Cherries are a very popular fruit that belong to the same family as almonds, peaches, plums and apricots. However, while we know they taste great, they are also great for us, as recent research is showing.

Cherries contain vitamin C, vitamin A, bioflavonoids, ellagic acid, perillyl, anthocyanins and melotonin. The red colour of cherries comes from the anthocyanins, which are strong antioxidants that have been shown to reduce pain and inflammation.

Cherries are popularly used to:

• Ease arthritic pain and gout

• Can lower blood sugar in diabetics

• Provides a healthy and safe way to produce melotonin

• A recent study in animals by University of Michigan researchers found that diets enriched with cherries significantly lowered insulin and fasting glucose levels, which are involved with the development of type 2 diabetes. Adding cherries to the diet also lowered cholesterol levels and triglycerides after 90 days.

• Other research showed that drinking cherry juice before and after exercise may reduce muscle pain and damage.