From the common cherry tree, Prunus avium, it is native to the temperate areas of eastern Europe and western Asia. The fruit from the cherry tree has been cultivated since as far back as 300 B.C. with a lineage that goes back even farther.
Packed with flavor and a multitude of vitamins and minerals, the cherry is not only good for you internally but externally as well. From protecting your skin from free radicals to helping with discoloration, this fruit when utilized can be extremely beneficial in taking care of your skin.
Cherries are considered a great ingredient to assist with inflammation. Chronic inflammation can cause an undesirable change in skin; when inflamed the skin can become cold to the touch, swollen, rough, and it can loose its elasticity. Along with olive oil, blueberries, cruciferous vegetables and ginger, cherries are one of the foods with anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe and heal irritated skin.
Another characteristic found in cherries is that they are a natural humectant – meaning that they pull water out of the air to moisturize the skin. Therefore, they naturally moisturize the skin, improving the penetration of other nourishing ingredients.
Recently, Dr. Russell J. Reiter, professor of neuroendocrinology at The University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, put some scientific fact behind myths related to the benefits of eating cherries. Russell conducted a five-month study and found that tart cherries contain significant amounts of melatonin – a hormone produced in the brain’s pineal gland that has been credited with slowing the aging process, and fighting insomnia and jet lag. It has also being studied as a potential treatment for cancer, depression and other diseases and disorders. Russell also stated that this finding marks the first time melatonin has been pegged as a naturally occurring substance in food, although trace amounts are evident in bananas, corn and other foods.
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