Are Cherries Fattening?

Cherries are reaching their peak freshness in these summer months. You’ll likely see them in pies and turnovers and all other kinds of desserts. But even though cherries are so often used in sweets, is that all that these fleshy fruits have to offer? While many desserts that feature cherries can be detrimental to your waistline, are cherries fattening by themselves?

You might be surprised to find that cherries have a variety of health benefits. They’re full of potassium and polyphenol antioxidants, which can improve your heart health, regulate blood pressure, and reduce inflammation. They also contain melatonin, which means that if you consume them regularly, you can actually improve your sleep-wake cycle.

But are cherries fattening? Quite the opposite, actually! Cherries are fat-free and low in calories. They’re also rich in vitamins that can boost your metabolism and full of water that will flush toxins out of your body.

Of course, they aren’t a magical fruit that’s capable of scraping the fat off your body. No matter what other sources may claim, the best way to lose fat and keep it off is through regular exercise and a sensible, reduced-calorie diet. But cherries can play a good role in that diet.

Cherries are a valuable snack when your stomach may be rumbling between meals. Even though they have few calories, they also have a lot of fiber that can keep you feeling full until it’s time for dinner. They’re considered to be a low-glycemic food, and studies have shown that a low-glycemic diet can actually help you to lose more weight than a low-fat one.

Are cherries fattening? They’re not. That doesn’t make them miracle workers, either, but they can play a great role in constructing a healthy, balanced diet.