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Cherries are a favorite summer fruit in the US, where about 370 million pounds are grown each year.1 With a short peak season (May to July), high susceptibility to disease and short shelf life after harvest, cherry season comes and goes in the blink of an eye.

If you enjoy cherries,
now is the time to get them if you live in the US (although if you decide to save some for later, put them in your freezer where they’ll keep for up to one year). Come September, fresh cherries will be long gone for another year

8 Top Health Benefits of Cherries

Cherries, which are members of the same fruit family as peaches, plums, apricots, and almonds, are often regarded as a “dessert” fruit for use in pies, or perhaps as a garnish for cocktails (the maraschino cherry).

But cherries have a healthy side too, one that may actually offer therapeutic benefits to your health, as cherries are rich in antioxidants and many other health-promoting compounds.

There are two primary varieties of cherries you should know about: sweet and tart (also known as sour cherries). Sweet cherries, such as Bing cherries, are best eaten fresh (and raw), while sour cherries develop a fuller flavor when they’re used in cooking (which is why they’re often used for baking).

Tart cherries are also used to make juice concentrates that may offer some unique health benefits. Some of the most notable health effects of cherries include