Try cherries for an antioxidant boost
Cherries may equal many superfoods in terms of antioxidant qualities and boosting blood-flow to protect against heart disease. Tart cherries in particular were also found to have anti-inflammatory benefits, making them ideal for after exercise.
Research presented at the Experimental Biology annual meeting in Washington found that drinking eight ounces of tart cherry juice daily for four weeks significantly reduced inflammation in 10 overweight or obese adults.
Tart cherry powder reduced C reactive protein and other markers of inflammation by up to 36% and lowered levels of total cholesterol by 26% in a five-month study on mice.
The mice eating the cherry diets also had a 65% reduction in early death.
Easy ways to add more cherries to your diet include topping dried cherries in oatmeal to making a smoothie - get an extra boost by adding cherry juice and low-fat or soya yogurt. More cherry recipes are available online.
