What are cherries?
Cherries are the fruit of the Prunus avium, a species belonging to the Rosaceae family. Their origin is placed in Eastern Europe and Asia Minor.
What are the nutritional properties of cherries?
100 g of cherries provide 63 Calories and:
- 16.1 g carbohydrates
- 1.06 g of protein
- 0.20 g of lipids
- 2.1 g of fibers
- 21 of vitamin C
- 0.154 mg of niacin
- 0.033 mg of riboflavin
- 0,027 mg of thiamine
- 0.0049 mg of pyridoxine
- 640 IU of vitamin A
- 4 micrograms of folate
- 222 mg of potassium
- 21 mg of phosphorus
- 13 mg of calcium
- 11 mg of magnesium
- 0.36 mg of iron
- 0.07 mg of zinc
- 0.07 mg of manganese
- 0.060 mg of copper
100 g of cherries provide 38 micrograms of beta-carotene and 85 micrograms of lutein and zeaxanthin. These fruits are also a source of melatonin and polyphenols, in particular of a type of flavonoid known as anthocyanins.
When you do not eat cherries?
No interactions of cherries with drugs or substances is known. If in doubt it is good to seek advice from your doctor.
Seasonality of cherries
Cherry season begins in May and ends in July.
Possible benefits and drawbacks of cherries
Cherries are also a source of important minerals. Particularly noteworthy is the presence of potassium, important for the control of the frequency of our heart and blood pressure.
Their anthocyanins are powerful antioxidants and appear to act as anti-inflammatory drugs, by blocking the cyclooxygenase-1 and 2. Because of this enzyme activity it is believed that the consumption of these fruits can be useful in cases of chronic pain, such as that associated to gouty arthritis, fibromyalgia or sports injuries. Not only that, the anti-inflammatory properties of cherries may help reduce the risk of heart disease. The powerful antioxidant lutein, zeaxanthin and beta-carotene appears to protect against free radicals and from reactive oxygen species, which can damage cells and tissues resulting in aging, cancer and other diseases. Finally, Vitamin C and melatonin are antioxidants. The latter, crossing the blood-brain barrier, seems to exert a soothing effect on the nervous system and helps fight problems such as headaches and insomnia.
The intake of cherries can trigger allergies.
