The Benefits of Cherries Including Aphrodisiac Use

A sex symbol of the food world

Behind its glistening, ruby sheen, the ripe flesh of the cherry bursts forth with a plentitude of nutrients key to sexual performance. Get ready to discover all the benefits of cherries.

In spring, favorite varieties from Ranier to Bing cherries turn grocers shelves shades of pink and crimson, calling shoppers with their glossy skins and promise of sweet flesh. Only available for one short season, the cherry’s scarcity adds to its attraction.

Invite a shining pint full to take that a tumble from the shelf into your grocery cart and carried home with care to protect the delicate skin of your sexy cherries.

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The aphrodisiac benefits of cherries

Little did your mama know when she ordered you your first Shirley Temple, that childhood mainstay made from ginger ale and grenadine topped with a plump Maraschino that cherries are loaded with sexual stimulation. Certain cherries, those with more musky scents, are said to stimulate pheromone production.

Cherry benefits for males

Cherries don’t get the same kind of attention for their health benefits as do blueberries, but they are a source of antioxidants. Although the concentration of antioxidants varies by cherry variety, it’s safe to say that all cherries possess anti-inflammatory compounds.

What does this have to do with cherries being an aphrodisiac for men?

Inflammation can interfere with your heart’s activity and can inhibit blood flow. But fighting and or reducing inflammation helps to ensure both heart health and sexual health by promoting blood flow. This is essential for experiencing arousal and sexual climax.

In fact, sexual health problems are incredibly common in individuals suffering from inflammatory diseases. Ryan Berglund, MD, a urology specialist at the Cleveland Clinic, lists rheumatoid arthritis as one of the biggest physical causes of erectile dysfunction.

And in addition to helping reduce the inflammation that could cause ED, fresh cherries are a source of zinc, magnesium, potassium and iron, all nutrients considered beneficial to maintaining men’s sexual health. And a cup of raw cherries even offers 5% of the daily value of manganese, a mineral considered key to men’s sexual performance.

RELATED: Manganese and Health – why your sex drive needs it to thrive

Cherry benefits for female sexual health

But cherries aren’t just for men. When it comes to cherries benefits, several of the benefits to sexual health and overall health are considered even more desirable to women than to men.

Cherries may keep you looking your best. These tiny fruits offer vitamin C, which promotes healthy, glowing skin. And, of course, the same antioxidants that will help keep your heart pumping and help prevent erectile dysfunction in men are also associated with fighting the visible signs of aging. So a potential benefit of cherries is that they’ll keep you looking young.

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But cherries can also help you look and feel your most svelte. That’s because fresh cherries are a great source of fiber. A single serving will give you 12% of your daily value for fiber. That’s a lot of fiber for a sweet treat. (A serving of dried cherries offers 3 grams of fiber, making them a smart choice for a portable snack.)

TO TRY: Dark Chocolate Chunk Brownies with Dried Cherries

Additional health benefits of cherries

Although it may not benefit sexual health directly, the vitamin K in cherries is considered an important nutrient for women’s bone health, particularly as women age.

Additionally, cherries’ quercetin content has antihistaminic attributes. This isn’t directly beneficial to your sexual health but reducing seasonal sniffling, itching or headaches could go a long way toward making you feel good.

Cherries benefits to athletic performance

Another one of the benefits of eating cherries is their potential to improve athletic performance. In a controlled study published in 2016 using endurance runners, it was revealed that eating cherries increased race times.

A second study, this time using active women who were not professional athletes as the test subjects, revealed that cherry juice improved recovery time from athletic activities.

Fun cherries serving suggestions

Pop those cherries in the freezer then roll them across your lovers’ skin in fine, 9 1/2 Weeks fashion. Or simply place a bowl, piled high at the bedside, awaiting the occasion for a naughty midnight feast.

To enjoy the benefits of cherries in winter, try this recipe for Wine-Soaked Dried Cherries.

Often mingled with chocolate, cherries become an exotic ingredient in otherwise mundane desserts. They transform traditional chocolate cake into something so sophisticated it deserves a name like Black Forest. And of course, what would that sundae be without the cherry on top?

Discover more of the world’s greatest aphrodisiac foods

This article was written in 2010 and most recently updated in June, 2021. 

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Amy Reiley

A 5x cookbook author with an MA in Gastronomy, Amy Reiley is considered a leading authority on aphrodisiac foods. She is also a successful publisher, wine writer and mom. Cheers!

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