Cherries are actually classified as a type of fruit called a drupe. Drupes consist of thin skin, a fleshy body, a hard stone, and an inner seed. They’re often referred to as “stone fruits” due to the hard stone in the middle. The part of the fruit that you eat is called the mesocarp.
Cherries are low in calories and chock full of fiber, vitamins, minerals, nutrients, and other good-for-you ingredients. You’ll get vitamins C, A, and K. Each long-stemmed fruit delivers potassium, magnesium, and calcium too. They also bring antioxidants, like beta-carotene, and the essential nutrient choline.
Benefits of cherry
- Packed with nutrients.
- Rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds.
- Can boost exercise recovery.
- May benefit heart health.
- May improve symptoms of arthritis and gout.
- May improve sleep quality.
- Easy to add to your diet.
Nutritional facts
- Calories: 95
- Protein: 1.6 grams (g)
- Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrate: 24 g
- Fiber: 3.2 g (making them a good source)
- Sugars: 19.2 g
- Calcium: 20 milligrams (mg)
- Iron: 0.5 mg
- Magnesium: 17 mg
- Potassium: 333 mg
- Vitamin C: 10.5 mg
Side effects
The side effects of cherries are mainly related to injury of the kidney and allergic reactions that are described as follows:
- Cherries have negatively impacted patients with chronic kidney diseases causing acute kidney injury (kidney failure).
- Cherries contain an essential protein which acts as a major allergen responsible for allergic reaction.
Intestinal gas, cramps and bloating are other common side effects caused by consuming immoderate amounts of cherries. Cherries do not contain many essential vitamins and minerals and so cannot be used as a replacement for other nutrition-rich foods.
