Did you know that fresh tart cherries contain approximately 30 to 40 milligrams of anthocyanins 1 and 2 in every 100 grams of fruit. This is really good news, since this will be providing the body with powerful antioxidants to fight oxidative stress. Tart cherries contain a lot more anthocyanins and phenols than do the sweet cherry variety. For example,one published study indicated the total phenolic level of sweet cherries varied in range from 92 to 147 milligrams/100 grams, while the same study indicated tart cherries contained up to 312 milligrams, or more than twice the phenols. This means the tart varieties deliver a more powerful impact that the sweet ones. In addition many are turning to drink the cherry juice because the fresh cherries aren’t available year round. So the next time you’re looking for a antioxidant rich drink, try some cherry juice. You can also enjoy some of the dried cherries, too (Kim 2005, C h a n d ra 1992). Source: Seeram and Momin et al. 2001.
