7 Reasons Why You Need to Eat Cherries This Season

 

  1. Cherries are a smart sweet. They score low on the glycemic index for a fruit, keeping us fuller longer and helping curb our appetites.

 

  1. Cherries will help you snooze. They are a natural source of melatonin, a compound found in our bodies that helps us regulate healthy sleep cycles.

 

  1. Our ancestors have been chomping on cherries for years (and years).  Archaeologists discovered fossilized cherry pits in prehistoric caves. The earliest mention of them was in the year 300 BC!

 

  1. Cherries come in many varieties. There are over 1000 varieties, including our personal favorite at Basil Bandwagon: Rainier Cherries!

 

  1. Cherries combat inflammation. All varieties: dark, sweet, Rainier, etc. all lower uric acid, which is a key contributor to the inflammation that can make us feel stiff, achy, puffy and sore.

 

  1. Cherries are rich in anthocynanins. Say what, now? Anthocynanins are a class of flavonoids found in many fruits that give them their vibrant colors. The health benefits of them can be far-reaching: boosting cognitive performance, supporting liver health, optimizing vision, and more!

 

  1. Cherries are fun! In fact, cherry pit spitting contests are no joke! The world record for spitting was made during the International Cherry Pit-Spitting Championship in Eau Claire, Michigan, in 2004: 93 feet, 6.5 inches!!!

 

Sources:

http://mentalfloss.com/article/82858/13-sweet-facts-about-cherries

http://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2007/12/sf_cherries/page-01  

http://www.naturallivingideas.com/7-reasons-to-eat-more-anthocyanins-and-top-foods/

http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/cherry-stone-spitting-greatest-distance

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_pit_spitting