10 strange properties of cherries + nutritional value of cherries for weight loss

5 Minutes Reading

19 August 2026

Hana

Cherries are a nutrient-dense fruit that is relatively low in calories and contains significant amounts of important nutrients and bioactive compounds. These nutrients include fiber, polyphenols, vitamin C, potassium, and substances with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Benefits of Cherries
Less Post-Workout Soreness

Eating tart cherries daily can help your muscles recover faster after exercise. Tart cherry juice can do the same for your body after a marathon or other intense aerobic workout. Research shows that the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds in cherries may help relieve muscle pain, injury, and inflammation caused by exercise. Tart cherries and their juice appear to be more effective than their sweet counterparts, although both may help athletes. Tart cherry juice and tart cherry concentrate have been shown to speed up muscle recovery, reduce muscle soreness caused by strenuous activity and exercise. Additionally, some evidence suggests that cherry-based products enhance athletic performance.

A study of 27 endurance runners found that those who took 480 mg of tart cherries daily for 10 days before a half-marathon race were 13 percent faster during the race and had less muscle soreness than those who took a placebo. Although most studies examining the link between cherries and exercise have looked at trained athletes, tart cherry juice may also be beneficial for non-athletes.

A study of 20 female athletes found that those who drank 60 ml of tart cherry juice twice daily for 8 days recovered faster and experienced less muscle damage and soreness after repeated sprints, compared to a placebo group. While these findings are promising, they apply to concentrated cherry products, such as juice and powder. It’s not clear how many fresh cherries you’d need to eat to get similar results.