The benefits and harms of cherries

The benefits and harms of cherries are incomparable, since they have much more beneficial properties than negative ones. Visually, it is very similar to cherries, and just like cherries, it can be eaten in different forms - fresh, in compotes or juices, and also in the form of jam.

Cherry: is it a berry or fruit?

The question of how to correctly name fruits cherry tree, quite controversial. Some consider it a berry, others classify it as a fruit (which is more correctly called the fruit of a fruit tree). Confusion in terminology arises because the definition of fruits and berries is quite vague. In everyday life, they are distinguished by size: a small fruit is called a berry, and according to this feature, cherries are classified as berries. However, there is another criterion: from a botanical point of view, the main difference between a berry and a fruit is the presence of a large number of seeds inside the berry. Cherries do not meet this criterion, and that is why they are classified as stone fruits (fruits). However, in everyday life it is usually called a berry.

Composition of vitamins and microelements in cherries

Like many other natural vegetables and fruits, berries contain a large number of different microelements that affect the body in one way or another.

Vitamin content in cherries

Its chemical composition is very diverse and includes many vitamins and minerals. However, their number varies greatly. So, it is especially rich in vitamins such as:

• vitamin C;
• vitamin E;
• vitamin P;
• vitamin A;
• vitamin B1 and B2.

The fruits also contain the following minerals:

• potassium;
• calcium;
• phosphorus;
• magnesium;
• sodium.

Thus, from the point of view of the content of substances valuable to the body, the fruits are very useful.

Sweet cherries: calorie content of fresh berries

The calorie content of cherries per 100 grams depends on whether they are fresh or dried.

Thus, the calorie content of fresh cherries with pits is only 52 kilocalories per 100 grams, which is relatively little for a fruit, but dried fruits contain significantly more calories. Compared to the caloric content of fresh fruits, the caloric content of dried fruits is four times higher - per 100 grams it is approximately 210 kilocalories.

How many carbohydrates are in cherries

In terms of the amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, this berry, unfortunately, is far from optimal, since it contains too many carbohydrates. So, per 100 grams of product there are:

• 61.5 g proteins;
• 0.4 g fat;
• 11 g carbohydrates.

The benefits and harms of cherries depending on the color of the fruit

The fruits vary depending on the type of tree. But these differences are not limited to color; the chemical composition of the fruit also undergoes changes.

Yellow cherry

Contains a higher amount of vitamin C and iodine compared to other varieties, therefore it is useful for diseases of the thyroid gland. In addition, since it does not contain natural dyes, it can be eaten by allergy sufferers. Ripens earlier than other varieties.

Has anti-inflammatory effect.Yellow berries contain a large amount of fructose, so if you have type 2 diabetes, it is better to avoid eating them.

White cherry

White berries have the same properties as any other variety. Like yellow, it contains a minimum of food allergens. However, it contains less vitamin C.

The positive side of this variety is its extended shelf life.

Red cherry

Dark varieties of berries are distinguished by a wide variety of chemical composition. Thus, red fruits contain much more iron, and the polyphenols contained in the berries make cherries a natural pain reliever.

The disadvantage of red varieties is their allergenicity.

Pink cherry

Its properties are similar to white varieties.

Black cherry

Its properties are similar to red varieties.

Beneficial properties of wild cherries

The properties of wild cherries are no different from domesticated ones; The main difference is that the berries of wild varieties have a noticeable bitter taste.

The benefits of cherries for the human body

Fruits are useful in many cases - both for diseases and as a preventive measure and a source of useful elements. Due to the variety of vitamins and minerals contained in berries, they are useful for:

• stress and problems with the nervous system, since they normalize its activity;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• type 1 diabetes, because it contains a large amount of fructose;
• hypertension, because they lower blood pressure;
• pregnancy and vascular problems, as they help strengthen blood vessels;
• skin problems;
• constipation, as they are a natural laxative.

What are the benefits of cherries for men?

Certain properties of berries are especially suitable for the male body (and lifestyle), such as:

• removing toxins and cleansing the body;
• lowering blood pressure and reducing cholesterol levels in the blood;
• strengthening the nervous system;
• prevention of diseases of the reproductive system.

