Oxidation is not the only process associated with diseases of aging. Inflammation also plays a big role in everything from heart disease to dementia.

Cherries are nature's own little anti-inflammatory pills. They contain Cox 2 inhibitors similar to those found in pain medications such as Vioxx and Celebrex, but they also contain compounds called polyphenols that keep platelets in the blood from clumping together, so they don't produce undesirable side effects— like heart attacks and strokes—which are risks associated with the manufactured drugs. Isn't Mother Nature clever?