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Cherries-a wonderful health food

 

One of summer's best treats has to be fresh cherries. They're so delicious in everything from smoothies and cereal to garden salads, and of course, they're great for you. One cup of sweet cherries provides just 90 calories, 15% of the Daily Value for vitamin C and 3 grams of fiber (12% of the Daily Value). But the greatest health benefits of cherries probably come from their antioxidants. Cherries are very rich in natural disease fighters and also have anti-inflammation properties.


Choose right. Fortunately, picking ripe cherries is pretty straightforward. Just choose those that are firm but give a little when touched with plump, shiny skins and green (not brown) stems and avoid those that are mushy, dull, or have brown spots. Color isn't a give away here either because it varies based on variety. For example, while Bing cherries are deep red, Ranier are golden pink. But like melons, cherries don't ripen further after being picked and unripe cherries will have less flavor and fewer nutrients, so look for cherries that are just right. Also remember that they're highly perishable and very delicate. Cherries absorb odors easily and dry out quickly, so keep them in a sealed container in the fridge and eat them up within a few days or freeze them.