Health & Medical Nutrition

Cherry Juices

When it comes to fruit, cherries and cherry juices are an all-time favorite for many people. Unfortunately, though, cherries have one of the shortest harvesting times of all fruits, making them one of the most expensive and least commonly available fruits on the market. Because of this fact, many people miss out on cherries health benefits.

However, the fact that fresh cherries are not usually available at your local grocery store does not mean that you have to miss out on all the great benefits of eating them. There are many companies out there that make cherry juices in concentrated and non-concentrated form. Drinking cherry juices, whether bought in concentrated or ready-to-drink form, will give you much of the health benefits that you would get from eating the actual fruit.

Most varieties of cherries available are very high in antioxidants. Studies have show that people whose diets are high in antioxidants, particularly those found in cherries, are at a significantly lower risk for cancer and other life-threatening diseases. While drinking cherry juices instead of eating the actual fruit gives you less fiber, doing so will still help reduce your chances of contracting certain terminal illnesses.

Many people who suffer from other painful illnesses, like arthritis, also choose to include cherries in their diets, and for good reasons. Most cherries contain the natural chemicals anthocyanin and bioflavonoids, which can serve as anti-inflammatory agents, reducing pain and swelling. Furthermore, you do not actually have to eat fresh cherries to get these benefits; both of these chemicals can be found in cherry juices as well.

While less painful and less life-threatening than cancer and arthritis, insomnia is a serious condition that nonetheless afflicts many people. And, as you may have guessed, cherries health benefits are one possible solution to the problem. Cherries (and their juice) contain melatonin in levels high enough to help you get to sleep if you are restless. And drinking a glass before you go to bed is a tasty way to get part of your daily vitamin C without having to drink high fructose corn syrup.

Using cherry juices to replace the sodas or energy drinks you consume throughout the day is a great way to improve your overall health. Studies have shown that cutting these beverages out of your diet reduces your risk of obesity and diabetes. And cutting caffeine out of your diet, while not an easy task, will make you feel healthier and more energized. Not only is cherry juice a great way to replace some of your favorite unhealthy snacks, but it also has no fat and no cholesterol, making it ideal for people concerned about their hearts health.

When deciding what cherry juice to purchase, there are some things you should keep in mind. First, not all juices are created equally. There are many different types of cherries, and some are better for making juice than others. Typically, Montmorency cherries make the best juice as far as the above health benefits are concerned. Another way to judge the quality of the juice you are buying is by the sediment; if you can see anything floating in the bottle, it is usually an indicator of juice made from poor-quality concentrate.

If all of these health-related reasons for drinking cherry juice are not enough to convince you to do so, the flavor alone should be enough. Cherries are truly some of the most delicious fruits nature has given us, and cherry juices capture everything that is great about their flavor.


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