DALLAS, Feb 17, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Cherries, a super fruit, may reduce
factors associated with heart disease and diabetes, a U.S. researcher suggests.
Lona Sandon, assistant professor of clinical nutrition at University
Southwestern Medical Center and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic
Association, says the fruit's red color is a cue to its antioxidant and health
benefits.
"Cherries are particularly high in quercetin, a natural antihistamine and
anti-inflammatory compound," Sandon says in a statement. "While apples are the
top source of quercertin in the typical American diet, gram for gram, cherries
pack just as much of this valuable nutrient."
Fresh cherries or apples have about 3 milligrams of quercetin per 7-ounce
serving. However, processing concentrates quercetin, so there's about twice the
amount of the compound in juices and other processed offerings, Sandon says.
"Cherries are available year-round in dried, frozen and juice form, so they're
easy to incorporate into your daily diet," Sandon says.
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