Benefits of Antioxidants in Cherries

Antioxidants are molecules that help slow down, or even prevent, the oxidization of other molecules. In the human body, antioxidants are integral to preventing the creation of free radicals. Free radicals are associated with cancer, aging, and heart disease. By preventing oxidization of molecules, antioxidants lower the number of free radicals present in the body.

These powerful antioxidants are readily available in numerous foods and supplements. One of the benefits of tart cherries is the high amount of antioxidants that may occur naturally in this fruit. Food sources that naturally contain antioxidants are thought to enable better absorption and more benefits to the user than artificially created supplements.

Cherries: Powerful Sources of Antioxidants

Cherries may be naturally packed with antioxidants. Anthocyanins, which produce the trademark red color of cherries, are a type of nutrient referred to as flavonoids. There are over 150 known flavonoids that occur in plants; of these, it is commonly thought the anthocyanins are one of the types with the highest capacity for carrying antioxidants.

The power of antioxidant-containing foods is measured in Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) units. Some nutritionists believe that the typical person needs to ingest 3,000 to 5,000 ORAC units a day. Depending on the type of product, cherries may have ORAC scores that range from 2,000-12,000 units.

Another important number to consider is the number of fruit servings you get from 1 ounce of cherry concentrate. One ounce of cherry juice concentrate is the equivalent of one serving of fruit. Considering we press 1,000 cherries to make our 16 ounce bottle, you know drinking concentrated cherry juice may be an excellent way to increase your daily intake of fruit.

Why Choose Cherry Bay Orchards?

A cherry is a cherry, right? They could all contain antioxidants, so why does it matter where you go for your cherry products?

At Cherry Bay Orchards, we work hard to ensure our cherries are of exceptional quality. Our farms and production facilities undergo rigorous evaluations and certification processes to make sure we are producing only the highest quality cherry products for our customers. With Cherry Bay Orchards, you can be assured that - whether you prefer dried cherries or tart cherry juice concentrate - your cherries are among the highest quality. We make harnessing the benefits of cherries an easy, delicious task.