What are the benefits of cherries for a woman’s body?

This berry is no less useful for the female body, as it:

1. Improves skin condition due to the presence of antioxidants.
2. Affects reproductive function, increases the likelihood of conceiving a child.
3. It has a diuretic effect and reduces swelling.
4. Promotes weight loss due to the fact that eating berries normalizes intestinal function, and also due to their low calorie content.

Cherries during pregnancy: norms and restrictions

Since the female body is especially sensitive during pregnancy, you should choose foods carefully. Of course, berries have many beneficial properties, but there are also contraindications to their use.

During pregnancy, the berry may be useful for the following reasons:

• Vitamin C helps prevent colds;
• the minerals contained in the berries affect not only the woman, but also the embryo - for example, phosphorus and calcium contribute to the formation of the child’s musculoskeletal system;
• Cherries strengthen the nervous system.

However, there are contraindications under which the berry cannot be eaten, and compliance with these contraindications must be carefully monitored, especially during pregnancy.

These include:

• individual intolerance to the product;
• gastritis, indigestion and any gastrointestinal injuries;
• hypotension;
• type 2 diabetes.

Can pregnant women eat cherries?

If there are no contraindications to consuming the fruit, then it can be safely eaten, and pregnancy is not a contraindication.

However, due to the high fructose content, the amount of cherries during pregnancy should be limited to about half a kilogram per day.

Cherries during pregnancy: 1st trimester

During this period, eating fruits is desirable because of their beneficial qualities, but its quantity should be limited to 0.5 kg per day.

Cherries during pregnancy: 2nd trimester

During this period, berries are especially useful if a woman’s swelling increases, but it is not advisable to consume them in large quantities.

Cherries during pregnancy: 3rd trimester

As in the second trimester, berries are consumed when there is increased swelling, however, if a pregnant woman suffers from bloating, they should be eaten only some time after eating.

Is it possible to eat cherries while breastfeeding?

Since the composition of breast milk depends on the foods a woman eats, menu selection must be taken seriously. This berry is not prohibited during breastfeeding, but it is advisable not to immediately introduce it into the diet, but to wait two to three months. At first, it is better to limit yourself to yellow or white varieties. If a child develops irritation or a rash after eating cherries by his mother, he should avoid the berries.

Can a nursing mother eat red cherries?

Red cherries contain many beneficial elements, but they also contain natural dyes that can cause allergies. Therefore, during breastfeeding, red varieties should be consumed with caution and should be stopped immediately if the baby becomes irritated or has other negative consequences.

Cherries for children: from what age, and in what quantities

This berry should be given to young children with caution due to the possibility of allergies or temporary stomach upset. It is best to introduce it into the diet starting with varieties of light shades - yellow or white, since they contain the least allergens. It can be given to children from about one year of age.

You can’t go overboard with the quantity: for the first time you need to give one or two berries, and then carefully monitor the child’s condition. If no negative effects occur, the amount can be increased to 50 g per day. Starting from three years, you can increase the amount of berries consumed to 150 g per day.

The impact of cherries on the health of older people

For older people, cherries are extremely useful because they:

1. Lowers blood pressure and strengthens blood vessels.
2. Lowers cholesterol.
3. Has a general strengthening effect on the body.
4. Strengthens vision.
5. Improves metabolism.
6. Slows down the aging process due to antioxidants.

Beneficial properties of cherries for the body

Eating this berry has a positive effect on many body systems.

What are the benefits of cherries for the cardiovascular system?

Since cherries strengthen blood vessels and restore their elasticity, and also (thanks to potassium) help regulate heart function and normalize blood pressure, the likelihood of cardiovascular diseases is reduced.

The effect of cherries on the gastrointestinal tract

Berries have a positive effect on digestion, cleanse the stomach of various toxins, thereby improving the condition of the gastrointestinal tract. However, a number of contraindications are associated with the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Is it possible to eat cherries for gastritis?

If you have any damage to the gastrointestinal tract - gastritis, ulcers, indigestion - you should not eat cherries.

Is it possible to eat cherries with pancreatitis?

It is necessary to draw up a daily menu for pancreatitis after consultation with a doctor, since an exacerbation of the disease is possible.

