Although cherry season has passed you can still relish in their sweet and rich deliciousness in the form of jam or jelly.  You can make your own homemade cherry jam by starting with a bag of frozen cherries, fresh lemon juice, and a bit of agave on the stove-top.  I prefer to make my own jam in order to control the ingredients and avoid processed sugars and other non-life giving additives.

Cherries are loaded with antioxidants, which help prevent cancer and reduce inflammation and gout attacks

Cherries are a magical fruit loaded with antioxidants including: anthocyanins, cyanins, and quercetin.  The most potent antioxidant within a cherry, with respect to cancer prevention, is cyanins.  (1)

Researchers conducted a study wherein 600 people who suffer from gout ate a half-cup serving of cherries every day.  They found that the participants had a 35% lower risk for future gout attacks.  The participants who ate up to one and a half cup of cherries per two-day period showed a 50% reduction in gout attacks.  Researchers attribute these benefits to the various compounds within cherries blocking the inflammatory pathways.  (1)

Ingredients:

• 1 – 14 ounce can light unsweetened coconut milk
• 2/3 cup raw chia seeds
• 3 Tbsp. hemp seeds
• 2 – 3 dashes sea salt
• 3 drops of vanilla stevia
• 1 Tbsp. cinnamon powder
• 2 Tbsp. raw coconut sugar
• 2 Tbsp. unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1 – 3.5 ounce dark chocolate bar
• 1 – 8 ounce jar of whole cherry jam

Instructions for Chia Pudding:

1. Prepare the chia pudding by pouring the coconut milk into a large re-sealable container.
2. Add all the ingredients, except the dark chocolate bar and whole cherry jam, and mix thoroughly.
3. Place the lid on the container and let set in the refrigerator for at least a few hours.

Instructions for Serving:

1. Place a 1/2 cup of the chia pudding in an individual-sized serving dish.
2. Chop the dark chocolate bar into small bite-size chunks.
3. Drizzle the cherry jam and chocolate chunks over the chia pudding.
4. Serve.

This recipe yields plenty of leftovers to keep you properly fueled throughout the busy work week!

Sources for this article include:

(1) articles.mercola.com

Inspired by: existentialevolution.com

Article originally posted on RawFoodWorld.com republished with permission.