Grab a handful of ripe sweet cherries for a healthy dose of a natural inflammation fighter.
Sweet cherries are rich in anthocyanins, compounds that occur naturally in the fruit and appear to inhibit enzymes involved in inflammation. Sweet cherries also are rich in vitamin C, a nutrient linked to reduced blood levels of inflammatory markers.
More and more studies link inflammatory processes to a host of diseases, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and arthritis. In addition to cherries, other fruits that provide inflammation-fighting anthocyanins include strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and grapes. Other nutrients that may possess anti-inflammatory properties include flavonols in dark chocolate, apples, and tea; and omega-3 fatty acids in wild salmon, fish oil, flaxseed, and walnuts.
RealAge Benefit: Eating a diverse diet that includes 4 servings of fruit per day can make your RealAge as much as 4 years younger.
Chemical constituents and antioxidant activity of sweet cherry at different ripening stages. Serrano, M., Guillen, F., Martinez-Romero, D., Castillo, S., Valero, D.,
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 2005 Apr 6;53(7):2741-2745.
Cyclooxygenase inhibitory and antioxidant cyanidin glycosides in cherries and berries. Seeram, N. P., Momin, R. A., Nair, M. G., Bourquin, L. D.,
Phytomedicine 2001 Sep;8(5):362-369.
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