A BOWL FULL OF CHERRIES!

                                                 Cherries help arthritis pain
For those who suffer from arthritis and gout, this will make you happy to find that adding cherries to your diet can greatly decrease the pain you get from both of those inflammatory issues
. Excess uric acid in the blood is the culprit behind the awful pain that causes swelling, tenderness and inflammation.  A study done by the USDA found that uric acid can be reduced by as much as 15% simply by eating 2 cups of cherries. Cherries can also help reduce painful inflammation by decreasing the amount of C-reactive protein produced. So add a little delicious to your diet by snacking on cherries.

Cherries fight cancer
The distinctive deep red pigment cherries are known for comes from flavonoids (powerful antioxidants that help fight free radicals in the body). Cyanidin is a flavonoid from the anthocyanin group found in cherries that helps keep cancerous cells from growing out of control. And, for cherries with the most anthocyanins go for sweet cherries with the deepest pigment; crimson-purple rather than bright red.

Cherries help you sleep
If sipping a cup of chamomile isn’t enough to induce restful sleep try having tart cherry juice before bed. Tart cherries contain melatonin, a hormone that helps make you feel sleepy. Two tablespoons of tart cherry juice has been shown in studies to be just as effective as a melatonin supplement. So, pour yourself a little cherry juice nightcap for a tasty bedtime sleep aid.

Cherries help lower blood pressure
Cherries are a great source of potassium, which helps lower blood pressure by getting rid of the excess sodium in our body. Eating cherries helps keep potassium and sodium in balance, and can prevent hypertension from occurring.

Cherries are beneficial to weight loss
Eating cherries can help you lose weight and stay trim.  A cup of cherries is less than 100 calories and packs in 3 grams of fiber, which will keep you feeling full longer. Also, these little beauties contain many B-vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin and vitamin B6; these vitamins are crucial for the metabolism and convert nutrients into energy. What could be better than eating cherries to help you stay lean and skinny?

Tip: Cherries are not only healthy, but they are delicious and versatile. You can chop them and add them to salad, in a smoothie, juice them. One of my favorites is juicing just a handful and adding carbonated water and a squeeze of lemon or lime. It tastes like cherry soda!!alkalinewithchristine.net