Cherries: Health benefits, tips to avoid pests, and washing guide

Cherries have already started appearing at markets. Their price can be dizzying, but with each passing day, the amount you'll need to pay for a pound will drop. How can you tell which fruits aren't infested? Pay attention to one detail.

In May, the first fruits and vegetables appear at the markets, but the initial prices can be shocking. Fortunately, soon, the amount you'll need to pay for a pound of juicy cherries will significantly decrease. This is the moment many of us are waiting for.

Cherries are delicious and very healthy fruits that are worth including in your diet during the summer season. It turns out that one handful of these fruits provides your daily dose of vitamin C. Additionally, consuming cherries supports the circulatory system. Moreover, they are a source of potassium, magnesium, and fibre.

Cherries aid digestion, prevent constipation, regulate blood pressure and heart function, and support muscle function. Additionally, they have a low glycemic index, so they don't cause rapid spikes in blood sugar levels.

When selecting cherries, you might come across those that have worms inside. Fortunately, you can recognize if they are infested before buying them. If you don't want to bring home cherries with larvae of the cherry fruit fly, avoid fruit with visible holes in the skin.

Carefully inspect if the cherries don't look damaged, have no discolorations, or have no white or black spots. This may indicate the presence of pests.

Remember to wash fruits thoroughly after bringing them home. This will kill bacteria and viruses that can cause food poisoning and other diseases. Unwashed fruits may also contain parasites that can lead to serious infections. Additionally, the fruits may have pesticide residues, dust, dirt, and other contaminants.

Before washing the fruits, scrub your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap. Then, rinse the fruits under cold running water. Now, take a dish with water and vinegar or baking soda, and preferably water with vinegar and baking soda. Add 120 millilitres of vinegar to 1 litre of water. You can also strengthen the solution with 2-3 tablespoons of citric acid. Rinse the vegetables or fruits for 2-3 minutes. During this time, prepare a second mixture with 1 litre of water and one heaping tablespoon of baking soda. In this mixture, rinse the fruits for another 3 minutes. Finally, rinse all the fruits under running water.