The Unique Nutrition Profile of Frozen Cherries
Cherries may be small, but they pack a powerful nutritional punch. As a stone fruit, cherries are highly versatile and can be enjoyed fresh, dried, canned, or frozen while retaining their unique dense, sweet-tart flavor. But when it comes to nutrition in particular, few types of cherries beat out frozen cherries. Why is that? Frozen cherries are picked and flash-frozen at peak freshness, locking in beneficial nutrients like antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fiber. Read on as we explore why frozen cherries nutrition stands head and shoulders above the crowd when it comes to supporting overall health and wellness.
Frozen Cherries Offer Peak Nutrition
All cherries, including frozen varieties, deliver key essential nutrients and plant compounds like anthocyanins that lessen inflammation throughout the body. But flash-freezing harvested cherries prevents any deterioration of those intrinsic vitamins, minerals and protective antioxidants you just wont find to the same degree in fresh cherries after a week or more of transport and storage. This means frozen cherries nutrition focuses on cherries perfectly ripe and bursting with vital nutrition to support bodily processes.
Frozen Cherries of All Types
When it comes to frozen cherries, youre not merely limited to the standard sweet bing cherry variety most often used in baking. Grocery stores now carry multiple types of frozen cherries, spanning sweet cherries, tart cherries and even proprietary cherry blends cultivated for antioxidant muscle recovery. No matter which frozen cherry appeals to your palate, rest assured youll get an infusion of health from its impressive nutrient stats. Lets review some popular frozen cherry options:
- Sweet cherries Classic all-purpose cherry bursting with sweetness.
- Sour cherries Tart cherry variety ideal for pie fillings and sauces.
- Dark sweet cherries Deeper color signifies more antioxidants.
- Cherry berry blend Mixture of cherries and antioxidant berries.
- Recovery blend cherries Cultivated for workout recovery.
The Impressive Nutritional Statistics of Frozen Cherries
Now that you know the many frozen cherry varieties available, lets break down frozen cherries nutrition in terms of macronutrients, vitamins, minerals and other protective elements that contribute to better bodily health:
Macronutrients
One cup of frozen pitted sweet cherries has:
- Calories: 87
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 18g
- Protein: 1g
As you can see, frozen cherries offer carbohydrate energy alongside gut-friendly fiber that also helps mitigate blood sugar spikes. Theres also a modest amount of protein. Now lets cover key frozen cherries nutrition micronutrients:
Vitamins and Minerals
The same one-cup serving of frozen cherries contains good amounts of:
- Vitamin C: 10% DV
- Potassium: 5% DV
- Vitamin A: 5% DV
- Iron: 4% DV
- Vitamin B6: 3% DV
Other micronutrients found to a lesser degree include thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, phosphorus, magnesium, copper and manganese.
Antioxidant Compounds
Frozen cherries nutrition excels due to high levels of anthocyanins, quercetin, kaempferol, hydroxycinnamic acid and other robust antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents that lower oxidative stress damaging cells throughout the body. Cherries contain some of the highest antioxidant levels of any fruits comparable to dark berries.
The Abundant Health and Wellness Benefits of Frozen Cherries
Due to an exceptional blend of nutrients, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, eating frozen cherries imparts numerous specific health and wellbeing perks. Lets analyze major frozen cherries benefits:
Lower Bad Cholesterol
The anthocyanins unique to cherries actively combat LDL cholesterol or bad cholesterol oxidation that leads to plaque buildup in arteries. Enjoying frozen cherries helps lower circulating LDL-C.
Reduce Arthritis Aches and Pains
Thanks to powerful anti-inflammatory phenolics, routinely eating frozen cherries can alleviate aches, stiffness and pain associated with gout, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Support Heart Health
Beyond lowering LDL cholesterol, active nutrients in frozen cherries like potassium, vitamin C and carotenoids preserve cardiovascular functioning by maintaining ideal blood pressure and artery integrity as we age.
Lessen Post-Exercise Muscle Soreness
Specific anthocyanin-dense frozen cherry blends available help muscles recover faster, reduce exercise-induced oxidative damage and decrease common post-workout muscle soreness.
Regulate Blood Sugar Levels
The combination of sugar and fiber in frozen cherries enables steady energy provision andglycemic control compared to sugar alone helping manage blood sugar levels.
Improve Cognitive Function
Antioxidants in frozen cherries safeguard cerebral arteries against plaque formation to sustain healthy blood flow, oxygen and nutrients to the aging brain forestalling cognitive decline.
Prevent Certain Cancers
Early studies indicate anthocyanins and other anti-inflammatory frozen cherries nutrition components may inhibit cancer cell production lowering risk of certain breast, colon and prostate cancers.
Possible Downsides of Frozen Cherries
For most people, incorporating frozen cherries into a balanced diet poses little downside. However, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Pesticide Content
Unless labelled organic, frozen cherries may harbor traces of pesticides that concentrate during processing. Select organic frozen cherries when possible.
High Sugar Content
With 18 grams of sugar per cup, diabetics and pre-diabetics should eat frozen cherries in moderation to avoid blood sugar spikes.
Oxalates Content
Cherries contain measurable oxalates. For those prone to kidney stones, restrict higher-oxalate frozen cherries in favor of sweet varieties that are lower.
Tips for Selecting Quality Frozen Cherries
Not all frozen cherries available offer equal nutrition. Follow these buying tips to pick the best bag of frozen cherries:
Check the Ingredients List
Select frozen cherries with only one ingredient: cherries! Avoid added sugars, preservatives and other questionable additives.
Seek Out Color Variety
The richest, most antioxidant-packed frozen cherries will be darker in color choose these for peak frozen cherry nutrition whenever possible.
Buy Organic When You Can
While pricier, certified organic frozen cherries have no GMOs or pesticide residues ideal for daily smoothies and oatmeal.
Ensure Adequate Sealing
Inspect frozen cherry bags carefully to make sure theres no freezer burn or ice crystals which indicate nutrition loss.
With these tips, youll easily find flavorful frozen cherries that optimally retain the many vitamins, minerals and protective compounds intrinsic to fresh cherries. This makes Boosting your fruit intake with nutrient-dense
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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