It’s cherry season!

At The Produce Moms, our number one goal is to help you get more fruits and veggies on your family’s table, lunchboxes, afternoon snacks, and desserts. What better way to do this than with cherries? From May through August, fresh cherries are everywhere. 

But there are quite a few misconceptions about these beautiful, deep red fruits that simply aren’t true. In this blog, we’ll debunk seven cherry myths. 

This post is sponsored by Northwest Cherries. 

When you find out why we love cherries so much and how many benefits cherries have, you’ll want them on hand during peak season, too!

Be sure to check out our favorite cherry recipes at the end. In the meantime, let’s dive into the benefits of these sweet and juicy red fruits.

Are cherries good for you?

Yes! We can’t say yes enough. Cherries have a lot of nutritional benefits that are backed up by clinical studies on real people like you. When cherries are part of a balanced diet, they offer long-term support to keep your body working at its best. 

Choose between tart, sweet, or Rainer (sweet and tart) cherries. There are many varieties, and each cherry provides your body with benefits in a different way. Tart cherries offer short-term benefits like improved sleep, quicker muscle recovery, and less inflammation. Sweet cherries help with long-term heart and gut health. While Rainier cherries’ antioxidant compounds are linked to a boost for the immune system. 

Whether you serve them fresh or frozen, your family benefits from every little cherry on their plate. 

Now that you know the incredible benefits of cherries, let’s dive into debunking those common cherry myths.

Myth 1: Cooking cherries lowers the nutritional benefits.

When baked, sautéed, dried, or simmered, cherries keep their foundational nutrients intact. In fact, they even become more bioavailable, which means that the body is better able to absorb the benefits of cherries. It depends on the cooking method and cook time, but cherries always deliver antioxidants and fiber, no matter how you serve them. 

You can’t cook away:

Polyphenols (natural antioxidants) are super stable during gentle cooking methods like simmering or poaching. Even if cooked at a high heat or for a long time, a generous amount of antioxidants stays intact.

Phenolic acids (antioxidant, anti inflammatory) may become easier for your body to absorb after cooking, making the antioxidants in cherries more effective.

Dietary fiber, like potassium, magnesium, and copper, are stable minerals during the cooking process, so you feel full longer.

Turn your cherries into Cherry Clafoutis, Cherry Bruschetta, or Cherry Bonbon Cookies that are filled with nutrients and just the right amount of sweetness.

Myth 2:  Cherries are too sugary for weight loss.

Similar to most fruits, cherries are naturally sweet and juicy. They’re also a low-calorie fruit that has lots of water and is high in fiber. Making them the ideal snack or sweet dessert if you’re trying to lose a few pounds. One cup of sweet cherries comes in at 90-100 calories and 3 grams of fiber. When you need a little dietary reset or you’re looking for a smarter snack option, this is one of our go-to seasonal must-haves.

Myth 3: Cherries cause digestive issues and should be avoided for gut health.

Cherries have natural fiber and sorbitol (a natural sugar alcohol) that can cause some to have gas or bloating. However, the fiber and antioxidants in cherries have been shown to promote the growth of good bacteria and fatty acids that help maintain gut health for better digestion and a stronger immune system. If you are sensitive to the natural fiber and sugar in cherries, try eating half of a cup of fresh cherries at a time with protein or fat. That may do the trick!

Myth 4:  Too much hype for the brain benefits of cherries.

Can one little piece of fruit really improve brain function? Well… not just a single cherry, but when cherries are added to your daily diet, they really do benefit the cognitive function in your brain. Cherries naturally create polyphenols (a natural antioxidant) that lowers inflammation and stress, two leading causes of cognitive decline. 

One 12-week study showed improvements in long-term and short-term memory in older adults with mild dementia who drank cherry juice daily¹. It’s as easy as pouring a glass of cherry juice (or snacking on a few cherries)!

Myth 5: Cherries are nutritious only when in season.

Cherries have a short three-month peak for harvesting. However, they are flash frozen within hours of being picked from the orchard. Research has shown that key nutrients like potassium and vitamin C stay in the cherries during the freezing process. Whether you grab fresh cherries or a bag of frozen, they still have all the nutrients you want for your family.

Myth 6: Cherries are high in sugar and should be avoided by diabetics.

It’s true, cherries have natural sugars. But because those sugars are natural, not added sugars, they have a surprisingly low glycemic index level of 20-25 out of 100. That means that the natural sugars turn into glucose in your body nice and slow, so your blood sugar doesn’t spike. Research shows that cherries may help lower the risk of type 2 diabetes².  Cherries are a diabetic’s nutritiously sweet dream snack.

Myth 7: The Benefits of cherries only apply to athletes.

This is a common misconception. Cherries have anthocyanins (a group of pigments) that give cherries their gorgeous red color. Those pigments help the muscles recover. But you don’t have to be an athlete to have sore muscles from a workout or field day at your kid’s school. Cherries are a great way to help your body and your active kids’ muscles recover from physical activity.

Why We Love Northwest Cherries

We love educating parents in America on fresh fruits that you can simply rinse and eat. Northwest Cherries is no different. They’re passionate about sharing research-based information on the food you give to your family, one myth-busting fact at a time. Look for tart, sweet, and Rainer cherries in the produce aisle for your next go-to produce snack. 

Now that you know the real benefits of cherries, go grab ‘em, fresh or frozen, and try one of our favorite cherry recipes! 

Related: Cherries: How to Select, Store, and Serve

Year-round Cherry Recipes

• Cherry Jam – the perfect spread for breads, charcuterie boards and meats
• Microwave Cherry Cobbler – a total classic served in a mug and ready in 2 minutes
• Cherry and Pork Skewers – a beautiful handheld appetizer with cherry rosemary sauce
• Homemade Cherry Limeade – cherries and lime, it’s summer in a glass
• Cherry Yogurt Bark – the perfect protein-packed snack
• Whipped Cherry Goat Cheese – the perfect charcuterie board dipper