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With their glossy ruby red skins, plump ripe
cherries are one of summer's treats. Turns
out that while being quite a carby fruit,
they are a powerhouse of vitamins with an
unexpected sideline in pain relief.
C
herries are related to
plums and have been
eaten since the Stone
Age, as cherry stones
(pits) have been found
in Stone Age caves in Europe and the
Roman army marched on a stomach
likely to have been at least partly filled by
with cherries. Like many fruits, they are a
rich source of complex sugars and can
be dried for easy transport, though they
already come in the neatest little bitesized packages. There
is no need for
preparation, just pop them in.
Usually dark shades of red, or
sometimes yellow, they come in either
sweet or sour varieties. The main sour
variety is Montmorency, which are often
canned or frozen and used for pie fillings
or sauces. The sweet ones have great
names, like Bing, Lambert, Rainer and
Royal Ann.
They have high antioxidant properties
and are high in phytosterols - plant sterols
which can be used to lower bad LDL
cholesterol levels and can reduce the risk
of heart disease.
They can also be used to calm the
stomach in cases of nausea, vomiting and
can treat bronchitis, asthma and diarrhea.
Natasha Turner, MD, writing an article for
the Huffington Post revealed six hidden
health benefits which included the fact
that whole, sour cherries can reduce the
chances of developing gout and reducing
the severity of gout attacks (in doses of
10-12 cherries up to three times a day) may
also aid in relieving arthritic pain and even
migraines. She also wrote that drinking half
a cup of cherry juice half an hour before bed
can help you sleep, and that sour cherries
may also combat belly fat.
Cherry picking
Take that phrase as literally as you can,
by choosing each individual fruit, if you
can. They should be large, glossy, plump,
hard and dark-coloured for their variety.
Choose ones with their stems on. Buy
them with their stems on then keep
them cool and moist. If left in a bowl in
a warm environment they will quickly set
the others off. Overleaf there is a recipe,
but most cherry recipes are puddings or
chutneys, and hence both high in either
fat, sugar or both and not really what
you'd recommend for a diabetic diet, so
bear that in mind!