Cherries are bright red fruits that Thai people are very familiar with, especially when eaten with ice cream or various types of desserts. However, many people may not know that cherries are rich in antioxidants and are just as beneficial to health as other fruits. They may help maintain heart health and brain function, restore the body after exercise, and treat insomnia. 

Cherries are generally divided into two main groups: sweet cherries ( Prunus avium L.) and sweet and sour cherries ( Prunus cerasus L.). สมัครสมาชิก UFABET วันนี้ รับเครดิตฟรีทุกวัน Both groups of cherries are rich in important nutrients that the body needs every day, such as dietary fiber, vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, manganese, copper, magnesium, etc. 100 grams of sweet cherries provide 63 kilocalories of energy, while in the same amount, sweet and sour cherries provide only 50 kilocalories of energy.   

Benefits of Cherries 

The above mentioned important nutrients may be just as beneficial to health as other fruits. Therefore, some research has studied the properties of cherries in various aspects as follows:

Antioxidants

It is well known that antioxidants can help reduce the amount of free radicals. That cause many illnesses. These substances are often found in foods, especially vegetables and fruits. Cherries are a fruit that is rich in antioxidants. Therefore, a study was conducted in which 37 elderly people were given 480 ml. Of sweet and sour cherry juice for 12 weeks. The results showed that the subjects had lower systolic blood pressure and bad cholesterol levels, which may be due to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of sweet and sour cherries. 

There is also a body of research that suggests that consuming sweet and sour cherries may protect against and reduce cell damage caused by free radicals, thus promoting better health. However, further human studies are needed to confirm its efficacy and minimize the risk to the body.

Improve memory performance

Human memory can be affected by free radicals, inflammation. And high blood pressure. At the same time, cherries have been studied and found to be a source of antioxidants and may help lower systolic blood pressure. Which is why they are thought to be effective in enhancing memory. A study in which 37 elderly people were given the sweet and sour cherry juice regularly showed that it may improve their memory and analytical thinking abilities. 

Similarly, a study in mice that consumed sweet and sour cherries for six weeks found that eating these cherries may help improve working memory and learning, reduce inflammation, and balance cells in the hippocampus, a region of the brain. However, further human studies and safety monitoring are needed.

Recover your body after exercise

Cherries are rich in polyphenols, which are believed to be beneficial for physical recovery. One study found that 16 male soccer players who took a sweet and sour cherry supplement were able to recover after a variety of exercises, such as short, intense bursts of exercise or high-intensity bursts. Although the study suggests that cherries can help with physical recovery, it is still a small study. And more evidence is needed before it can be used in the future. 

Maintain cardiovascular health

Since the polyphenols in sweet and sour cherries may have the ability to promote endothelial cell function and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, an initial study of the polyphenols’ efficacy and heart health benefits in 15 male hypertensive patients found that consuming sweet and sour cherries significantly reduced systolic blood pressure. However, the above studies are not strong enough to support this benefit. If you want to consume cherries for medicinal purposes or as a tonic, always consult your doctor about the safety and risks before use.

Treat insomnia

Treating insomnia is another efficiency of cherries that experts are continuously interested in studying. For example, in one study, 8 elderly people with insomnia were given cherry juice to drink for 2 weeks. The results found that important substances from cherry juice helped the test subjects sleep longer and have better quality sleep. Therefore, it can be inferred that cherries may help relieve insomnia .

In addition, several studies have suggested that sweet and sour cherries may help improve sleep because they are rich in melatonin, a substance that helps with sleep, and also contain phenolic compounds that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, this research is only a small group study, so more research should be done. If there is research that can clearly confirm the effectiveness in this area in the future, this fruit may be further developed for health benefits and can be used safely.

Precautions for eating cherries

In general, consuming both types of cherries from food does not usually cause harm to the body. However, long-term consumption of sweet cherries may affect the body. Similarly, cherry supplements have not been studied enough to confirm their safety and risks after consumption. Those who are interested in consuming them to treat health problems should always consult a doctor or pharmacist about the appropriate amount and form of consumption, especially children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with chronic diseases. 

Furthermore, consumers of cherries, cherry juice, or cherry products should also take precautions to reduce potential health effects, such as:

• People who are allergic to cherries should definitely not eat cherries, as it can cause a severe and life-threatening allergic reaction.
• Cherry juice may contain high levels of sorbitol, a sweetener that may cause stomach pain and diarrhea in some consumers.
• Quercetin in cherry juice may interact with certain medications, especially blood thinners. People taking these medications should consult their doctor before consuming this juice.

Finally, although cherries are a relatively safe fruit for everyone, if eating them causes any abnormalities in the body, you should stop eating them and see a doctor for diagnosis and appropriate treatment.