However, for chronic pancreatitis, berries can be useful in small doses. It is important to remember that you cannot use them on an empty stomach - this can provoke an attack.

Are cherries good for the liver?

The fruits are beneficial for the liver because they help remove bile from the body and also have a diuretic effect.

Benefits of cherries for the kidneys

The diuretic effect of cherry fruits and the vitamin complex they contain have a positive effect on the kidneys, normalizing their function and promoting the elimination of toxins.

Rules for taking cherries for diabetes

Only with type 1 disease can the fruits be eaten. However, there are some peculiarities here too:

• diabetics need to monitor the amount of sugar in the blood to establish the optimal amount at which sugar does not rise;
• the amount of berries per day should not exceed 100 grams.

The amount of sugar per 100 g of cherries is approximately 12 g.

Sweet cherries for type 2 diabetes

If you have diabetes, you need to eat berries with caution: if you have type 2 diabetes, consuming them is extremely dangerous.

Is it possible to eat cherries for gout and arthritis?

For gout, arthritis, rheumatism and joint diseases, cherries are useful both fresh and in the form of juice or decoction. It reduces pain and helps strengthen the body.

Are cherries good for the mucous membranes of the eyes?

Cherry fruits help maintain and improve vision even in old age.

What can cherries help cure?

Cherry fruits are used in the treatment of many diseases.

An infusion of cherry fruits will help with diarrhea.

The tincture is made as follows: 30 grams of dried berries must be pitted, finely chopped or ground in a blender, poured with cold water (one and a half glasses) and left to infuse for 8–10 hours. Drink 2-3 times a day, 40-50 ml.

Cherries help with constipation

For constipation, eat fresh berries for several weeks in a row. Usually, about a glass of fruit is required for the desired effect.

Treatment of hypertension with cherries

To normalize blood pressure, fresh fruits are also used in large quantities. Typically the recommended dosage is approximately 200 grams.

A decoction of the stalks will help with joint pain

Prepare the decoction as follows: crushed berries are diluted with a glass of boiling water and simmered over low heat in a saucepan covered with a lid for 15 minutes (in the proportion of 1 teaspoon of berries per glass of water).

After cooling, the broth is filtered and drunk. The peculiarity of the decoction is that it cannot be stored for longer than a day.

How to take cherries for anemia

Due to their high iron content, berries are especially useful for anemia. They can be taken either fresh or in the form of juice or tincture.

The recommended amount of fresh fruit is approximately 100-150 g per day.

The healing properties of a decoction of flowers and leaves

A decoction of leaves and flowers can act as:

• anti-inflammatory agent;
• antiseptic;
• expectorant.

Is it possible to eat cherries while losing weight?

Since the number of calories in 100 grams of fruit is relatively low, it can be used for weight loss.However, there are no diets focused on this berry as the main product, since eating the fruit in large quantities for several days can harm the body. In addition, in cherries, the BJU indicators, despite the calorie content, are strongly biased towards carbohydrates.

That is why, despite the fact that there are not so many kcal in cherries (52 kcal per 100 g), there are not so many diets focused on this berry. However, the berry is popular as a product that promotes weight loss.

The popularity of the berry for weight loss is also influenced by its diuretic effect, as well as the fact that it helps remove toxins, waste and other harmful substances from the body.

There are mono-diets that involve eating 1.5-2 kg of berries, however, such excess of the daily norm can negatively affect the body, so it is better not to consider such methods.

As a rule, as part of a diet, a portion of berries replaces or complements one of the meals. You should not consume a large amount of berries at once; the daily norm for diets is 800-1000 g.

Cherry leaves: beneficial properties and contraindications

The leaves are used both for preparing decoctions and tinctures, and for creating compositions and original masks used externally. In addition, the vitamin C content in them is 2 times higher than in berries.

So, a compress of leaves can help with:

• treatment of cuts;
• stopping bleeding;
• treatment of skin problems.

What properties does cherry leaf tea have?

Leaf tea can be used for:

• strengthening the immune system and preventing colds;
• reducing swelling;
• normalization of the cardiovascular system.

Contraindications for drinking tea are the same as for taking fruits.

