The health benefits of cherries are many but one is the fact that they are very tasty and nutritious. Some of these health benefits are vitamins, minerals and compounds that help prevent diseases. Some studies say they are beneficial in the fight against some cancers.

Cherries contain antioxidants that help to "clean up" free radicals. What are free radicals? Free radicals are molecules that are unstable which will cause harm to cells as circulating molecules attack healthy cells. Damage to these cells that are caused by the free radicals has been noted to quicken the process of aging.

Even though cherries are a beneficial source of vitamins, they do not contain as high a quantity of vitamin A or vitamin C that the health benefits of strawberries provide. It is the presence of other compounds and antioxidants that give cherries many health benefits. Other than the two vitamins listed above, cherries also contain anthocyanins, bioflavonoids, ellagic acid, melatonin, and perillyl. The nutrients and compounds that we find in cherries provide some other health benefits such as: fighting cancer; help prevent heart disease; pain relief of arthritis, headaches, and gout; provide a healthy way in producing melatonin and improve mental functions.

Cherries are low in calories and fat, and contain a high percent of water. By increasing our water intake helps to boost our energy and increase our metabolism. Many people have discovered that eating high water content fruits, like cherries, help in weight loss. Cherries are high in potassium and the sodium level is low. This fact will help to control water retention by improving the balance of water. A diet that is lower in sodium will result in losing water weight.

Cherries are available in two different types, sweet and tart. One of the most popular of the sweet cherries is the Bing cherries which can be bought fresh in super markets. The sour or tart cherries are usually found canned, for baking pies; dried as fruit snacks, and in juice concentrate. Like most of our other fruits they are low in sodium and calories, fat-free, and are high in vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C and B-complex and potassium. We can eat them raw, juiced, or cooked.

Tart and sweet cherries include pigments that are called anthocyanins and antioxidants that give them their dark red coloring. Tart cherries are one of the top most fruits that contain the most antioxidants. Tart cherry juices and dried tarts have more antioxidants than blueberries and much more potent than vitamin E. The anthocyanins in tart cherries contain high anti-inflammatory traits that could provide pain relief similar to that of aspirin or ibuprofen.

It has been discovered tart cherries hold high levels of melatonin. This is an antioxidant that many believe helps to slow the progression of aging as well as regulate sleep and to help fight jetlag. By eating Montmorency tart cherries could actually broaden the levels of melatonin that are already contained in our bodies.

The health benefits of fresh cherries or canned, either sweet or tart, and drinking cherry concentrate are many. They are a possible treatment for diabetes that could lower blood sugar levels. They not only help in cancer prevention, muscle pain, gout and arthritis pain, and heart disease but also help to lower the LDL cholesterol level in preventing strokes.