cherries a good amount of antioxidants in it, which prevent our bodies from infections. It has a lot of important nutrients that are helpful in strengthening your immune system.
# Cancer ProtectionThe antioxidants in sour cherries have been shown to reduce cancer growth. It also reduces the proliferation in cell cultures in the laboratory. As it contains melatonin, it might help protect the body from breast cancer. Tart cherries have a number of breast-cancer reducing benefits as it regulates estrogen throughout the body. These cherries are a great example of anti-cancer food. Anthocyanins found in sour cherries make the cancerous cells die faster. Sour cherries are also beneficial for preventing liver, skin, lung and colon cancers.