5 Reasons to Love Cherries l Health Benefits of Cherries l Are Cherries Good For You

They won the hearts of dignitaries, royalty and noblemen. From China to the United States, cherries have been celebrated for centuries since arriving with the settlers during the 1600s. Cherries symbolize productivity, happiness and joy in some cultures. The Chinese believed that cherries are a sign of immortality. The Greeks often wrote about using cherries as a diuretic. However, cherries have more than a rich history and are more than a symbol! The tiniest of the fruits is nature's own little anti-inflammatory pill and is fast becoming a shining star on the health circuit. They can decrease strokes, heart attacks, assist with insomnia and may fight cancer. Cherries also help with joint pain and with headaches. Pretty neat for such a tiny fruit that has only 100 calories per cup. Nature really hooked us up with this powerful fruit. Here are 5 reasons to fall in love with cherries.

It Lowers Blood Pressure

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Cherries may lower blood pressure by taking excess sodium from the body. This reduces the risk of hypertension from happening. Karen Keane was a lead author of a report at British Northumbria University and found that men who drank Montmorency cherry juice saw a drop in their blood pressure, which was comparable to taking blood pressure drugs. "This exciting set of data complements a growing body of research to show that eating the right sorts of foods can provide potential health benefits," Keane explained. The reason they saw the drop was because of the phenolic acid found in cherries. Researchers believe that phenolic acid may play a role in protecting against oxidative damage diseases like heart disease, cancer and stroke.