Research Reveals the Healthy Fruit

Cherries have pleased the palates of food lovers for centuries. Now there are new reasons to love cherries. As a recent Newsweek article said "The day when doctors say--'Take 10 cherries and call me in the morning'--may not be far off."

According to ongoing research, cherries are a rich source of antioxidants that can help fight cancer and heart disease. In addition, they contain compounds that help relieve the pain of arthritis, gout and even headaches.

The secret is in the pigments that give cherries their rich red hue. They belong to a class of natural dyes called anthocyanins. These compounds are being called "Mother Nature's all-natural chemotherapy agents."

In addition to the antioxidants, cherries are rich in two important flavonoids --isoqueritrin and queritrin. According to leading researchers, queritrin is one of the most potent anticancer agents ever discovered. Consuming it in foods, such as cherries, is like unleashing inside your body an entire army of James Bond-type agents who are adept at neutralizing cancer-causing agents.

Click Here to return to the cherry library page.

Source:  Cherry Advantage, Issue 1 - December 2000