Tobacco, we have learned, is very detrimental to our health and may lead to cancer, but did you know that while tobacco is blamed on killing 450,000 Americans a year, poor diet habits kill even more? If the consumer would learn to purchase and eat the right foods they would be much healthier.

Cherries contain powerful anti-cancer agents:

• Quercitin – This component stops or slows the growth of colon, prostate, ovarian, pancreas, breast, and lung cancer.

• Ellagic acid – This phytochemical has demonstrated in lab studies its ability to prevent skin, bladder, lung, esophagus and breast cancer.

• Perillyl alcohol (POH) monoterpene –... “Has been very promising in clinical trials” states Charles Elson PhD, the professor emeritus of nutritional sciences at the University of Wisconsin. The study found that not only was it beneficial in neutralizing cancer causing toxins but also was very effective in fighting existing tumors in animals used in the study.

• Anthocyanin

• Bioflavonoids

• Anti-inflammatories – As we age and seek pain relief from common inflammation we find that tart cherries offer the pain relief with a powerful anti-inflammatory to boot. The relief has been compared with a prescription drug call indomethacin.

• Antioxidants – Besides Quercetin, cherries also contain genistein, naringenin and chlorogenic acid.

Cherries also contain other properties which aid in preventing cancer such as:

• Fiber

• Vitamin C

• Carotenoids

Tart cherries are excellent at stopping inflammation.

Did you know that inflammation occurs when the body is fighting an infection and when it is not controlled it can lead to cancer among other things?

Cherries found to be promising in preventing and killing cancer cells.

Studies have been performed on the cancer preventing and killing properties of cherries and the findings have been very hopeful. Researchers believe that one of the reasons cherries have been so successful is because cherries shut down the growth of cancer cells by depriving them of the proteins they need to grow.

While some foods lose their nutritive value when cooked or canned cherries are helpful regardless!

Whether eaten fresh, frozen, canned or juiced cherries are rich in nutritive compounds and powerful flavonoids. They may lose some of their vitamin C when cooked, but are still loaded with lots of nutrition and beneficial compounds. Mix a few in yogurt, toss them in salad or cereal, or bake them in bread. The cherry is versatile and the benefits bountiful.

Tart cherries are full of nutrition

They contain more than 25 times the beta-carotene of blueberries, are a rich source of vitamin C, provide potassium, magnesium, iron, folate and fiber.

This content is not meant to replace the advice of your physician but to supplement the information to discuss with him or her.

References:

The Doctors Book of Food Remedies by the editors of Prevention

http://www.antioxidants-guide.com/health_benefit_of_cherries.html

http://www.foods-that-heal.com/foods-that-prevent-cancer.html

http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2006/mar2006_awsi_01.htm