Bright red and round, cherries are our favourite topping for so many desserts. Everyone loves a slice of cherry pie (who are we kidding- we can devour an entire pie!). A bowl of salad with a generous helping of cherries can instantly bring a distinct flavour and perkiness to it.
Looks like cherries are extremely good for your health. They’re packed with vitamin C, potassium, melatonin among other nutrients. Read on to know why cherries make for a superfood and how you can stock them at home:
1. Better sleep
Cherries are rich in plant compounds. They are loaded with natural melatonin, which influences your sleep pattern. Go for cherry tart juice or raw cherries to get a good night’s sleep. Plus, they also have anti-inflammatory compounds, to help your body stay relaxed for longer.
2. Anti-inflammatory properties
According to Real Simple, cherries can also reduce inflammation. They have an abundant presence of anthocyanins, antioxidants that keep inflammation at bay. In addition, they reduce the risk of your body developing chronic diseases and keeps your overall health in check.
3. Boost heart health
Potassium and polyphenol antioxidants are two primary compounds found in cherries that are known to protect your heart health. In addition, it helps in keeping your sodium levels in control, a factor necessary to maintain cardiovascular health. Your heartbeat also tends to be regular with the consumption of cherries.
4. Weight loss
Cherries can also help you achieve your weight loss goals, with a glycemic index of 22. In addition, they help in recovering from muscle-pain that you might experience post your workout. Tart juice and powder have been linked to improved athletic performance.
Cherries also make for a convenient ingredient in many recipes. You also store them so that they’re ready to use. Here are a few ideas on how to preserve cherries:
Freeze them
Freezing cherries helps in retaining their crisp texture. Place pitted cherries (deseeded) on baking paper and put them in a freezer for about a day. Fill them up zip up bags and you can store them in the freezer for another 6 months. Frozen cherries are ideal for smoothies.
Dehydrate them
An interesting way to preserve cherries is to freeze them for a day before drying. Take these pitted cherries and place them on a tray. Thaw them and let them dry in the dehydrator. You can enjoy these by adding fine pieces to baked items like cookies.
Cherry syrup
Take a cup each of sugar, water and pitted cherries. Bring them to boil and then keep them on simmer for 2 minutes. Strain the mixture nicely, and you’re left with some amazing homemade cherry syrup! Just like maple syrup, cherry conserve can be easily added to pancakes and other breakfast delicacies. You can add a serving of this to ice creams and other desserts
