Posted on: July 26, 2007
Be Fruitful, Eat Cherries
By CTW Features
In addition to tasting great, cherries might help lower the risk of metabolic syndrome, a huge indicator of heart disease risk, according to a study conducted at the University of Michigan’s Cardioprotection Research Laboratory.
Over a 90-day period, cherry-infused diets lowered cholesterol levels, triglycerides, insulin and fasting glucose levels, the study shows.
Cherries also increased the blood’s antioxidant capacity – not surprising, as they are known to be rich in that disease-fighting substance. And they reduced the accumulation of triglycerides and cholesterol in the liver, something scientists call “fatty liver.”
“Lifestyle changes have been shown to lower the odds of developing metabolic syndrome, and there is tremendous interest in studying the impact of particular foods that are rich in antioxidants, such as cherries,” says Dr. Steven Boling, a U-M cardiac surgeon.
People with metabolic syndrome have a greater risk for heart disease, which is still America’s No. 1 killer, according to U-M researchers who say 50 million Americans suffer from it. The syndrome is characterized by a group of risk factors, including belly fat, raised blood pressure, and insulin resistance or glucose intolerance, according to the American Heart Association.
