It''s cherry season again! They're fresh, plentiful¹, beautiful, and delicious, but, you may be wondering-are cherries actually that good for you? The answer is yes, 100 times yes! Cherries are not only one of the healthiest fruits, they also rank as one of the most health protective foods overall. One cup, or about 21 cherries, contains less than 100 calories and 15% of your daily vitamin C needs. But here are more reasons why this stone fruit is a nutritional² all-star.

又到了吃樱桃的季节！樱桃非常新鲜、果肉多、好看又美味，但是，你也许会想--樱桃真的有那么好吗？答案是是的，就是那么好！樱桃不仅是最健康的水果之一，而且也是最健康的保健食品之一。一杯樱桃（大约21颗）含有的热量低于100卡，但却含有15%的日维生素C推荐量。但这一核果类水果成为营养明星还有其它原因。

Cherries are full of antioxidants

樱桃富含抗氧化剂

Cherries are a potent³ source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. These cellular⁴ body guards slow down aging and ward⁵ off chronic⁶ illnesses-including heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's, diabetes⁷, and obesity⁸.

樱桃是抗氧化剂和消炎化合物的有效来源。樱桃可保护身体细胞、延缓衰老过程、抵御慢性疾病--包括心脏病、癌症、阿尔兹海默症、糖尿病和肥胖。

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They protect against diabetes

预防糖尿病

The anti-inflammatory effect of cherries helps keep your body healthy; but what's more, cherries rank lower than many fruits on the glycemic index. That means they don't trigger spikes⁹ and crashes in your blood sugar and insulin levels. This makes them both protective against diabetes, and important for managing the condition if you already have it.

樱桃的消炎效果有助于保持身体健康；但更为重要的是，樱桃的血糖指数低于许多其它水果。这就意味着樱桃不会触发体内的血糖和胰岛素水平激增或崩溃。所以，樱桃可预防糖尿病。如果你是糖尿病患者，吃樱桃也有助于管理该疾病。

They promote healthy sleep

促进高效睡眠

Tart¹⁰ cherries in particular are one of the few food sources of melatonin, a hormone¹¹ that helps control your sleep-wake cycles. One study in men and women with insomnia¹² found that compared to a placebo¹³, eight ounces of tart cherry juice in the morning and again one to two hours before bed increased sleep time by an hour and 24 minutes.

酸樱桃是褪黑素的少数食物来源之一，褪黑素是一种有助于控制睡醒周期的激素。一项有关失眠男女的研究发现：与安慰剂相比，早晨喝八盎司的酸樱桃汁，睡前一至两小时再喝一杯能延长你的睡眠时间，延长1小时24分钟。

They can provide arthritis¹⁴ relief

可以缓解关节炎

Several studies have suggested that cherry consumption is beneficial for osteoarthritis sufferers. Regularly incorporating cherries or 100% cherry juice into your meal or snack routine may help lessen¹⁵ your joint pain.

一些研究表明：吃樱桃对骨关节炎患者有益。定期食用樱桃或喝纯的樱桃汁或有助于缓解关节痛。

They lower the risk of gout attacks

降低痛风发作的风险

Over eight million adults in the U.S. suffer from gout. This inflammatory arthritis is triggered when a waste product called uric acid crystallizes within the joints¹⁶, causing excruciating pain and swelling¹⁷. In one study, gout patients who consumed cherries for just two days (both the fresh fruit, as well as cherry extract and juice) showed a 35% lower risk of gout attacks compared to those who did not eat cherries.

美国有超过八百万的成年人患有痛风。当关节内一种叫做尿酸的废物结晶时，就会触发这一炎症性关节炎，极度疼痛、肿胀。在一项研究中，食用樱桃两天的痛风患者（新鲜樱桃、樱桃提取物和果汁）与不吃樱桃的患者相比，他们痛风发作的风险降低了35%。