Primavera

Health Benefits

Cherries

Cherries have long been considered as a fruit associated with pies and desserts, but in reality they are one of the most beneficial fruits for your health. With more antioxidants than almost any other fruit, cherries have been found to be helpful in guarding your body against free radicals. Cherries are not only a sweet summer treat, but also a beneficial food for you and your family’s health.

  • Cherries are low in calories and fat free and high in potassium, Vitamin C, B Complex and minerals
  • Research has shown that Cherry consumption can help protect the body from disease, prevent heart disease and cancer, provide pain relief and imporve bone health.
  • Cherries are a great source of antioxidants. The antioxidants found in cherries are the flavonoids anthocyanins and quercetin, and the phenolic acid amygdalin.

(source: calcherry.com, Cal Cherry Adv Board)

Apples

The famous line, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” is more than just a saying, there is truth behind the words. Apples are rich in fiber and have a low glycemic index. They are a sweet and tasty snack that you can enjoy while enjoying the health benefits of a food rich with antioxidants and free of fat, saturated fat, sodium and cholesterol.

  • Apples are Fat Free, Saturated Fat Free, Sodium Free and Cholesterol Free
  • Apples are an excellent source of fiber
  • Apples are rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are naturally occuring compounds found in many foods, particularly fruits and vegtables.  They may reduce the risk of some types of cancer and other diseases.
  • Apples may redeuce the risk of cancer, coronary heart disease and hypertension.

(source: USA apple consumer health information)

Walnuts

Walnuts are an extraordinarily healthly food and  an important addition to your diet. Walnuts are a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids (ALA), protein, fiber and various important micronutrients such as thiamin, vitamin B6, Vitamin E, Iron, Potassium and Magnesium, they’re also the nut with the highest overall antioxidants.

Eating a handful of walnuts tastes great, and is a heart-healthy addition to your diet. For over a decade, researchers have shown diverse benefits of this whole food through many clinical studies. Due to the strength of evidence supporting cardiovascular health, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first ever qualified health claim for a whole food in March of 2004.

Walnuts can be a nutritious choice for people with diabetes. A study published in 2004 reported the effect of a moderate-fat diet, inclusive of walnuts, on blood lipid profiles in patients with type-2 diabetes. The walnut group achieved a 10% reduction in LDL cholesterol.

  • When compared with control diets, diets supplemented with walnuts resulted in a significantly greater decrease (10.3 mg/dL) in total cholesterol (TC) and LDL “bad” cholesterol (-9.2 mg/dL).

A study evaluating the effect of dietary alpha-linolenic acid (ALA/omega-3s) provided by walnuts and flaxseed, on bone turnover found bone health improved with ALA consumption in a clinical research study published in the January 2007 issue of Nutrition Journal. 1