The good news about tart cherries just keeps coming. This tiny red super fruit is fast becoming the first choice for those searching for natural ways to reduce inflammation and pain due to arthritis and gout.
The November 2014 edition of The Journal of Functional Foods has reported that the consumption of Montmorency tart cherries has created positive changes in the metabolism of the uric acid in the body. This new information has a positive impact on joint pain caused by gout. In addition to the news being positive for gout sufferers, the same article reported that after consuming tart cherries, anthocyanins also increased in the bloodstream.
Tart cherries are naturally occurring source of anthocyanins. This compound is part of the flavonoid family. In fact, anthocyanins are present all across natures and are responsible for helping the color of tree leaves to change from summer green to yellow, orange and blazing red during the fall season. However, it how they interact within the human body when consumed is what makes them such an anti-inflammatory powerhouse.
According the published research from Michigan State University, tart cherries offer 10 times the pain relieving properties of over-the-counter solutions such as aspirin. The reason for the anti-inflammatory benefits is due to the presence of the anthocyanins in the tart cherries.
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The researcher featured in The Journal of Foods was conducted in the Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation at Northumbria University in the United Kingdom. The research team conducted the research on a dozen of healthy individuals with an average age of 26. Each of the participants we asked to consume one ounce (two tablespoons) of Montmorency Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate mixed with water to make a full glass of reconstituted cherry juice.
This was a single, blind, two-phase study and the researchers collected both blood and urine samples from the participants at varies interval for 48 hours after the consumption of the tart cherry juice. The results resulted in confirming researcher’s belief the uric acid levels in the blood would decrease following the consumption of the cherry juice. Also, as expected, the presence of anthocyanins was recorded and evident in the participates.
In addition, a second study was also published in the The Journal Of Functional Foods regarding the results of a team at the University of Michigan. This study concluded that the consumption of 90 frozen Montmorency cherries helped to elevate the antioxidant capacity in the blood for an impressive 12 hours. Also, similar to the results of the Northumbria University results, the University of Michigan researchers also observed the presence of powerful, tart cherry-based anthocyanins in the blood and urine.
The Michigan-grown, Montmorency tart cherry offers an impressive list of organizations that conducted research on this red fruit. As the list of published studies continue to pile up, it is evident drinking cherry juice, consuming tart cherry capsules or eating fresh or frozen cherries, individuals suffering from gout and arthritis can benefit by adding this red fruit to their daily diet.
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