University of Michigan researchers have found that tiny little tart cherries can have a big impact on heart health and on diabetes. During the study researchers fed some rats a diet that included tart cherries; a control group of rats ate a diet that was equivalent in carbohydrates and calories but contained no cherries. At the end of the study, the rats who ate cherries had improvements in weight, fat percentage, cholesterol, and inflammation. A reduction in these risk factors is good news for heart health and diabetes.

Cherries are a nutritious addition to your diet. They're delicious, easy to snack on, and make a great addition to a lot of recipes. In fact, we've written about the perks of cherries before -- Chris wrote about the anti-inflammatory properties of cherries and they even offer some protection against UV rays. So grab a handful of tart cherries and snack away!