Learning the principles of any diet is confusing, especially if you have to work with complex rules or limitations like the keto diet. The ketogenic diet may be tricky for novices that are looking for the high fat, low-carb way of life.
This implies just 20 percent of your daily calories may come from protein whereas 10 percent is allocated to carbohydrates. Many dietitians advocate eating just 20-30 g of carbs, making eating many wholesome foods, such as fruit, hard. But can you consume different fruits… or more particularly, can you eat cherries on the keto diet?
Are Cherries Keto Friendly?
Ordinarily, most fruits are full of carbs due to their organic sugars. This makes it tricky to consume fruit and keep ketosis. Nevertheless, cherries might be keto-friendly if consumed in moderation.
According to the USDA, one cup of cherries include 22 grams of carbs. Does this mean you need to deprive yourself of this antioxidant-rich fruit? No. Just eat a smaller serving if you truly wish to meet the craving.
A half-cup of cherries makes it feasible to enjoy the fruit and remain in ketosis, but you will need to severely restrict carbs from the rest of the foods for the day. I would suggest maintaining the number of cherries you are about to eat to about one-fourth of a cup.
Benefits of Eating Cherries
Cherries are a rich source of antioxidants, which means you probably don’t want to get rid of the fruit from your diet–if you like eating them.
Studies reveal they may decrease inflammation, exercise-induced muscle soreness and reduce blood pressure.
Benefits:
-
Decrease Inflammation
- Decrease Muscle Soreness
- Reduce Blood Pressure
- Contains Vitamin C, among other vitamins
- Has Anthocyanin Antioxidants
- Has Melatonin (an antioxidant that fights insomnia and jet lag)
Additional Information About Cherries
I researched a little bit of information that you might be wondering about.
When is Cherry Season?
Sweet cherries, for instance, favorite Bing and Rainier varieties, can be found from May to August.
Sour, or tart cherries have a much shorter growing season, and are only available for a couple of weeks, generally during the middle of June in warmer regions as late as July and August in colder areas.
Things to Search for in Cherries
If possible can, flavor cherries prior to purchasing them. Sweetness changes farm to farm (tree to tree, really) per week to week. Always search for shiny, plump cherries using fresh stems and dark coloring to get their variety.
How to Store Cherries
Keep cherries, unwashed and the stems attached, in a paper bag, loosely-covered container, or loosely closed plastic bag in the fridge until you are prepared to use them.
If you would like to keep cherries around for more than a couple of days, pit and freeze them–no need to defrost cherries before adding them into baked products.
The Best Way to Pit Cherries
Rinse cherries with cool water directly before using or eating them. To pit cherries, pick off the stem and insert the end of a medium-large paper clip into the hole you just made from removing the stem. Snag the pit and then scoop/get it out. Sour cherries are usually a bit simpler to pit. With a skillful hand and only a little digging and twisting, you should be able to put the cherry with the paperclip. It is a great way for both sweet and sour cherries. Use or freeze cherries instantly after pitting.
In Conclusion
Cherries have a good amount of benefits and should not be removed from your diet simply because you are following a ketogenic lifestyle. You can have them in moderation to get your fix without putting you out of ketosis. You shouldn’t have more than a quarter or half cup in one day.
