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The Bling in Bing Cherries
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Looking for a little bling-bling in your diet? Check out the Bing cherry. I love this bright red, high gloss fruit, especially when they’re in season and fresh. But now I like them even more. 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. Why should you care? 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.
The deep red color of the cherries was our first heads-up that the fruit contains a bounty of nutrition and now science is taking that a step farther and finding thru research a link between food and medicine. Generally available from June thru September, they are just about to come into season. But good thing there are Bing cherries in the frozen food aisle as well!
Dr. Susan
Comments (15)
Have something to say? Share your thoughts.
Posted June 14, 2007 6:20 PM
Hi Terry,
Bing cherries should be kept in the refrigerator. If you have a drawer for produce in your fridge, keep them there.
You also might try keeping them in a plastic food bag with a few small holes punched in it and a paper towel to pick up the moisture (in the fridge as well).
Dr. Susan
Posted June 14, 2007 3:41 AM
What is the best way to store bing cherries?
On the counter or in a cold place?
Posted December 6, 2006 7:41 PM
Very happy for those who found relief from eating cherries. Over the years I tried many things, including cherries, grape juice, cod liver oil, Omega 3. For me what worked the best was prescription anti inflamatory medication, exercise, physical therapy and cortisone shots.Now I am facing hip and knee surgery. Those who can find relief from cherry juice are obviously suffering from minor arthritis that can go into remission, sometimes depending on the weather. Arthritis is unpredictable. Sometimes it stops at a certain stage, sometimes it deteriates further. Think of the thousand of patients who go under surgery every year.Sorry to be the bearer of not so good news, but keep drinking cheery juice, it won't hurt you.
Posted September 5, 2006 9:39 PM
It all makes sense now. During the summer months when bing cherries are plentiful and fresh and I am consuming them by the pounds, I always feel better and reduce my intake of arthritis meds. End of summer, end of cherries and back on meds. I am going to try cherry juice now.
Posted September 5, 2006 9:07 PM
Hi Pete,
Truly hard to say. The idea behind cherries and other foods that may help with inflammation is that they affect the level of inflammation as measured by a CRP test or c-reative protein. This is just one potential parameter that is looked at in evaluating heart disease risk. There has also been a tie to inflammation and arthritis but to date I haven't seen research with a tie to tendonitis.
Dr. Susan
Posted September 5, 2006 1:38 PM
You may want to consider prolotherapy for tendonitis. I had a torn tendon in my elbow and it actually healed and strenghthened the tendon. I tried ALL the conventional treatments prior to prolotherapy, excluding surgery.
Posted September 3, 2006 3:01 AM
Are the anti-inflammation properties of cherries effective in the case of tendonitis? Or, is something else helpful?
Posted September 1, 2006 1:32 PM
Hi Lindsay and Sandy,
Several thoughts. Check the large stores such as SuperTarget, Costco and such as well as Whole Foods or Trader Joes, depending on which ones are in your areas. Also, google for cherry companies that sell cherry juice and cherry juice concentrate online as well. There are a number of them around Michigan that sell these products.
Yes, 100% juice without sugar is the way to go. Dried cherries, fresh and frozen cherries are all fine as well.
Dr. Susan
Posted August 30, 2006 3:32 PM
Yes, I'm with Lindsay. I'd like a recommendation for a good cherry juice because they aren't all equal. I assume it needs to be actual juice from cherries, not from concentrate and with no or little sugar added.
Posted August 30, 2006 3:19 PM
Love these articles on cherries. But having a hard time finding cherry juice??? Any recommendations??? Want to try today!
Thanks.
Posted May 30, 2006 7:13 PM
Hi Frank,
As I said to John, sorry for the delay in responding to you. This area is indeed complicated. Some researchers feel that nitric oxide has a dichotomous role as both a beneficial and detrimental molecule depending on what is being studied. This research is looking at chronic inflammation and conditions tied to chronic inflammation such as increased risk for heart disease due to damage to the blood vessels from inflammation. This is where the markers of elevated CRP and NO seem to be an issue. As in all of nutrition, it's becoming very personalized based on family history and genetics and the ability to measure certain markers in the future. That's where food and it's affect on these markers is and will become even more important as we learn more and more.
Dr. Susan
Posted May 30, 2006 7:02 PM
John,
Sorry to be so long to respond. I've been out of town a while. In the field of diet and nutrition, researchers are looking at the tie between inflammation and such markers such as C-reactive protein (also known as CRP and procuded by the liver), nitric oxide and T-cell activation know as "Rantes". Some of this research is being done by the Agricultural Research Service at the Western Human Nutrition Research Center in California. They are studying whether certain foods such as cherries can suppress some of the linked compounds like those just mentioned that seem to affect chronic inflammation.
Dr. Susan
Posted August 23, 2006 1:02 AM
When I heard of this I felt I needed to try eating one-half -to - one cup full of Bing cherries daily. I have now done it for a month. I feel it works because I can tell a difference in my body. It is great to feel better. All I can say, if it IS "just all in my head" BRING IT ON! I LIKE FEELING BETTER.
-LMK (8-22-06)
Posted May 19, 2006 5:22 PM
Yes, the dried cherries are just as beneficial as the fresh or frozen ones. Dr. Susan
Posted May 20, 2006 5:28 AM
what a bing 40 something cherries!!!!i guess if they found it really worked you could have a contest who could eat them the fastest for the winner gets the next day supply from the loser
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