Discover the Natural Energy of Organic Dried Cherries

Nowadays, everybody is talking about the need of eating organic foods. This increased awareness is probably the only way of protecting our fragile health against the attack of commercially profitable products which are full of chemicals and preservatives.

Many people agree that the cherry is extremely good for our health. However, only a natural product is truly beneficial. If the fresh or the dried cherries have been exposed to chemicals in order to increase their commercial value, then, unfortunately, their nutritional value has been considerably lowered. That’s why it’s logical to search for organic dried cherries whenever you want to use them as a snack or as an ingredient for your recipes.

So, let’s see: what are organic dried cherries? Why are they called ‘organic’ and how can we distinguish them from the ‘non-organic’ dried fruit?

In order to be called organic, a food product has to match several important criteria: First of all, it has to be grown without any pesticides – it means that the farmers have to protect their crops and their orchards from pests without contaminating them with chemical substances. In case of animals and birds grown for meat, eggs or dairy products, they have to be given natural fodder without chemical additives.

Then, in the preparation process (in case of cherries – the drying and the packing for commercial distribution) no preservatives should be used. This is a rather tricky requirement – after all, we all know that without preservatives, food products don’t last very long.  You should be aware that most manufacturers are also using chemical substances for speeding up the drying process of the fruits. Instead of sun drying them, they are boiling the cherries in a chemical solution which forces the water out of the fruit extremely fast. Such a procedure is cost-effective, but unfortunately it is not beneficial for our health. That’s why it’s so important to buy those cherries that have been sun- or air-dried and then vacuum packed instead of conserved by using preservatives.

Also, make sure that the dried cherries do not contain sugar. Some manufacturers may add sugar to their dried fruit, especially to the tart varieties of cherries. Besides adding sweetness, sugar is also a good conserving agent, but unfortunately these qualities do not make it healthy. We all know that sugar is one of the most detrimental products out there and we have to do everything we can in order to avoid it! Whenever you shop, make sure you buy dried cherries without sugar! And remember that fruits have a high content of natural sugar, which is good for you, unlike the refined sugar!

Organic dried cherries are not only delicious. If they are dried properly, without being boiled, they also keep most of the biological energy of the fresh fruit (which is easily destroyed by cooking and exposure to harsh temperatures). All the beneficial nutrients of cherries – fibers, vitamins and antioxidants – can also be found in the organic dried cherry.

Protecting our health in this century of fast-food and fast-life is not easy. If 30 or 50 years ago you could still find natural products (and I mean really NATURAL products) on the shelves of the stores, nowadays this becomes harder and harder. Everything is somehow modified for increased profitability – and the sad thing is that the modifications now reach even the genetic structure of fruits and vegetables.

However, not everything is lost. Many people are waking up from this dangerous dream, realizing that this contamination of our planet and our health cannot last forever. More and more manufacturers are trying to grow and distribute organic products. Even if these products are not 100% natural (nothing is, these days – after all, everything is exposed to the polluted ecosystem), they are still much better than the non-organic foods of the same type.

Organic dried cherries can be considered whole foods because they are not chemically processed and nothing is removed from the fruit. Even if you don’t have the time or the pleasure to cook and use the dried cherries in your favorite recipes, you can always snack on them between meals (instead of eating unhealthy foods full of fats and artificial additives like chips, candies or donuts). With such nutritious snacks, it will be much easier for you to feel better and lose weight.

If eating dried cherries straight from the pack may seem boring for you, you can always buy a mix of dried fruits and nuts or create your own mix by combining your favorite fruits. This way, you can always eat something new, at the same time protecting your health from fats, sugar, cholesterol and chemicals. Dried cherries and other dried fruits are also suitable for people on a gluten free diet.

Did you know that you can also rehydrate dried cherries? The fast way of doing this is to boil them in water. However, as I wrote earlier, boiling makes the product lose all its nutrients, so it’s advisable to soak the dried cherries in lukewarm water for a longer time – this way they will be naturally rehydrated.

Also, don’t forget that the health properties of cherries depend on their type. Sweet cherries (Bing, Lambert or Rainier) have a certain range of health-related properties, while sour cherries (Montmorency or Morello) have other combinations of vitamins and antioxidants. If you plan to eat organic dried cherries because of a certain healing property, make sure you buy the right kind!

Thanks to organic dried cherries, you can enjoy all the properties of the fresh fruit all year long. You can also buy the dried cherries in bulk, this way saving some money. Many people are wondering how long do dried cherries last. Don’t worry – the unopened packs usually last for about one year. The opened packs can be kept in the fridge for several months.