With the superfruit craze boosting sales for exotic sounding fruit products with antioxidant properties, the Cherry Marketing Institute has been quick to highlight new research which suggests that cherries could also be classed as a ‘superfruit’.
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A growing body of scientific evidence demonstrates the antioxidant properties of tart cherries. In order to raise consumer awareness of this fact, the Cherry Marketing Institute has launched ‘The Cherry Nutrition Report’, an educational campaign that draws together cherry-related research. It also reviews research linking cherry consumption to other health benefits, from easing arthritis and gout to offering potential protection against heart disease and certain cancers.
“There’s a significant body of evidence suggesting that cherries are one of the most nutritious fruits you can eat,” said panel member Russel J. Reiter, a nutrition researcher at the University of Texas Health Science Centre in San Antonio.
Cherries contain anthocyanins, antioxidants that provide the distinctive red colour. These red pigments are a type of phytonutrient known as flavonoids, which have been linked to a variety of health benefits including potential protection against heart disease and cancer to keeping the brain sharp.
Cherries are also one of the few food sources of melatonin, an antioxidant that helps improve the body’s circadian rhythms and natural sleep patterns, according to studies conducted by Reiter.
“Cherries not only contain significant levels of antioxidants, but they provide a unique combination of antioxidants that are not found in other fruits,” Reiter said.
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By GlobalDataResearch also indicates that cherries help inhibit enzymes in the body that are associated with inflammation. The compounds in cherries were found to have similar activity as aspirin and ibuprofen, Reiter explained. “The compounds in cherries act as potent antioxidants that appear to have anti-inflammatory benefits,” he commented.
