I love cherries. I load up in summer. Sweet cherries have health benefits but the season is short. Off season I drink black cherry juice because it has amazing benefits for my health. Black cherries aren’t as sweet as the store bought cherries we know and love yet the juice is flavorful and yields some surprising health benefits.
Because of their dark color, cherries contain a large amount of anthocyanin. This compound helps reduce oxidative stress as it contains antioxidants. Ingesting antioxidants in your diet play beneficial roles in preventing cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Black cherries also contain quercetin which has gotten a lot of attention during COVID. Quercetin is part of the flavonoid family. It helps reduce inflammation, increases immunity and is a powerful antioxidant. Studies have shown great benefits in people with Rheumatoid Arthritis when they took quercetin. Health practitioners also use it for allergy relief because it suppresses histamine and acts as an immunity booster. It’s also abundant in broccoli, berries, apples and citrus fruits. It can be taken as a supplement as well. The juice can be your post workout answer to soreness too.
Black cherries can help you sleep better too! Yes, you read that right. Melatonin is a natural hormone found in our bodies that helps regulate our sleep. Cherries contain natural melatonin so cherries or their juice is a great way to boost your sleep hormone and catch those zzzz’s.
Tart cherry juice has the same benefits just not as sweet tasting. Either one is highly beneficial. I dilute cherry juice with water. Take 1/4 cup cherry juice and add as much water as you like to adjust to your own level of sweetness. You can also make cherry ice cubes. I buy the silicone ice cube trays and fill them with cherry juice then add the cube to water to sweeten and make colder or I just pop one in my mouth for an icy, healthy pop of sweet. Check out my Instagram post for a visual.
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