Seasonal Produce of the Month for December

Christmas season is here and the perfect fruit to match the festivities are cherries. This delicious fruit is not only sweet and delicious but full of health benefits for your body too. This includes vitamin C which helps to support an optimal functioning immune system. Vitamin C is also needed to make the protein collagen. Collagen is needed for strong ligaments and tendons and helps your skin to stay healthy.

Cherries are also a good source of potassium which helps lower your blood pressure and helps to keep your heart healthy, as well as normal nerve function and muscle contractions. This fruit is also rich in antioxidants and polyphenols. Cherries have strong anti-inflammatory properties which is why athletes use tart cherry juice to help reduce delayed onset muscle soreness. These anti-inflammatory properties may also help reduce symptoms of arthritis.

Cherries are a good source of melatonin which may also help improve your sleep. One cup of cherries will give you around 3g of fiber which supports a healthy gut function.

Cherries can be used in so many ways such as with your Christmas turkey, as part of a pie or muffin, in a fruit salad, and sliced halves on top of Corn Thins slices with cream cheese. There are so many reasons to enjoy cherries during this festive time and especially now these cherries are in season.