Benefits of Cherries
This fleshy fruit with a single hard stone seed in the middle, gets its name from the French word ‘cerise’ which in turn comes from the Latin word Cerasum and Cerasus. Like all other fruits, the cherry too is a storehouse of nutrients and promises great health benefits. “Most importantly, the cherry being a deep coloured fruit is a powerhouse of antioxidants which help fight against the free radicals in the body and may help prevent cancer, heart disease and slow the ageing process,” says Cosmetic Physician Dr Jammuna Pai. Another health benefit of this fruit, says nutritionist Dr Anjali Mukherjee, is its amazing anti-inflammatory properties. “It’s perfect for those suffering from gout and arthritis. That apart, cherries are also very effective in helping lower the levels of uric acid in the body,” she adds.
The fruit can also be used externally just as effectively. “A paste of mashed cherries applied on the skin works wonders to give your skin a nice, soft feel,” says Dr Jammuna. “The acidic property of the cherries dissolves the human glue that holds dead skin together thus helping get rid of those problematic dead cells,” she explains.
As for the consumption of this fruit, feel free to indulge in it without any guilt, as it is low on calories. “Ideally, a person who is consuming it for its health benefits should look at eating about 250 grams per day. Else, about 50 to 100 grams of the fruit per day is an ideal consumption amount,” say Dr Anjali. Apart from this, cherries are high in potassium and low in sodium. Potassium works to removes the excess sodium within the bloodstream, creating a positive impact on blood pressure. In fact, according to recent studies, one can lower their blood pressure by up to 25 per cent by eating this potassium rich fruit.
Though they are best eaten plain, there are numerous ways in which you can glean the various health benefits of this wonder fruit. Says chef Vernon Coelho, “Cherries are predominantly used as a garnish for a range of desserts and cocktail drinks. Though they are not really used as a main ingredient in many dishes, they can be use in quite a few food preparations, most commonly pastries." His personal favourites are the dark red cherries and he loves them in the jam form.
Another fan of this red wonder is chef Vicky Ratnani who says that he has eaten some of the world’s best cherries in Norway and Denmark. “I eat plenty of cherries and I love them plain,” he says. One of his favourite cherry preparation is a sauce he makes using the fruit in its pureed form along with a reduction of port wine and chicken stock. “This sauce is paired best with duck meat,” he explains. Then of course, he uses them in salads and even in a soup — a chilled cherry soup using pureed cherries along with vegetables and peppers. “Cherry pies and tarts are also a big favourite,” he adds.
This fleshy fruit with a single hard stone seed in the middle, gets its name from the French word ‘cerise’ which in turn comes from the Latin word Cerasum and Cerasus. Like all other fruits, the cherry too is a storehouse of nutrients and promises great health benefits. “Most importantly, the cherry being a deep coloured fruit is a powerhouse of antioxidants which help fight against the free radicals in the body and may help prevent cancer, heart disease and slow the ageing process,” says Cosmetic Physician Dr Jammuna Pai. Another health benefit of this fruit, says nutritionist Dr Anjali Mukherjee, is its amazing anti-inflammatory properties. “It’s perfect for those suffering from gout and arthritis. That apart, cherries are also very effective in helping lower the levels of uric acid in the body,” she adds.
The fruit can also be used externally just as effectively. “A paste of mashed cherries applied on the skin works wonders to give your skin a nice, soft feel,” says Dr Jammuna. “The acidic property of the cherries dissolves the human glue that holds dead skin together thus helping get rid of those problematic dead cells,” she explains.
As for the consumption of this fruit, feel free to indulge in it without any guilt, as it is low on calories. “Ideally, a person who is consuming it for its health benefits should look at eating about 250 grams per day. Else, about 50 to 100 grams of the fruit per day is an ideal consumption amount,” say Dr Anjali. Apart from this, cherries are high in potassium and low in sodium. Potassium works to removes the excess sodium within the bloodstream, creating a positive impact on blood pressure. In fact, according to recent studies, one can lower their blood pressure by up to 25 per cent by eating this potassium rich fruit.
Though they are best eaten plain, there are numerous ways in which you can glean the various health benefits of this wonder fruit. Says chef Vernon Coelho, “Cherries are predominantly used as a garnish for a range of desserts and cocktail drinks. Though they are not really used as a main ingredient in many dishes, they can be use in quite a few food preparations, most commonly pastries." His personal favourites are the dark red cherries and he loves them in the jam form.
Another fan of this red wonder is chef Vicky Ratnani who says that he has eaten some of the world’s best cherries in Norway and Denmark. “I eat plenty of cherries and I love them plain,” he says. One of his favourite cherry preparation is a sauce he makes using the fruit in its pureed form along with a reduction of port wine and chicken stock. “This sauce is paired best with duck meat,” he explains. Then of course, he uses them in salads and even in a soup — a chilled cherry soup using pureed cherries along with vegetables and peppers. “Cherry pies and tarts are also a big favourite,” he adds.
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