7 Reasons Why Maraschino Cherries Are Bad For You
Life can be very sweet, but it’s even better with a cherry on top…or is it?
Today in the Bestie zone we’re gonna discover the dark side of the , and a few reasons why
you might want to skip the cherry on top.
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When you think of a cherry, you’re probably picturing the sweet, redder than red maraschino
cherry that tops our sundaes and garnishes your favourite drink.
We don’t want to alarm you but while these beautiful treats may look sweet, you may want
to rethink their innocence.
Well, they’re a fruit, and fruit is healthy right?
Sure, regular cherries are generally good for your health.
However, a maraschino cherry is a different story.
First of all they’re pretty processed, and like all processed foods they’re not great
for your health.First off, Maraschino cherries originate from Croatia.
Their original name is the marasca cherry.
They were being preserved in italian liqueur distilled from the same cherry.
Originally they were treated as a delicacy, but today, it’s not quite the same.
Keep watching to find out a few reasons why you should keep these particular types of
cherries out of your diet.
They’re Not Made The Old Fashioned Way: Originally maraschino cherries were originally
preserved in alcohol.
Today, maraschino cherries are typically bleached in a mixture that contains sulfur dioxide
and calcium chloride which makes them lose their original colour.
They turn into a sort of yellow-ish, which isn’t really the most appetizing colour
for a cherry.
To make it look like the typical cherry you see on top of ice cream, they then soak the
bleached cherries in Red Dye #4 and high fructose corn syrup for a few weeks to a month.
This restores the cherries colour and basically sweeten them.
The end result is the very bright, sweet cherry you know.
Their Nutritional Value Decreases: Because these cherries have been soaked in
sweetener, their sugar content is raised considerably.
Maraschino cherries can have up to 3 times the amount of sugar than regular cherries.
They also contain much less protein than regular cherries.
They basically lose most of their nutrients and micronutrients because of the preserving
process they go through.
The Potential Dangers of Artificial Colours: Since maraschino cherries have to be dyed
after their bleaching process, the colour used to bring them back to the candy red colour
we see in stores is called Red 40.
Previously Red 3 was used, and could possibly still be used is a few select brands (something
to watch out for).
Red 3 has been flagged as a potentially dangerous product when it comes to our health, by the
Centre For Science In The Public Interest.
Red 40, seems to be okay in small amounts, however studies into their long term effects
on your health are still inconclusive.
There Are Reasons To Avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup:
High Fructose Corn Syrup or HFCS is something commonly found in candy, sugar filled drinks
and food that is highly processed.
You’ve probably guessed but this type of sugar isn’t great for you.
It’s been linked to diseases like diabetes, obesity and even heart disease.
When you read the ingredients on a label, they usually are listed starting with the
ingredient that is most present in that particular product.
Unfortunately, HFCS is usually one of the first ingredients listed on the jar, therefore
it’s something maraschino cherries contain a lot of.
They Lose Their Antioxidants: Antioxidants can help fight off premature
ageing, but can prevent certain diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes and certain
cancers.
Regular cherries have a high amount of antioxidants and are generally good for you.
Eating unprocessed cherries have the ability to help reduce inflammation, and help with
blood pressure.
It has also been reported that regular cherries can help you get a better sleep, ease your
arthritis pain, and are a type of brain food.
As you’ve probably guessed, once these cherries go through the processing phase, they lose
most of their antioxidants and therefore many of their health benefits.
They Can Increase Your Risk Of Bladder Cancer: As we pointed out earlier in this video, artificial
dyes like Red 40 can have negative effects on a person's health.
Red 40 is used to make the cherries that pretty, bright red colour.
According to PUBMED this dye contains small amounts of a carcinogen called benzidine.
Studies have shown being exposed to benzidine can increase your risk of bladder cancer.
While some brands of maraschino cherries use Red 40, there are also certain brands that
use “natural dyes” They create the red pigment by using beet juice instead of the
concerning Red 40.
However just because they’re labeled “natural” doesn’t mean they’re good for you.
Too Much Sugar: If you’re a regular on the Bestie channel
you’ve probably heard us talk about the negative effects too much sugar can have on
the body.
Sugar is in many processed foods, and can have many names like fructose, sucrose and
glucose.
Natural sugar, like the ones found in fruit can be healthy, but food and drinks that contain
added sugars can cause us harm and open us up to a higher risk of disease like diabetes
and insulin resistance.
Maraschino cherries contain twice the amount of sugar as regular cherries.
Although the amount per maraschino cherry isn’t that significant, we don’t usually
eat one of these cherries at a time.
It’s common to find them in popular cocktails, and desserts.
Again, one or two of these cherries, once in a blue moon probably won’t do much harm.
But if you’re finding you’re reaching for more than one of these processed, highly
sugary little treats, maybe keep in mind how much added sugar you’re adding to your day.
So where do these alternative cherries usually pop up, and where can you avoid them.
Maraschino cherries are used in all kinds of recipes ranging from baked goods to your
favourite cocktails.
Here’s a list of the most popular places maraschino cherries are found:
Cocktails: Maraschino cherries can really be the final
touches on a fancy cocktail.
You can find them in popular drinks such as a manhattan to a pina colada.
Instead of garnishing your beverage with the typical maraschino cherry or “candied cherry”
try opting for the real thing.
It’ll taste better, and you’ll get some extra nutrients at the same time.
Chocolate Covered Cherries: Often candy, or desserts that contain cherries
are using the extra sweet maraschino cherries.
They’re usually cheaper, they last longer because they’re being preserved and in any
dessert, sweetness is of utmost importance.
Don’t get us wrong, we love delicious desserts, but the next time you see your favourite pastry
or chocolate covered cherry treat, you might want to inquire about they type of cherries
you’ll find inside.
Fruit Salad: Fruit Salad is one dish that’s deceptively
healthy.
Yes, fruit in general can be good for you and can contain certain vitamins that your
body needs.
however, when fruit is canned and preserved and make into a fruit salad, you’ll often
find there are a lot of added sugars in the mix.
Therefore stripping most of the fruit (including cherries) of their original nutritional value.
This is one place that you’ll commonly find the classic maraschino cherry.
If the fruit salad is homemade and created from unprocessed, natural fruits then you’re
probably in the clear, however it’s it been created from the canned, processed fruits
you may want to steer clear.
Virgin Cocktails: Not only are maraschino cherries popular in
boozy drinks, but they’re also commonly found in your non-alcoholic drinks as well.
Drinks like the beloved shirley temple.
Sure they make these drinks look fancy, and add a je ne sais quois, but keep in mind,
just because you’re skipping out on the alcohol doesn’t make these drinks any healthier.
Virgin drinks like this often contain lots of added sugar, so these should also be kept
for special occasions.
Maraschino cherries are bright, colourful, and extremely sweet additions to popular drinks
and desserts.
However they bad might outweigh the good in this case.
The next time you find yourself reaching for the jar of cherries at your local grocery
store, maybe head over to the natural fruit aisle and grab a bag of unprocessed, healthy
cherries to add to your favourite drink or dish.
You’ll find they taste delicious and the added health benefits are a nice bonus.
And that’s the video!
What did you think about our list on maraschino cherries.
Do you love maraschino cherries and eat them often?
After seeing this video are you going to make the switch to natural, unprocessed cherries?
What are you favourite foods to add cherries to?
Let us know in the comments section below your thoughts about maraschino cherries!