There is no single recipe for how to brew this tea. So it is possible:

• brew individual leaves - 3-4 teaspoons of crushed leaves per teapot (about 1-1.5 liters of water), pour boiling water, leave to brew for half an hour, after which you can drink;
• mix leaves and tea in a 1:2 ratio and brew as a regular tea drink;
• If desired, add apple slices to the leaves.

The benefits of cherry seeds

Cherry seeds, as well as fruits and leaves, contain many useful elements. These include essential oils, as well as amygdalin. A decoction of the seeds has a diuretic and anti-inflammatory effect.

However, you need to use the seeds for decoctions with caution, since peeled seeds contain hydrocyanic acid, that is, a highly toxic substance that can cause poisoning.

What are the benefits of cherry berry preparations?

Considering the amount of nutrients in cherry fruits, the ability to consume them throughout the year is very important. This is exactly what the blanks are for.

Like many other fruits, berries can be stored for the winter in different ways - freezing, drying, making compotes and jam.

Note that berries that have not been subjected to heat treatment retain more nutrients.

The benefits of dried cherries

Since dried berries do not lose their properties, the benefits and harms obtained from them are almost the same as those from fresh fruits.

A significant difference between dried berries is their calorie content, which is 4 times higher than the calorie content of fresh ones; therefore, it will not be possible to use them effectively in the process of losing weight.

Frozen cherries: health benefits and harms

Frozen berries retain their properties, so the benefits and harms are the same as those of fresh berries.

Beneficial properties of cherry juice

Juice from the berries is used as:

• stress relievers;
• source of vitamin C;
• diuretic;
• a means of stimulating the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
• tonic.

The use of cherries in cosmetology

Cherries are often used for skin problems, and for this it is not necessary to eat them. For cosmetic purposes, it is used as a basis for various masks and scrubs.

Cherry face mask

There are many different recipes for cherry masks. With their help you can improve your complexion, remove oily shine and blackheads. Here are a few of them:

1. One of the simplest recipes is a mask of cherry fruits and sour cream. The pureed berries are combined with sour cream in a 1:1 ratio, applied to the face and left for 15 minutes.
2. For dry skin, a mask made from berries and vegetable oil is suitable. Mix oil and ground yellow berries in equal parts and keep for 10–15 minutes. Immediately after rinsing, apply moisturizer to your face.
3. You can make a mask not only from berries, but also from juice. Mix the juice from dark varieties of fruit with peach oil and honey (proportions 2:2:1), transfer to a tightly closed container, and leave to infuse in a dark, cool place for 2 days. After application, leave on face for 15 minutes and then rinse with warm water.

How to store cherries at home

At home, berries can be stored in several types, each of which has its own conditions:

1. Fresh berries are stored in the refrigerator. To increase shelf life, you need to ensure that excess moisture does not appear, as this will spoil the berries.The maximum shelf life is 7–10 days.
2. Frozen berries are stored in the freezer. Before freezing fruits, you need to wash them, let them dry and only then put them in the freezer. It’s better not to immediately pack them in bags, but to let them freeze by placing them on a board and letting them stand in the freezer for 2-3 hours.
3. Dried berries are placed in a tightly closed container and left in a cool, dry place.

Harm of cherries and contraindications for use

In some cases, berries are harmful to the body. So, if you overdo it with their quantity, you can get diarrhea or an upset stomach, and if you use the seeds incorrectly, you can become seriously poisoned. There is another problem associated with bones - you can simply accidentally choke on them.

The main contraindications include:

• individual intolerance or allergy;
• gastritis and indigestion, as well as gastrointestinal injuries, including acute pancreatitis;
• hypotension;
• type 2 diabetes.

If you do not overdo it with the quantity or remember the contraindications, then there will be no harm from cherries.

Conclusion

In general, the benefits and harms of cherries are incomparable - they have much more beneficial properties, including due to the vast scope of their application. Negative consequences can only arise if contraindications and individual reactions of the body are ignored.

Recommended Posts

Cherry Chermashnaya

Cherry Revna: tree height, frost resistance

Cherry Regina

Cherry Rossoshanskaya Golden

Cherry Rondo

Planting cherries

Sweet cherries from pits at home

Cherry Vasilisa

Cherry Raditsa