It’s Cherry Season!
The cherries are bursting with flavor! We all have them in the stores by now and if you haven’t sampled a few, you are missing out! Sweet Cherries, including the popular Bing and Rainier varieties, are available from May to August.
Sour cherries have a much shorter season, and can be found for a week or two, usually during the middle of June in warmer areas and as late as July and August in colder regions. Tart cherries are a healthy whole fruit high in fiber, potassium, beta carotene, and antioxidants. One-quarter cup of dried cherries has 15% of the RDA for fiber. Cherries also contain potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamins A, C, B6, E, and folic acid. Tart cherries have virtually no fat and no sodium. This variety of nutrients in cherries translates into sound nutrition. In fact, the nutrient profile of cherries is hard to beat.
Cherries are an important source of phytonutrients. These are organic components of plants that promote health. Carotenoids, one class of phytonutrients, are the red, orange, and yellow pigments in fruits and vegetables. Beta carotene, the carotenoid abundant in cherries, is more effi ciently converted to retinol than other carotenoids; retinol is one of the most usable forms of vitamin A.
Research studies have shown that carotenoids protect against cancer, heart disease, and age related macular degeneration. Cherries are also a source of the flavonoid, cyanidin, included in the anthocyanidins subclass in the polyphenolic class of phytonutrients. More research on phytonutrients is underway and it is hypothesized that phytonutrients may serve as antioxidants, enhance immune response, enhance cell-to-cell communication, convert to vitamin A, and repair DNA damage caused by smoking and other toxic exposures.
Cherries have 19 times as much vitamin A and beta carotene as strawberries and blueberries! This low fat high antioxidant food is perfect for your Health Starts Here lifestyle!
- Filed Under:
- Uncategorized
No comment: Question do you carry avitamin called Macula complete it is a full spectrun multiple support for a healthy retina and body.
Hi Ginnie
We do not carry Macula at the Coddingtown Whole Foods. Let us know if we can be of further assistance.
Do you carry Tart Cherries, Fresh, Frozen or Dried ?
Hi Bud! We will have tart cherries (fresh) coming in July, towards the end of the season. We have dried tart cherries but we only have sweet frozen cherries.
They’re going to be a great deal so come by the stores and check them out! Thanks!