A new study carried out by Australia's University of Tasmania has found that sweet cherry consumption could aid weight loss. 

The head of Reid Fruits, a major cherry exporter involved with the research, said he had been very exciting to work with Dr. Melanie Blackhall.

“For many decades there has been anecdotal evidence of the massive health benefits of sweet cherries,” Reid Fruits managing director Tim Reid said.

“Dr Blackhall’s research is a fantastic start to providing scientific proof of those benefits, in relation to the properties of the bioactive compound anthocyanin, found in sweet cherries.”

The UTAS Faculty of Health research saw a 19% reduction in weight gain in the sample group which were fed cherry anthocyanin extract compared to those not fed cherry anthocyanin. Furthermore, the research proved that cherry anthocyanin can help reduce inflammation.

“That this extract might also have potential weight loss benefits for human beings into the future is also very exciting but obesity is a main contributory factor in many diseases such as heart disease and some cancers and therefore the role sweet cherries can potentially play in reducing the impact of these diseases is very exciting," Blackhall said.

Reid said his company has major plans to expand production of sweet cherries as well as a focus on value-added products using the cherry anthocyanin extract.

“Through the research, which was done exclusively with Reid Fruit cherries, we are now able to identify the best varieties and production methods to maximise anthocyanin content in our cherries," he said.

Reid Fruits has been working with Blackhall for the past two years and research is ongoing into the anti-inflammatory properties of sweet cherry extract.

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