Move over, blueberries. In recent studies, cherries are revealing their extraordinary health benefits, from easing post-exercise soreness to preventing cancer and heart disease.
Blossoming Health With Cherries
Many people swear by cherries for relieving the excruciating pain of gout and arthritis. According to recent studies, this folk remedy now has the backing of science.
In a 2006 study published in the Journal of Nutrition, researchers examined the effects of sweet Bing cherries on plasma lipids (blood fats) and blood markers of inflammation such as C-reactive protein (CRP). In the study, healthy men and women were fed 280 grams (about 10 ounces) of Bing cherries daily for 28 days. Although the cherries didn't affect cholesterol or triglyceride levels, there was a decrease in concentrations of CRP and other indicators of inflammation.
In another 2006 study, University of Vermont researchers writing in the British Journal of Sports Medicine reported that 12 ounces of tart cherry juice noticeably decreased the symptoms of exercise-induced muscle damage, primarily strength loss and pain.
Because inflammation is increasingly recognized as a factor in heart disease, cancer and other degenerative diseases, the benefits of cherries extend to far more than relieving gout. Suppressing inflammation protects the arteries from damage that leads to plaque buildup and inhibits the growth of some cancers. That's why some doctors recommend low doses of aspirin as preventive medicine for some patients. One serving of tart cherry juice (about 2 tablespoons of concentrate) packs the inflammation-relieving punch of one aspirin.
