Cherries & anthocyanins: health benefits

Whenever “cherry season” comes around, I could not help running to the grocery store to splurge on these delicious and amazing fruits! Cherries are great antioxidants that provide anti-inflammatory effects and protect the body from oxidative damage. In a study by Kelley and colleagues, healthy men and women consumed Bing sweet cherries for a 28-day period. Blood work showed lower levels of circulating inflammation markers when compared to Day 0 of the study. So what gives cherries their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects? These fruits contain anthocyanins – pigments that are responsible for giving cherries their beautiful red color.

Here are some of the great health benefits of cherries!

• Heart disease prevention – anthocyanins may decrease blood pressure and cholesterol levels thus contributing to overall heart health.
• Cancer prevention – anthocyanins act as antioxidants against free radical damage thus preventing against cancer cell formation.
• Weight management – snacking on any fruit or vegetable as a substitute for unhealthier choices such as potato chips can help manage your weight and reduce or prevent obesity. Instead of eating ice cream for dessert, snack on some fresh, sweet cherries!

Other excellent sources of anthocyanins include most berries, pomegranate, plums, and red cabbage.

My advice: While anthocyanins act as a great resource for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, there has not been a study that proves that they do in fact prevent heart disease or cancer. One thing we do know is that cherries are definitely a healthy choice, and you should incorporate fruits with anthocyanins into your daily diet.