Health & Beauty Benefits: Cherries Edition ⋆ Sweet & Masālā

Yo.

It has been a hot minute since I have posted in this series. I know, I suck! It’s been too long. This series is the most popular series on the blog! What have I been thinking?!

Well, it’s better late than never, so of course I had to bring you something summery.

Cherries!

Oh yeah. This stone fruit is one of my favorite summertime treats. They come in numerous colors; red, black and yellow, and have many different varieties from Bing to Lapins to Rainer and Sweet.

My favorite cherries are the Rainer and Sweet cherries! Rainier cherries are yellow inside and out, with just a bit of red blush on them, and super large. They are quite sweet and very firm. On the other hand, Sweet cherries are large and firm and have that deep red color that you are used to seeing on cherries that flourish between June and now.

So let me break.it.down.

“These delightful berries are rich in vitamin A, C, fiber, potassium, and other minerals. Apart from that, they also contain phenolic acid, carotenoids, anthocyanins, and various other phytonutrients. The delicious red fruit does not have folic acid or any type of fatty acid, which is an added benefit. There are numerous health and beauty benefits of cherries, which will make you grab a cup full of this delicious fruit instantly.”

You can indulge all you want with this fruit because it is VERY low in calories (I love that), low in sodium and high in Potassium, which helps leave a positive impact on your blood pressure.

I don’t know about you, but the older I get the more I am interested in blood pressure, and taking in things with lower sodium levels, and watching things like my cholesterol.

So what’s some other awesome shit cherries can do?

Health & Beauty Benefits of Cherries:

Balance Blood Pressure

Sweet cherries are loaded with potassium, a natural blood-pressure reducer. Potassium balances fluids in our bodies, essentially offsetting the blood-pressure-raising effects of sodium. So it’s no wonder studies have found that people who eat more potassium-rich foods, like sweet cherries, tend to have less hypertension. One cup packs roughly the same amount of potassium as a small banana and also boasts some quercetin, an antioxidant that may help keep blood vessels relaxed and supple.

Helps with Sleeping Disorders

Insomnia is a disease that must be treated completely to get rid of other health implications related to the disease.

Tart cherry juice has shown promising results in sleeping disorders under clinical studies. It helps you get sound sleep by eliminating symptoms of insomnia. Cherries are also rich in melatonin, which is a compound that is a must have to induce sleep in individuals who have disrupted circadian rhythm like jet lag.

Shrink you Down

When scientists at the University of Michigan Health System put rats on a high-fat diet supplemented with either a tart-cherry powder (equal to 1% of the weight of their total diet) or the same number of calories from carbohydrate, those that got the cherry powder gained less weight and body fat. Why? The anthocyanins in tart cherries activate a molecule that helps rev up fat burning and decrease fat storage

Anti-Cancerous

Cherries are rich in antioxidants which make them anti-carcinogenic. They help in restricting the metabolism of cancer cells. Anthocyanins are the antioxidants which inhibit the body from free radical damages that can damage body cells and tissues. They also contain quercetin and ellagic acid which shows apoptosis properties i.e. they help in destroying the cancer cells without harming the healthy cells.

Help with Dementia

Cherries are helpful in combating dementia and Alzheimer’s disease due to the presence of anthocyanins. They aid in restricting the process of oxidation in brain cells and thus keep them active.

Helps Lighten Skin

Cherry juice is believed to clear dark spots and help in skin lightening. Researchers believe that its prolonged use can regenerate and rejuvenate the skin.

Keeps Your Scalp Hydrated

Vitamins are essential for overall health. The abundance of vitamins in cherries makes it a wonder fruit. Vitamin A keeps hair and scalp hydrated. It also regulates the production of an essential acid called Retinoic acid which is important for hair follicles.

Stimulates Hair Growth

Cherries can also increase the length of your tresses, as it is rich in vitamin B6. It also increases the volume and hence, makes them thick by preventing hair loss.

Anti-Aging Benefits

Pigments and antioxidants present in black cherries can help in flushing out toxins, slowing your skin’s aging process.

Combats Tooth Decay

Cherries help prevent plaque from forming on your teeth, helping your teeth stay nice and clean.

Try this at home face mask remedy which is pretty much good enough to eat, by The Beauty Bean.

With antioxidant-packed cherries for their skin-protecting properties, almond powder and sugar to gently exfoliate, honey to kill bacteria and moisturize, and yogurt with its exfoliating lactic acid and hydrating fats, this DIY homemade face mask recipe is sure to revive any and all complexions.

Plus, it sorta tastes like cherry pie, so there’s that too.