* click to enlarge *

(softlight focused on the ceiling and external flash bounced to the right wall)

Lately I have been photographing stuff in the dark and loving it! Probably because of the challenge it gives and also because and foremost, I need food photos to hang in my kitchen wall. I have a red-black-white theme, w/ red cupboard doors.
. Actually they’re (doors) interchangeable so they can be easily changed into black or white, even gray (but I wont choose the latter.)

I shot this last night. I didn’t want the photo to come out too dark like my strawberries shot. I am still choosing and will be doing more ‘in the dark’ composition. Perhaps you’ll see more of them here in the coming days and I would welcome your reactions so don’t be shy to leave them ;)

Note: you’ll see annoying ‘Copyright’ watermark on my photos too. Although I’m sure that would not totally help my photos from being stolen since a few were already stolen even if my name were on them…but I’ll be a bit stricter this time, making the Copyright logo more visible.

Have a great week ahead!

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BENEFITS OF CHERRIES


As a follow-up to several earlier studies, researchers have confirmed that tart red cherries (Prunus cerasus) offer benefits for patients with autoimmune neurodegenerative and connective tissue diseases, particularly rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes. Studies show that tart red cherries reduce pain and inflammation and also offer protection against cancer. These effects are caused by plant phytochemicals known as anthocyanins.

The Evidence

Scientists at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore discovered that the anthocyanins in tart cherries effectively reduced painful inflammation in an experimental animal model comparable to that obtained with the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, indomethacin. The researchers believe that this effect may stem from the ability of anthocyanins to reduce oxidative stress, which is a major cause of autoimmune disease.

In a related study, researchers demonstrated that tart cherry anthocyanins may help prevent muscle pain related to intensive exercise. Young men who incorporated tart cherry juice into their daily diet experienced decreased symptoms of exercise-induced muscle damage. In addition, cherries may offer protection against gout, a painful inflammatory condition caused by urate crystals infiltrating joint fluid.

Food Sources

The benefits of tart cherries are found in fresh, frozen, canned or juice forms of cherries. High levels of anthocyanins are found in both tart and sweet cherries. In one study, women who ate two servings of Bing cherries daily experienced decreased markers of inflammation and reduced serum urate levels. However, tart cherries offer far more benefits than sweet cherries. Tart cherries are very rich sources of anthocyanins whereas sweet cherries have lower amounts.

Tart cherries include the Montmorency and Balaton varieties and are produced primarily in Michigan. In general, the darker the cherry color, the higher the anthocyanin content. The Fruit Advantage Tart Cherry dietary supplement is another rich source of tart cherry, containing 1200 mg/serving.

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