Cherries may help you get a good night's sleep

Researchers.
say Cherries grown in sun-rich Central Otago are a natural source of
melatonin at levels 30 times higher than their northern hemisphere
counterparts.
Melatonin is a hormone that is naturally present in the human body and
aids sleep.
The findings come from research commissioned by Fruision Ltd, a joint
venturebetween Hamilton-based Quantec Ltd, a company specialising in
developing health remedies from natural products, and Alexandra-based
fruit grower Summerfrui, Stuff.co.nz reported.
Previous studies published in the United States have shown northern
hemisphere cherries to have levels of melatonin attwo to 15 nanograms
per gram.
The latest study, undertaken by an independent laboratory in
Australia, has shown Central Otago cherries have500 nanograms per
gram.
When the cherries had been dried, the melatonin levels increased to
3100 nanograms per gram.
Fruision senior scientist Dr Judy Bragger said Kiwi plants are exposed
to moreultraviolet radiation than those growing at a similar latitude
in Europe of North America, and this caused them to produce more
secondary metabolites -- organic compounds that are not directly
involved in the normal plant growth.
"It is these secondary metabolites that the cherries produce that have
such great human health promoting properties when eaten," Dr Bragger
stated.
Moanui Laboratories in Hamilton were already backing the science and
arethe first New Zealand company to distribute a sleep aid derived
from cherries in a capsule form./

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