Cherries: Best Fruit for Women
In late spring and early summer, bright red cherries begin to flood the market. Not only do they look appealing, but for women, eating more cherries can promote beauty and help prevent gynecological diseases.
Cherries have long been known as the "beauty fruit." Ancient Chinese medical texts describe them as capable of "moisturizing the skin" and "improving complexion and appearance," with regular consumption making the skin smoother and more radiant. This is primarily because cherries contain extremely high levels of iron—per 100 grams of flesh, their iron content is six times that of strawberries, ten times that of jujubes, thirteen times that of hawthorns, and twenty times that of apples, ranking highest among all fruits.
Iron is essential for hemoglobin synthesis. For women, this is particularly important. According to WHO surveys, approximately 50% of girls, 20% of adult women, and 40% of pregnant women suffer from iron-deficiency anemia. This is first due to physiological factors: adolescent girls grow rapidly, requiring increased iron intake, compounded by menstrual blood loss, making them prone to iron deficiency. Pregnant and lactating women need to supply nutrients to fetuses or infants, greatly increasing their iron requirements. Elderly women often experience reduced gastrointestinal absorption and weakened hematopoietic function, contributing to anemia. Second, many women dislike meat, leading to nutritional imbalance, another key cause of iron deficiency. Thus, eating more cherries can alleviate anemia and treat related gynecological issues.
Traditional Chinese medicine views cherries as highly medicinal. Every part of the cherry plant can be used medicinally. Fresh cherries have functions such as inducing sweating, invigorating qi, dispelling wind, and promoting eruption of rashes, suitable for dietary therapy for limb numbness and rheumatic lower back pain.
When buying cherries, choose those with intact stems, bright color, and full skin. If not consumed immediately, store them at -1°C in the refrigerator. Cherries are berry-type fruits and fragile, so handle them gently. Also, despite their benefits, avoid overeating. Besides high iron content, cherries also contain cyanogenic glycosides. Excessive consumption may lead to iron or cyanide poisoning. If discomfort occurs after eating too many cherries, drink sugarcane juice to clear heat and detoxify. Additionally, cherries are warm in nature, so those with heat-related illnesses or deficient heat cough should avoid them.