Historical Use of Cherries

People have used cherries for medicinal reasons for centuries.

• The Ojibwe tribe used the bark and the root of wild cherry to treat coughs and colds and to ease stomach pain.
• The Mi'kmaq used black cherries as a curative tonic.

Tea made from cherry stalks was thought to cure kidney diseases and was also used as an anti-inflammatory.

Cherries have been growing in American soil since 1629, shortly after the first Pilgrims arrived with seeds from Europe.

Health Benefits of Cherries

• As a Food

  Low in calories (just 78 calories per cup for sour cherries; 104 calories for sweet cherries), fat free, cholesterol free, and low in sodium, cherries are also a great source of fiber.

  They’re high in potassium as well as vitamins A and C.

• As a Medicine

  Today, cherries are riding a wave of popularity as science finds them rich in antioxidants, particularly anthocyanins.

  Most of the recent research pertains to the sour or tart cherries commonly used in pies or enjoyed fresh in season.

  • Anti-Inflammatory

    Research shows that the fruit may be useful in fighting cancer and is also high in anti-inflammatories that are effective in treating arthritis and gout.

  • Anti-Cancer

    Experimental evidence links anthocyanins in cherries with slower colon cancer cell growth. Researchers at Michigan State University find that the 17 antioxidant compounds found in cherries may be 10 times stronger pain relievers than ibuprofen or aspirin!

  • Antioxidant

    Montmerency herries have an ORAC (oxygen radical absorption capacity) rating seven times the amount found in red grapes.

  • Sleep Aid

    Russel J. Reiter, PhD, at the University of Texas reports that Montmorency (tart) cherries contain high levels of melatonin, a natural sleep aid.

    Consuming a tart cherry juice concentrate can increase a person's melatonin levels—and improve sleep duration.

Choosing the Right Cherries

Color is a good way to judge phytonutrient content in cherries, and sour varieties are higher in antioxidants.

A good rule of thumb is "the darker, the better."

Here are some varieties to look for when this fruit comes into season in the spring:

• Balaton

  Balaton is a deep burgundy cherry with a sweet-tart flavor.

• Bing

  Bing cherries, developed in Oregon, are big and round with extra sweetness.

• Lambert

  Lambert, similar in texture and taste to Bing, is small and heart-shaped.

• Montmorency

  Montmorency, a sour cherry that is often frozen, is smaller than sweet cherries, bright red in color, and popular in pies.

• Morello

  Morello, useful for cooking as well as eating, has deep red flesh and dark juice.

Tips for Using Cherries

Pitted, sliced, juiced, or chopped, cherries can complement a wide variety of foods.

To pit a cherry, halve it with a sharp paring knife (or invest in an inexpensive pitter).

• Buy Fresh and Freeze

  Enjoy fresh cherries in season. Freeze leftovers for later use.

  But while you can buy fresh, seasonal fruit, try these additional ways to use cherries.

• In Salads

  Add pitted cherries to salad greens, along with nuts and thinly sliced red onions.

  Use cherry juice as the acid part of salad dressings.

• In Yogurt

  Sprinkle chopped sweet cherries over plain or frozen yogurt.

• In Spritzers

  Replace red wine with cherry juice in sangria and spritzers.

• Fruit Kebabs

  Alternate pitted cherries with melon cubes on skewers for a healthy snack.