New Delhi, July 16 : Not many know that sweet and tangy, red coloured, tiny seasonal fruit cherry contains plethora of health benefits. Experts say cherry not only helps reduce blood uric-acid levels, but also cures muscle pain. It also slows down the process of ageing and reduces skin problems like acne and vulgaris.

On the National Cherry Day, Tuesday, femalefirst. co. uk shares health benefits of the fruit:

1. Aid muscle recovery: According to a research, cherries contain anti-inflammatory properties, which help reduce muscle pain, following rigorous exercise. A study by the Oregon Health and Science University in America also showed that athletes who drank cherry juice before a long-distance relay, experienced less muscle pain after the race than those who drank another fruit drink.

2. Help you sleep: Cherries contain melatonin, a chemical our brain needs to regulate sleep, aid with jet lag, prevent memory loss and delay the ageing process. Scientists at the Northumbria University in Britain revealed that volunteers who drank cherry juice received a significant boost to their levels of melatonin.

3: Reduce gout: Cherry juice helps reduce blood uric-acid levels and gout pain. The chemicals called anthocyanins in cherries reduce inflammation to ease joint pain as well as the effects of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Research by the Human Nutrition Research Center at the University of California showed that women who consumed 280 grams of tart cherries showed an overnight 15 percent reduction in uric acid levels.

4: Good skin: Scientists from the Michigan State University in the US say that drinking just one glass of tart cherry juice every day slows down the ageing process. They have discovered that cherry has the highest antioxidant level of any fruit with 17 different antioxidant compounds present.

Antioxidants help the body fight free radicals, which make us look old. Cherry juice is also recommended as an alternative treatment for other skin conditions including acne, rosacea and vulgaris. The juice is rich in vitamin A and its antibacterial properties remove toxins from the blood and fight bacteria trapped under the skin.

5: A useful diuretic: Cherries are an extremely effective diuretic. Cherries have a reasonable potassium content and virtually no sodium.

6: Sex booster: Cherry juice contains vitamins A and C, which boost libido in men and women. Vitamin A increases testosterone and oestrogen levels, while vitamin C boosts sexual appetite and increases men's semen volume.(IANS)