When I was a kid I couldn't wait for cherry season to begin. So much excitement waiting to pick ripe red purple fruit out of the big bin of cherries. You always wanted the perfectly round ones with no blemishes. Sometimes they glistened under the grocery store lights making them even more exotic. I would have to wait until we got home so mom could wash them and dry them before I got my little bowl of red gold, cherries! Who knew that my little bowl of red gold had such potent health benefits?

There are two types of cherries, sweet cherries and tart cherrries, both cherries thrive in cooler climates, so you see them being grown in northern states such as Washington, Oregon, Utah and Idaho. Each type of cherry prefers a different weather zone while sweet cherries like zones 5-9, tart cherries prefer zones 4-9.

The scientific community has been discussing the health benefits of cherries for many years. Studies are showing that tart cherries have greater dense nutrients then their sweet cousins. Tart cherries have very high antioxidant contents. Their skin is darker and has 20 times more beta caroteine then blueberries. These cherries are also a natural source of melatonin which helps regulate your sleep patterns. Today, we have started looking at cherry health benefits to negotiate the issues of aging and disease. While some of cherries health benefits are said to fight memory loss, lower cholestrol, help with sleep patterns and fight against diabetes, others are talking about more health benefits of cherries, looking into how they are cleaners of your liver and kidneys. Some researchers are talking about pain reduction with arthritis and gout when you eat a larger quantity of cherries per day, such as 1 lb. per day.

We continue to learn how cherry nutrition facts can apply to everyday life and help everyday health problems. Cherries are rich in Phytochemicals such as Anthocyanins and Beta carotene (Vitamin A). Cherries contain Vitamin C, and different types of Vitamin B. Smaller amounts of Potassium, Iron, Protieins and Magnesium are also found in a cherry.

Cherries are a naturally easy fruit to eat. It is an added bonus that they are so healthy for you. You get two pleasures in one, looking at them and then biting into a sweet juicy cherry.