Food for Thought : Health Benefits of Cherries

Chock full of vitamins and minerals, cherries are one of the healthiest fruits you can snack on all year long. You can enjoy cherries as a snack, in pie filling, or in a glass of cherry juice. In addition to being a low-calorie healthy snack, there are many health benefits of cherries that you can enjoy by grabbing a handful of this delicious fruit.
Minimizes Pain :
If you have arthritis, you may experience lingering pain that hangs around even with the help of painkillers. Cherries are naturally able to minimize and even eradicate arthritis pain. This is because cherries can significantly reduce the presence of uric acid in the body, leading to less inflammation and pain. This effect is strongest when you enjoy Bing cherries.
Lower Blood Sugar Levels :
People that suffer from diabetes should enjoy cherries on a regular basis. This powerful fruit is full of anthocyanin, an antioxidant that has many health benefits. Cherries can naturally increase insulin production in the body, helping diabetics to more naturally maintain healthy blood sugar levels. If you are diabetic, it is better to eat fresh cherries than canned cherries. Canned cherries often have added sugar and less anthocyanin.
Minimizes Risk of Heart Disease :
When you enjoy this tart treat, you are doing your heart a favor. In fact, cherries can be as effective as some prescribed heart medications without the side effects. They are good at regulating fat and glucose in people with metabolic conditions. If you are on medications to prevent stroke or heart disease, cherries can improve the efficacy of these drugs if you eat them at the same time as taking your medication.
Get Rid of Belly Fat :
If you are carrying a few extra pounds or a spare tire around your middle, cherries may be the answer you’re looking for. Since belly fat is a huge problem in the United States, this is one of the most popular health benefits of cherries. Even if you don’t change your diet, eating cherries can help your body build up less fat and gain less weight.
 Reduces Chances of Gout :
Gout attacks can be excruciatingly painful, so wouldn’t you do anything you could to prevent them? Adding a handful of tart cherries to your daily diet can keep gout away. People have noticed a reduction in gout attacks after just two days of regularly eating cherries. In order to enjoy this health benefit, you just have to eat 1/2 cup of cherries every day.
Reduces Muscle Soreness :
Many runners and hardcore exercisers are starting to realize the power of cherries. Instead of reaching for a sport drink or glass of water after a workout, many fitness buffs are reaching for a large handful of cherries or a glass of cherry juice. Cherries can reduce muscle inflammation, leading to less soreness and quicker healing. If you decide to drink cherry juice, be sure that you are drinking tart, unsweetened cherry juice.
Slow Down Aging :
If you are looking for an anti-aging potion, look no further than cherries. There are numerous anti-aging health benefits of cherries. This is because cherries are full of isoqueritirin and queritrin, antioxidants that reduce oxidative stress in the body. By keeping your body free of free radicals, cherries can slow down the aging process and keep you feeling youthful for decades.
Fights Cancer :
When you enjoy the bright red color of cherries, you are noticing that which makes cherries good at fighting cancer. Flavonoids in cherries give them their color and fight free radicals in the body. This can halt the growth of cancer cells and keep them within normal levels. While all cherries are full of antioxidants, the darker the cherry, the more benefits it has.
Improves Sleep :
Our bodies rely on melatonin, a chemical that regulates sleep cycles, to help us sleep well at night. Tart cherries are a natural source of melatonin. Reach for a glass of cherry juice at night to help you sleep better.
Boosts Memory :
Cherries are an excellent source of anthocyanin, a chemical that can improve your memory. By regularly adding cherries to your diet, you can notice an improvement in your recall skills. This chemical can also improve your motor skills. For those with a faltering memory, this may be one of the best health benefits of cherries.
                                                           Cherry Pie 

 Total time : 3 hours  25 minutes       8 servings

Pastry:
2      cups all-purpose flour
1      teaspoon salt
2/3   cup plus 2 tablespoons shortening
6      tablespoons cold water 
Filling:
1-1/3     cups sugar
1/2        cup all-purpose flour
6           cups sour cherries, pitted
2           tablespoons butter or margarine, if desired
1 .  Heat oven to 425°F. In medium bowl, mix 2 cups flour and the salt. Cut in shortening, using pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives through ingredients in opposite directions), until particles are size of small peas. Sprinkle with cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with fork until all flour is moistened and pastry almost leaves side of bowl (1 to 2 teaspoons more water can be added if necessary).
2 .  Gather pastry into a ball. Divide pastry in half; shape into 2 rounds. Wrap flattened rounds of pastry in plastic wrap; refrigerate about 45 minutes or until dough is firm and cold, yet pliable.
3 .  Roll pastry on lightly floured surface, using floured rolling pin, into circle 2 inches larger than upside-down 9-inch glass pie plate. Fold pastry into fourths and place in pie plate; or roll pastry loosely around rolling pin and transfer to pie plate. Unfold or unroll pastry and ease into plate, pressing firmly against bottom and side and being careful not to stretch pastry, which will cause it to shrink when baked.
4 .  In large bowl, mix sugar and 1/2 cup flour. Stir in cherries. Spoon into pastry-lined pie plate. Cut butter into small pieces; sprinkle over cherries. Cover with top pastry that has slits cut in it; seal and flute. Cover edge with 2- to 3-inch strip of foil to prevent excessive browning; remove foil during last 15 minutes of baking.
5 .  Bake 35 to 45 minutes or until crust is golden brown and juice begins to bubble through slits in crust. Cool on cooling rack at least 2 hours before serving.
Expert Tips :
There are two types of cherries—sweet and sour. Sour cherries, also called pie cherries, tart cherries or tart red cherries make wonderful pies. Sweet cherries are great for eating fresh, but not for pies.
Substitute 6 cups frozen unsweetened pitted red tart cherries, thawed and drained, or 3 cans (14.5 oz each) pitted red tart cherries, drained, for the fresh cherries.

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