Have you heard anything about cherries and arthritis? A friend said she read about a connection somewhere.

Researchers at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have found that Bing cherries, consumed consistently over time, may help defend the body against inflammation tied to arthritis and heart disease.

In their research (published in the Journal of Nutrition) healthy volunteers consumed about 45 Bing cherries each day for 28 days. Then blood samples revealed that levels of nitric oxide and C reactive protein dropped by 18-25 percent. Nitric oxide and C reactive protein are two of several indicators which measure inflammation in the body. According to the researchers, the cherries contain natural properties which help suppress some of the compounds linked to inflammation. This is their second study corroborating such findings in humans.