The Main Berry of June: What Are the Health Benefits of Cherries and How to Eat Them
June is the perfect time to take advantage of the gifts that appear on store shelves and market stalls.
Of course, the buyers' eyes are immediately drawn to the boxes and baskets filled with bright red glossy cherries.
This berry is definitely recommended to be bought and consumed in the first month of summer. Why? What is so good about cherries?
Red ripe cherries contain many vitamins and other microelements important for health. Ascorbic acid will strengthen the immune system's resistance to bacteria, and iron will improve the quality of blood; chromium will reduce cravings for unhealthy sweets, potassium will maintain normal blood pressure, and vitamin B5 will help metabolic processes.
The dark color of cherries is a sign that they contain polyphenols, which protect against cancer and premature aging.
It is enough to eat about 150-200 grams of ripe cherries per day for the body to receive the necessary daily dose of nutrients.
Cherries have a positive effect on digestion, mood, brain and heart function. But not only the berries are useful: tea made from berry stalks helps remove all unnecessary things from the body, acts as a mild diuretic and is indicated for urolithiasis of the kidneys.
By squeezing the juice from cherries, you will get a tasty and refreshing drink that can soothe stomach pain and improve intestinal motility.
If you are afraid to drink juice and eat berries because of their high acid content, feel free to cook compotes with the addition of cherries: heat treatment will remove excess acid from the fruit. Those who are on a diet are also allowed to eat cherries: they are considered a low-calorie product and promote detox.
Of course, cherries can be harmful to health. Their berries contain a lot of carbohydrates, so if you have diabetes or are overweight, it is better to limit your consumption of this berry.
If you have an allergy, you should not eat cherries at all, and it is better to introduce them into your child’s menu only after consulting a pediatrician.
Those who suffer from thrombosis should also be careful with this seasonal berry: cherries increase blood clotting.
If you are a healthy person and tolerate cherries easily, you can eat them without hesitation. As already mentioned, the permissible amount is 150 or 200 grams of fresh berries per day.
And when you get tired of just eating berries, you can try adding cherries to a serving of cottage cheese, to your morning oatmeal, put them in fruit salads, pour the juice over casseroles and homemade ice cream.
A smoothie made from pitted cherries, banana and milk turns out delicious. Cherries can also be used to make delicious berry sauces for fish and poultry, adding herbs to them.
What you can't combine cherries with is legumes. Beans, peas and lentils can themselves cause gas in the stomach, and if you eat cherries after a serving of pea soup, the rumbling and gas will only increase. It is also bad to eat cherries with other sour berries and fruits (cherries, some varieties of apples, oranges), since such a combination can cause heartburn.
Knowing the health benefits of cherries and how to eat them, you can fully enjoy their sweet and juicy pulp without causing harm to your body.
