Cherries: Health benefits abound, but watch for digestive concerns
Cherries are delicious and sweet; we can enjoy their taste now. The season for them is not long, so when prices become affordable, we often buy them. There is a wide selection – from light yellow to red to almost black. These fruits have many health benefits. They contain a lot of vitamin C and fibre. However, sometimes, you need to avoid or limit them. Why?
6 June 2024 12:37
We primarily associate cherries with their taste. Depending on the variety and harvest time, they can be less or more sweet but always lovely. We should not forget that they also have numerous health benefits. As always, they are not suitable for everyone, and sometimes you must be cautious.
Stomach has had enough
A sensitive stomach or digestive tract is the primary contraindication to overeating cherries. For some people, they can cause sensitivity to salicylates, which these fruits contain. This manifests as stomach and headache pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. If you experience these problems after eating cherries, it should give you pause. Cherries should also be avoided if you have fructose intolerance. They contain a lot of it, which can be problematic for this condition. Cherries are also not recommended for pancreatitis, inflammation of the bile ducts, and peptic ulcer disease. Sometimes, with these ailments, you can only allow yourself cherries after cooking or baking them because they are gentler on the digestive tract.
They have a lot of advantages
None of the ailments we wrote about affect you. Take full advantage of the cherry season. Just remember not to combine them with heavy meals, like vegetables with high fibre, as they can overburden the stomach.
- Cherries are a great source of vitamin C and polyphenols, which are necessary for maintaining healthy skin. These potent antioxidants have anti-inflammatory properties and reduce skin damage caused by free radicals.
- They contain anthocyanins, which reduce inflammation and help mitigate the risk of developing many diseases, such as arthritis, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases.
- They have a very high amount of fibre. Fibre improves the digestive system's functioning and aids digestion, essential for weight loss.
- Cherries provide a hefty dose of iodine; they have more than many sea fish. Iodine supports thyroid function by regulating metabolism.
- They benefit people with hypertension because they contain potassium. Potassium supports the circulatory system and lowers blood pressure.
- They help with good sleep, thanks to melatonin.
