My favourite fruit when I was a little girl was fresh cherries. So I am delighted to be working with Love Fresh Cherries to highlight the benefits of this amazing fruit. Whilst I cannot stress enough how important it is to eat as wide a variety as possible when it comes to fruit and veg, here are some of the specific benefits of this delicious, vibrant fruit.

As I considered these benefits, it struck me just how many of them have become so incredibly important during pregnancy – a time when optimally nourishing your body is more of a priority than it has ever been. So I’ve put together a series of health tips for pregnancy through to post-natal, that incorporate some of the specific benefits of cherries.

As someone who has just become a mum for the first time, I have never been more engaged and focused on the nutrients that I am putting into my body. Luckily, I also love fresh cherries, so amongst these tips I’ll be highlighting some of the specific benefits that this natural fruit brings.

• Sleep – Sleep problems are common during pregnancy and in the postnatal period, and whilst no amount of cherries will guarantee a sleeping baby, they are also good source of tryptophan, serotonin, and melatonin, all of which are involved in the regulation of sleep.

• Nutrition – In those first few weeks with a newborn proper meals can go completely out of the window. So my tip is to have little snack stations around the house, as you’ll need to keep your energy up. If you are trying to eat less biscuits and more nutrient dense foods, cherries are a perfect option as one bowl contains three grams of fibre, which is 10% of your daily requirement and they are also a great source of polyphenols, carotenoids, vitamin C, and potassium.

• Immune support – It’s easy to get run-down during pregnancy and post-natally as your body is under additional strain. So this tip is about ensuring your body has the essential nutrients to support you and your immune system. When it comes to supplements, folic acid should be taken pre-pregnancy (ideally) and for the first 12 weeks at least. Vitamin C protects cells and helps keep them healthy. It also helps your body absorb iron, which is important in pregnancy. Just 20 cherries makes up 18% of a woman’s recommended daily requirement of Vitamin C.

For more from Dr Zoe and Love Fresh Cherries, follow us on Instagram on @drzoewiliams and @lovefreshcherries.