Curiously Awesome

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The chemicals that give tart cherries their red color may relieve pain more effectively than aspirin and may provide antioxidant protection that is comparable to commercially available supplements like vitamin E. These new findings suggest that the consumption of cherries may have the potential to reduce cardiovascular or chronic diseases in humans (such as arthritis and gout).

Eating about 20 tart cherries could be enough to see antioxidant or anti-inflammatory benefits. That number of cherries contains 12-25 milligrams of active compounds called anthocyanins. Anthocyanins were found to prevent oxidative damage (caused by oxygen or free radicals) approximately as well as compounds in commercial antioxidants. Daily consumption of cherries has the potential of reducing pain related to inflammation, arthritis, and gout.

Rats that consumed whole tart cherry powder mixed into a high-fat diet didn’t gain as much weight or build up as much body fat as rats that didn’t consume cherries. Additionally, their blood showed significantly lower levels of molecules that indicate the kind of inflammation that has been linked to heart disease and diabetes. They also had significantly lower blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides than the other rats.

These new findings are very encouraging due to what is becoming known about the connection between inflammation, blood lipids, obesity, and body composition in cardiovascular disease and diabetes,

Tart Cherries also contain other important nutrients.

• Beta carotene (19 times as much as blueberries or strawberries)
• Vitamins C and E
• Potassium
• Magnesium
• Iron
• Fiber
• Folate

Cherries also have been found to help regulate the body’s circadian rhythm, prevent memory loss and even delay the aging process.

There are no specific guidelines about how many cherries it takes to reap the benefits. Experts suggest that 1-2 servings of cherries daily can help provide some of these health benefits, however.

* 1/2 cup dried

* 1 cup frozen

* 1 cup juice

* 1 ounce (or 2 Tbsp) juice concentrate

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Those are the facts. Now for my own experience. For the last several months I’ve been having pain in my right shoulder and arm that has been getting progressively more bothersome. I can’t attribute it to anything specific so it’s been nagging mystery to me. I first read about these beneficial properties of cherries several weeks ago and I decided that I didn’t have anything to lose by adding cherries to my daily diet. It’s been almost two weeks now since I’ve been eating about 20 cherries daily and my shoulder and arm have been about 95% improved for the last week. I am completely amazed and absolutely sold on cherries!